Have you ever pondered who you give audience to on a daily basis? Whom do you give an ear to? Whose opinion matters most to you?
The word audience is defined as a group of enthusiastic or passionate admirers or devotees.
What about your attention? Who gets your attention? One definition of attention is a concentration of the mind on a single object or thought.
What we focus our attention on directs our life. In our world today, there are so many things competing for our attention. The majority of people we know own a computer or phone that connects us to the world. Social media, ads, video, games, entertainment and countless information are available at the touch of a button. I know it is easy to get pulled into any one of these facets and before you know it a few hours can pass by. Time is one commodity we can never get back.
Take a day or two and inventory your time. Take notes of how much time you give your apps, significant others in your life, entertainment, goals, projects, and so on.
Who or what had your attention the most? What did that time produce? Was it beneficial to your day or future? Were you moving forward with where you want to be at the end of the week, month, or year?
What about your confidence? Who do you give audience to?
Whose words zoom through your mind?
We have lived our lives being shaped by our surroundings, teachers, friends, peers, situations, and on and on. Some have been solid and good, some not so much. What is the truth? What was just a lie? I believe we have all had people in our lives speak doubt and unbelief over us out of their own personal frustration in a moment. Times where others have lost control and spued junk over us! However, their lack of control doesn’t have to define my view or destiny. I desire the truth! I desire we all come to know who we were intended to be and walk out our lives with purpose.
If you believe you were created by God, have you found out who exactly He says you are? Our foundation must be reset on who our creator says we are.
As a child of God, you are rich in many ways.
You are royal!
You have a benefits package from God. (Psalm 103)
You have been given authority to use the name of Jesus (Luke 10:18-20)
You are made in God’s likeness therefore when you speak your words carry power. (Proverbs 18:21)
You are free to choose. (Deut. 30:19)
You have a seal on you from the Holy Spirit which means your name is written in the book of Life (a real book in Heaven)
The list is endless of what God says about you.
Now, as you spend time thinking about the short list above, a royal daughter or son in the Kingdom of God, how does this make you feel? Does it cause you to think differently about yourself?
As royal children of God whom and what should we give our attention to, much less whom should we allow an audience to?
Does a King let anyone come into his court? Does he let the enemy freely enter? Does he let harmful things enter at will to his chamber?
If he would not, should we?
As children of God, our heavenly Father, through Jesus, has restored some tools that we should hold dear to our lives. We should have an understanding so that we don’t receive what the enemy attempt to deliver us. Yes, life happens. No, everything is not the devil’s fault. We can’t blame all things on our enemy for we don’t always make the right choice. However, when we know who we are as children of God and we know what was spoken of us, we are empowered to live in freedom and victory. For whom the Son, Jesus, set free is free indeed!
A portion of what Jesus said we should pray is as follows. ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We need to remember our benefits and receive what Heaven has for us here on this earth.
I often hear many children of God expect the attacks of our enemy. They are so confident that the attacks will come, it is as if they are waiting and expecting. Shouldn’t our eyes be so affixed on our Lord and Savior that we are awaiting His next move in our lives and waiting in expectation for our next victory story to share?
Yes, trials and bad news are real! Yes, our enemy is always prowling around looking for whom he may devour. But what does the rest of the verse say? But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be].
God let us know. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (you) may have life, and have it to the full (abundant life). (John 10:10)
What happens when we understand our enemy and we instantly deny him by counterattacking his moves with the weapons God has given us here on this earth? We may be guaranteed hardships and trials. However, by using our weapons the enemy will not be able to make his way into our homes and lives as far as he would like because we have eyes to see, an understanding of who we are, and the name of Jesus to stop his advancements.
In our mind and thoughts – ask the Holy Spirit for help to recognize the voice of the enemy. The voice that goes against the word of God.
In our finance
In our body
In our waiting
In our hopes
In our relationships – this one is different because we can not make people change! But you can work on you while God works on the other person! Yes, patience required.
In our …. (You fill in the blank.)
Once you see the enemy at work, refuse to give him audience or attention! Use your voice and the name of Jesus and say NO! So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Don’t stop until he submits! We have spent years giving in to his garbage, it may take a little time to develop an intolerance to his ways. You are a child of the King! Keep speaking the truth of the Word until he takes you seriously and runs. The moment he sees you captivated by who God says you are, he will be the one who will fear.
