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Have you ever got up one morning and looked around and wondered, WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID I GET HERE? Ya know when you come to yourself and look around and think, this is not what I had planned, this was not how it was suppose to be? When you started off so good and with the right intentions and you wanted to do something for God so much, and your heart was right and you was on fire for God and then boom! You wake up one day and you are so far off the path you have no hope of getting back? And honestly some of you have given up on God and really believes He has given up on you. You have no hope of ever being where you once were. What really happened? What happened behind the scenes that caused the actions that caused the failures? How many of us have wondered this? I know I have, and I believe that God has shed some light. The TACTICS of the devil. You know God said we are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices.

2Corinthians2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Now He is talking in this passage about forgiveness but it applies to all of the devils tactics. We are not to be ignorant of them. So today I want to talk to you about the tactics the devil uses to sway us away from the word of God, from His presence and even from His people. One thing I want you to remember is the #1 fact that the devil hates your guts. He does not want you to have any control over any circumstance in your life and he will use whatever means is necessary to pull you away from your very life source of help. With that said I want to look at Mark 4:13-20. It would do you good to read the whole chapter but for sake of time, I want to do a mini-reminder;

13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

1. The word He speaks of here, is not only the word of God, it can be the word spoken to you specifically by God, it can be the counsel of a friend, it can be words ministered in song and a whole host of other ways the Lord can use to speak to you.

2. He said Satan comes IMMEDIATELY and takes it away, but you have to allow him to. He can't take it without your permission. So how does he take it?

3. Affliction, persecution comes and you don't stay focused and grounded on the word that was given to sustain you so you get OFFENDED. (He loves to lull us into a false sense of security with the idea we have the right to be offended because we were justified in how we feel, i.e., they did it to me, I didn't do it to them.....)

4. Cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, lusts of other things come in and choke the word out, because you again take your focus off of the word that was given you and put your attention on what the devil sent to distract you.

5. You can stop this. Make the determination I will keep my focus on God's word (in whatever form it comes) and will not allow myself to be offended, sidetracked and lulled into a false sense of security.And when I do realize this has happened I will immediately repent and get back into the race and set my course for victory!!!

People, it has happened to all of us. Some of us let it go further than others, but I promise you no one has went further the other way than I did at one time and I can testify, that no matter how far away from God you have gotten and no matter what you have done, NONE OF IT is a surprise to God. He knew it then and He knows it now and HE STILL LOVES YOU and STILL wants you back. He still has a plan for your life. You have not ruined your chances and He still has something for you to do. The first step is realizing what happened. Repent. Ask God to restore not only you, but your passion for Him, your self esteem and all the other things the devil has stolen through his deceit and tactics. Daddy is waiting on you to come home with open arms. JUST DO IT!! And please, if you think it is impossible contact someone who you know that knows the Lord and can help you. If you do not know of anyone, PRAY, "Father send someone by my path to help me and give me wisdom to know it is the one you send." HE WANTS TOO! Do not stay where you are just because it is comfortable there or because you are afraid of rejection. Go past the fear, Like I said our Daddy is waiting for you. Be Blessed, Lisa

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

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