The Whispering of the Snake
Serpent translated is Nahash this s the Hebrew word for serpent or snake. It sounds like someone is whispering, and it literally means, the whisperer. In the Bible, the serpent is the embodiment of the enemy. Thus the enemy is a whisperer, to your mind...
The Hebrew word for "angel," which is often translated as "messenger," is "mal'akh" So many people will listen to the whisperer, when the Messenger is sending you a warning message saying not too!
The Mind is a Battlefield
A war is raging, and your mind is the battlefield. Worry, doubt, confusion, depression, anger and feelings of condemnation ... all of these are attacks on the mind. If you suffer from negative thoughts, take heart! To what the Messenger is saying (warning) this is what the Whisperer is telling YOU! a statement or event that indicates a possible or impending danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation.
In the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, the serpent, described as "craftier than any of the wild animals,"tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of humanity and their expulsion from the Garden.
The Serpent's Deception: The serpent, in Genesis 3, questions God's command, suggesting that eating the fruit will not lead to death, but rather grant knowledge and wisdom, making them like God.
Eve's Response: Eve, swayed by the serpent's words, eats the fruit and then offers it to Adam, who also eats it.
The Fall and Consequences: Their disobedience leads to their realization of their nakedness and the introduction of shame, suffering, and death into the world.
God's Judgment: God curses the serpent, condemning it to crawl on its belly and eat dust, and also curses the ground, making it difficult for humans to cultivate.
The Serpent's Identity: While the Bible doesn't explicitly name the serpent as Satan, later texts in the Bible, such as Revelation, identify the serpent as "the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.
Symbolism: The serpent is often interpreted as a symbol of temptation, evil, and deception, representing the forces that oppose God and lead humanity astray.
The mind is considered a battlefield in spiritual warfare because Spiritual Warfare: The battle for the mind is a crucial aspect of spiritual warfare, where believers are called to discern and resist Satan's lies and cultivate a mind that is centered on God's truth. Satan, through deception and lies, seeks to influence our thoughts and actions, ultimately sidetracking us from God's truth and leading to destruction.
Influence Through Thought: Satan's primary strategy is to attack the mind, as he understands that if he can control our thinking, he can manipulate our behavior and actions.
Deception and Lies: Satan uses deception and lies to sow doubt, fear, and negativity in our minds, aiming to corrupt our thoughts and lead us away from God's truth.
Strongholds of the Mind: When Satan's lies and negative thoughts take root in our minds, they can become strongholds, giving him control over our lives.
Taking Thoughts Captive: To win this battle, believers are encouraged to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," meaning to examine and align our thoughts with God's Word.
Seeking God's Truth: By grounding our minds in God's truth, we can resist Satan's lies and cultivate a mind that is focused on God's love, peace, and purpose Can the devil play with your mind?
Yes, the Bible says that Satan can put thoughts in our minds and tempt us to sin. Satan's strategy is to use deception, distraction, and discouragement to limit our potential. How does Satan tempt us? He may put sinful desires in our hearts, or thoughts that justify those desires He may put deceptive thoughts in our minds that lead to sinful desires He may present bits of truth and fill in the unknowns with imaginations that create fears and insecurities How can we resist Satan? Confront Satan's mind games with truth Read the Bible and pray to God Ask God for protection Put on the armor of God, which consists of righteousness Trust in the sovereign power of God
"You can't change the past, you can only edit the future "
highlights the concept that past events are irreversible, while present actions and choices can shape the future.
Here's a more detailed explanation: The Past is Fixed: Once an event has occurred, it is considered part of history and cannot be altered or undone.
The Future is Open: The future is yet to come and is influenced by our current choices and actions.
Focus on the Present: The idea emphasizes the importance of focusing on the present and making choices that will lead to a desired future.
Learning from Mistakes: While we can't change the past, we can learn from our mistakes and use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future.
Taking Control: By understanding that we can't change the past, we can take control of our present and shape our future in a positive way.
The past is considered immutable, meaning it cannot be changed, due to the nature of time's flow and the laws of physics, which dictate that events are fixed and irreversible.
Time is generally understood as flowing in a linear, forward direction, meaning that once an event has occurred, it is considered to be a fixed point in history Why is it so hard to accept the past? A difficulty with letting go of the past will likely be related to one or more of the following key emotions:
guilt, regret or sadness/anger. Guilt is an emotion that tells us we have violated some rule or norm. For example, “I should have done this” or “Why did I do that”. What does you Cannot change the past mean? It means that we must focus on the here and now, making the most of the present moment and appreciating the beauty of life as it unfolds. It means letting go of the past and forgiving ourselves for our mistakes, knowing that we are all imperfect beings who are capable of growth and change.
Have you ever noticed how much time you spend thinking about negative or painful situations, ruminating and replaying what’s not working in your life? It’s not just you. The last statistic I read claimed 80 percent of our thoughts are negative, and 95 percent repetitive. Strangely, the more negative an experience, the more we return to it. Like vultures to a carcass, we’re drawn to what hurts. As the Buddhist saying goes, we want happiness, and yet we chase our suffering. Why? What’s at the root of our mind’s addiction to suffering, why do we compulsively cling to our pain, and how can we shift this unwise and unhelpful habit of ours? We return to our suffering, because fundamentally we’re trying to make the negative experience come out a different way.
Our mental replays are attempts to re-script what we don’t want into a new reality. If we can just understand our pain more clearly, spend more time with it, we’ll be able to figure it out—in other words, make it go away. If we can know the cause, who’s to blame and what needs to be done about it, we’ll be okay. We hold on to our pain, paradoxically, in an effort to figure out how to let it go. With pain, or any sort of negative experience, comes a host of uncomfortable feelings.
In response to the feelings we don’t want to feel, our mind takes control and steers us in a more familiar direction.
Over and over again, the mind restructures and re frames the contents of our pain in an effort to avoid directly feeling it. The mind will always choose thinking about pain over experiencing it directly. So, too, we counter intuitively cling to suffering as a way of taking care of ourselves. Continually thinking about what hurts helps us feel that our pain matters, that it didn’t happen for no reason, and that it won’t be forgotten.
Our ruminations award our suffering importance and value, which it doesn’t always receive from those it wants it from. To stop revisiting our pain can feel like abandoning it, moving on before it’s been truly heard or taken care of.
Pain is also profoundly intertwined with our sense of identity. We remind ourselves of our pain as a way of keeping alive our personal narrative, our story of me, what’s happened to me, and my life. We’re deeply attached to our stories of suffering; you could say we love our pain.
As a result, we’re reluctant to let it go, to stop bringing it back into the present moment, even when it’s no longer useful or active. To do so would be to lose touch with who we believe we fundamentally are, what makes us us.
If we didn’t keep reminding ourselves of our story, we might forget who we are in our minds, and then what? Who would we be, and what would life look like if we didn’t relate from an already formed idea of who we are? At an existential level, returning to our suffering allows us to feel a primal sense of I-ness, to feel that we exist.
We experience ourselves as a distinct self when we’re thinking about a problem. With a problem in its craw, the mind can feel alive and working, and because we imagine ourselves to be synonymous with mind, our sense of self is also alive and strong in this process. It is actually through the process of thinking that we create a sense of self; we literally think ourselves into existence. How Can A Decision Impact Others?
Every decision we make involves a chain of events. The bigger the decision, the more life-changing the chain of events will be for the decision-maker and others around them. The impact can be positive or negative, but there is always a consequence. If you are in an abusive or disrespectful relationship, making a clear choice to leave will have lasting consequences.
It will impact your mental health and self-esteem. It will affect your living arrangements, finances, and even your circle of friends. Some of these events will be positive or negative. While your finances may take a hit, your self-esteem may get a boost. Your circle of friends may reduce, but your freedom and independence to make new relationships will increase. Remember, in every chain of events, you will also have many future decision points upon which to act to impact your life positively. Map out the chain of events to help you feel more comfortable with the decision. Most people do not realize that every major decision inevitably leads to a chain of events we cannot accurately predict. Those chains of events can be positive or negative. If we make good decisions, the outcomes should be positive; if we make poor choices, the outcomes can be negative.
The effects of decision-making change the world around us. From buying bottled water to voting against slavery and oppression, the values we have shape the decisions we make, and the decisions we make shape the world we live in. Life Is About the Choices And Decisions We Make Looking back impartially at a life lived to draw meaning from it, you may discover that the sum of a life is two-fold. It is the combination of external decisions that impact that person and their choices and decisions. We constantly impact those around us, and their decisions influence us. Your choices impact those around you, and their choices, as a consequence, can change your world. Our choices are the most important things we have in life. We make an infinite number of decisions every day From deciding whether to get out of bed or hit that snooze alarm just *one* more time, to more complex choices such as career direction or whether to remain in a romantic relationship. When we make decisions, we influence our emotional well-being and overall life satisfaction. Decisions that result in positive outcomes, leave us feeling empowered and pretty damn good about ourselves. However, at times, we are faced with decisions where the *right* option is not an obvious one, where there are competing demands and a pros and cons list just won’t cut it.
We’re complex creatures making complex decisions Being faced with these more complex decisions are where we can get stuck. Complex decisions can be confronting to a person and can often be the source of psychological discomfort and distress. What can make things trickier is if after a long and often grueling process of deliberation, we finally picked “Option A”, only to realist a week later, it turns out that “Option B” would have been *better* Inevitably in life, with all its twists and swirls, we will likely make some decisions along the way that we perceive as *bad* and often, this can lead to feelings of regret… Regret– is a negative cognitive or emotional state that involves self-blame for an unfavorable outcome. We can be riddled with intense feelings of loss or sorrow over the “what if?” or spend hours wishing we could undo a previous decision. Regret can be a tricky one to untangle, and this is often accompanied by our unpopular friend – Hindsight. Hindsight– or “knew-it-all-along” phenomenon can make us feel pretty shitty about our decision-making skills, by tricking us into believing that the outcomes of our decisions were more predictable
than they actually were. It is common for us to see potential outcomes more clearly after the fact simply because we have more information than we did before the choice.
5 tips for coping with *bad* decisions and regret:
1. Accept responsibility Though it may not be obvious, there is often a nugget of wisdom to be found when we own up and take responsibility for your actions. Sometimes when we sit back and say “yep, I messed up” (how human of you!) – owning your actions can free you from looking back and instead, move forward to focus on what is in our control.
2. Realist that you did your best with what you had It’s important to understand that we can only make decisions using the knowledge we have at the time. Try not to beat yourself up or get trapped in the hindsight phenomenon. Take comfort in that you did your best with what you had, and let that be good enough.
3. Use your experience as a learning curve We are constantly learning from experience, and sometimes, the best learning come from the *messy* moments in our lives. When things don’t turn out the way we thought, it’s important to find and acknowledge the learning that emerge from it and use with newfound knowledge to your advantage in the future.
4. Remember that literally no one is perfect Everybody and we mean EVERYBODY stuffs up sometimes. So, let’s make sure we aren’t placing an unrealistic expectation on ourselves. We, humans, are complex creatures with a range of experiences and emotions. Proceed with caution when comparing yourself to those who only seem like they have it all figured out (AKA Instagram is a highlight reel).
5. Welcome your emotions Our emotions always serve a function. Allowing ourselves to sit with our emotions helps us to understand why we feel the way we do and gives us an opportunity to develop coping strategies that help make us more resilient. PS. No matter how hard we may try, we can’t avoid unpleasant emotions forever and we certainly don’t feel much better if we beat ourselves up over them. Instead, try gently engaging with your feelings, remembering to be self-compassionate. Feel the feels because no feeling is permanent – even the tough one’s we promise.
Need someone to help you understand and work through challenging feelings? The Main reason I am here or you
It is time to step out of your comfort zone, and into the realm of possibilities
Pastor David May
Life Coach
Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams!
In the book of Genesis there is a story about a young man named Joseph. Joseph was a dreamer. His father favored him and gave him a coat of many colors. Because of this, his brothers threw him in a ditch and sold him as a slave. He was beaten, falsely accused and thrown into prison. Joseph never gave up on the dream that God gave him, but pursued God’s promise’a through difficult times. Because of Joseph’s faith and tenacity, Pharaoh made him the Vizier which is the highest official in Ancient Egypt to serve the king. Pharaoh also placed a gold chain on his neck and put his signet ring on his finger which meant that Joseph now owned and had authority over everything that was Pharaohs. He then gave him a new name which was Zaphnath-Paaneah which means “Revealer of mysteries”. Some of you have been like Joseph. You once had a dream but your life seems to be going in the opposite direction. The book of Psalms 105:19 says that “Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him”. The Lord says; “Do not allow anything to steal the dream that I have placed in your heart. Never give up on what I have promised to you.
I am the restorer of dreams, and My word will come to pass. Just as Josephs father, I have given you favor. I have given you a coat of many colors. For those of you who have been betrayed by your brothers and sisters, I am the restorer of the breach. That which has been broken in your lives shall be mended. Those relationships that have been severed and disarrayed will be restored. Your families will come into alignment with My plans as they continue to observe your dedication to Me. Just as Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph, those of you who have been falsely accused and lied about will be recompensed and rewarded for your integrity. You will discover the greater plan as you continue to walk in holiness without compromise and don’t follow when others try to lead you astray. There is nothing hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light.
To those of you who have been imprisoned with fear and torment, I have the keys to hell and death. Trust Me to be your deliverer and set you free. I will release you and break off all shackles that confine you. Never settle for less than what I have for you. Ask Me for wisdom to make your dream a reality and the faith to step out. Continue to pursue My plans without looking back to your past mistakes and failures. I will bring people into your life to help you fulfill the dream that I have placed in your heart. There will be divine connections with others who believe as you do, and will help to encourage you. Sever any relationships from people that will try to annihilate your dreams and hinder your growth. Just as Joseph was raised from the pit to this high calling, I will bring you out of a place of despair, and raise you up to a higher place.
Never let go of your dream, but hold on with the same tenacity as Joseph had. I Am the revealer of mysteries and I will also reveal My mysteries to you. You will then have My favor and you will be ruler over adverse situations rather than having them destroy or control you” says the Lord. “He sent a man before them- Joseph-who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him” Psalm 105:17 -19.
“The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants” Psalm 105:20-25.
“He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him” Daniel 2:22.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” Ephesians 3:20.
Self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, reflects the inner strength bestowed by the Holy Spirit to resist temptations, regulate emotions, and choose words and actions wisely. This quality serves as a cornerstone for righteous living and harmonious relationships, influencing not only individual behavior but also community dynamics. Proverbs 13:3-5 Underscores the importance of guarding one’s tongue. Hasty, unbridled words can lead to irreparable harm, disrupting relationships and tarnishing reputations.
Self-control enables individuals to pause, reflect, and respond thoughtfully, promoting peace and understanding. Proverbs 13:3 beautifully emphasizes the importance of self-control in speech, stating, "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction."
It underlines how speech can either protect or harm, depending on the discipline exercised over one's words. Speech is a powerful aspect of self-control, as words often have the ability to uplift, comfort, or cut deeply. Controlling one's speech is a daily practice of wisdom and humility, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit.
Verse 4 contrasts laziness with diligence, illustrating how self-control fosters hard work and perseverance. A Spirit-filled life empowers individuals to overcome procrastination and pursue goals with unwavering commitment, reaping the fruits of their labor. Proverbs 13:4 reflects a powerful truth: "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied". This verse showcases the importance of diligence and how consistent effort brings meaningful rewards.
In the context of self-control, it emphasizes discipline—not only in resisting temptation but also in actively pursuing goals and making wise choices that align with biblical principles. Self-control involves not only saying "no" to harmful desires but also saying "yes" to hard work and perseverance. Diligence and self-control are like two sides of the same coin when it comes to cultivating a life that bears fruit and honors God.
Together, they form a powerful partnership, enabling us to faithfully pursue our goals and remain steadfast in our walk with Christ.Diligence involves a commitment to hard work, perseverance, and consistency. It reflects a heart that is dedicated to doing everything as though it is for the Lord
Colossians 3:23 is an inspiring verse that encourages us to approach everything we do with purpose and devotion: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." This verse reminds us that our actions, whether big or small, should be done wholeheartedly, reflecting our faith and honoring God. It calls for diligence, sincerity, and passion in all aspects of life—whether in work, service, or relationships—knowing that our ultimate reward comes from God. It ties beautifully into the qualities of diligence and self-control, showing how intentional and disciplined effort can glorify Him in our everyday lives.
(Colossians 3:23). This attitude fosters growth and stewardship over the talents, responsibilities, and opportunities God has entrusted to us.
Self-control, on the other hand, is the ability to regulate our thoughts, emotions, and actions in alignment with God’s will. It keeps us from being led astray by fleeting desires or distractions.
In Proverbs 25:28, a person without self-control is compared to a city with broken walls—vulnerable and unprotected. Self-control fortifies diligence, ensuring that our efforts stay focused and aligned with our higher purpose.
When we combine these qualities, they reinforce each other. For example:
In verse 5, the contrast between honesty and deceit highlights self-control's role in maintaining integrity. Resisting the urge to lie or manipulate requires a strong moral compass guided by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 13:5 states, "A good man hates lies; wicked men lie constantly and come to shame."
This verse ties closely to the concept of self-control, emphasizing honesty and integrity. Exercising self-control in communication means choosing truth over falsehood, even when deceit might seem easier or more convenient. Spirit and is a discipline strengthened by self-control. Avoiding lies requires a conscious effort to align one's words and actions with godly principles, resisting temptations that lead to shame and broken trust.
Conclusion
As a gift of the Holy Spirit, self-control transforms individuals, enabling them to align their lives with divine principles. This divine trait not only fosters personal growth but also contributes to building a just and compassionate society. Rooted in Scripture, self-control serves as a testament to
Self-control is like a muscle—it can be strengthened with consistent practice and a deliberate approach. Here are some ways to develop and gain self-control. Understand the reason behind your desire to exercise self-control.
Whether it's to honor God, achieve personal goals, or lead a healthier lifestyle, a clear purpose fuels perseverance. As a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), self-control is strengthened by a close relationship with God. Regular prayer and meditating on Scripture help align your thoughts and actions with His will.
Galatians 5:22-23 is a passage in the Bible that describes the fruits of the Spirit.
The passage lists nine characteristics that come to fruition in the lives of Christians when they are full of the Spirit of God: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Love is translated from the Greek word ἀγάπη, which is perfect love that only God can give.
The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the opposite of sin and egotism, and is the life of Christ; it is divine nature In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists nine specific behaviors that result from the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life.
They are in direct opposition to what the flesh produces, and believers are encouraged to walk by the Spirit rather than following sinful desire-sough a life centered on Christ and guided by the Spirit. It underscores how self-control works in harmony with other qualities like patience and kindness, reflecting a holistic spiritual maturity.
Set Small Goals: Start with manageable steps. For example, if you're working on controlling speech, aim to pause before responding in conversations. Incremental improvements make big changes over time. In other words “Put your mind in gear before your mouth in motion!
Build Awareness: Take note of triggers or patterns that challenge your self-control. For instance, Proverbs 13:3 reminds us of the impact of words—awareness can prevent hasty or harmful speech.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Words can deeply hurt someone by causing emotional pain, undermining their self-esteem, and potentially leading to feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, or even helplessness.
Develop Positive Habits can transform your life, bringing greater discipline, focus, and fulfillment. Here are some steps to help you build habits that align with your values and goals:
Accountability: is a powerful tool for personal growth, character development, and building a fruitful, God-honoring life. It involves holding ourselves responsible for our actions and decisions while inviting others to support and challenge us in our journey. Here's how accountability can make a meaningful impact:
Practical Ways to Embrace Accountability:
** Galatians 6:2 states, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
*** James 5:16 States,Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
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