Satan’s Sneaky Way of Derailing Your Destiny

by | Aug 7, 2017 | Spiritual Warfare

Feelings—they’re part of the human experience. We can’t completely escape them, and most often we don’t choose the ones we deal with. Whether anxiety, depression, rejection, attractions—whatever it is—we simply find ourselves with certain feelings.

The Danger of Persistent Feelings

The most dangerous aspect of a feeling, however, isn’t the emotion itself or even the behavior it influences. But it’s that the devil uses a persistent feeling to create a script for our lives. By this I mean that he uses feelings to influence the way each of us understand ourselves.

Allow me to use my life as an illustration. In my early years, I found myself struggling with timidity, especially around strangers. This shyness held me back in social situations—I didn’t know how to interact with most my age, and most didn’t want to interact with me. So for years I felt different, rejected and a variety of other things. As these feelings persisted, they became the bullet points on a script I began to believe about myself. Accordingly, I came to believe “different” and “reject” is who I am. I saw them as parts of my identity—an identity of shame.

Choosing a New “I Am”

My born-again experience at 16 years old didn’t suddenly dissolve these struggles. Neither did willpower or merely mustering up more faith. The most decided change in me happened as I grew in understanding of the truth that God’s Word spoke about me. Assurances like: “if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17a) or that “we are His workmanship” (Eph. 2:10a). I learned that these promises are the bullet points on a new identity called “in Christ.”


While I never chose the feelings that I felt, I now had a choice to make. I could continue to allow those old things to identify me, or I could choose to identify with my new identity in Christ, despite what I feel. In other words, I could choose to accept the truth that God’s Word is more real than what I feel. And so I did—and so I do. With this, my “I am” changed from “I am a reject” to “I am a child of God, I am complete, I am God’s masterpiece.”

You Aren’t What You Feel

If you currently battle with something you don’t want, here’s some encouragement: You aren’t how you feel, what you fear or the way you fall. Hear this: Victory doesn’t necessarily mean you no longer feel, but it means you no longer identify with that feeling because you’ve chosen a new “I am”—the great “I am,” which is “in Christ.” And “in Christ” is a shame-free identity no devil can accuse because it’s not about you—it’s about Jesus—the One in whom the accuser can find no fault.

By the way, if you’d like to discover so much more about how to master your feelings, join me this Thursday evening, Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. CST for a live, interactive Bible study. Register free at kylewinkler.org/live. {eoa}

Kyle Winkler equips people to live in victory. His mobile app, Shut Up, Devil!, is the #1 spiritual warfare app, and his book, Activating the Power of God’s Word, uncovers 16 strategic declarations to transform your life. Kyle holds a Master of Divinity in biblical studies from Regent University. Get daily encouragement from Kyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS

Stay up-to-date with current issues, Christian teachings, entertainment news, videos & more.

The latest breaking Christian news you need to know about as soon as it happens.

Prophetic messages from respected leaders & news of how God is moving throughout the world. 


MORE FROM CHARISMA

KFC Quiet on New Promotion of Demonic Diablo IV

KFC Quiet on New Promotion of Demonic Diablo IV

Not wanting to fall into the same pit of boycotts and media attention that has gripped major corporations like Bud Light, Target and Kohl's, fast-food retailer Kentucky Fried Chicken has been quiet about their newest collaboration. Partnering with video game giant...

Pride or Humility?

Pride or Humility?

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Prov. 16:12). In a world where increasingly evil is called good and good is called evil, I pray for...

Against These Spiritual Weapons, the World Has No Defense

Against These Spiritual Weapons, the World Has No Defense

All of us know the story of David and Goliath. The young shepherd boy killed the heavily armed giant warrior, bringing him down with his slingshot and a rock. But there's a part of the story that many of us have forgotten. It's a part that we shouldn't overlook. We...

Why Love Does Not Define God

Why Love Does Not Define God

Today's preaching from Christian pulpits is filled with compromise, often because of the wrong presentation of biblical love. Since love is a powerful motivating force that can drive people to the limits of their abilities and existence, it needs to be defined...

God Promises to Send His Latter Rain

God Promises to Send His Latter Rain

Last November I traveled to central Oregon to preach at Eastside Church, a Foursquare congregation led by a pastor named Brian Carmack. While I was there for a weekend of ministry, the Lord gave me Isaiah 44:3 as a promise to share with the church. It says: “For I...

RECENT ARTICLES

Pastor Marcus Rogers Warns Christians: ‘Do Not Shop Here’

Major corporations are suffering through massive financial setbacks from boycotts. The Bud Light brand performed what some are calling the worst marketing campaign in history, while Target is now...
MLB Players Speak Out Against Group Dodgers Look to Honor

MLB Players Speak Out Against Group Dodgers Look to Honor

For all the talk Major League Baseball has done about welcoming fans of all backgrounds and faiths, the Los Angeles Dodgers superbly alienated millions of fans within their own city and across the country. In their back and forth of inviting, then disinviting, then...

5 Steps to Succeed Over Secret Sin

5 Steps to Succeed Over Secret Sin

When I first came to Christ, a tract titled "I'll Never Tell Anyone I Have a Problem With..." caught my attention. I was not alone. It helped multitudes get free from sexual sin. When we face besetting sins that seem to have a stranglehold on our lives, it can seem...

Has Chick-fil-A Gone ‘Woke’ Like Some Claim?

Has Chick-fil-A Gone ‘Woke’ Like Some Claim?

Chick-fil-A has built a dominant brand at the peak of the fast-food industry based on good food, great service and in the minds of Christians throughout the country, its adherence to biblical principles. Now there are accusations that the makers of "God's chicken"...

Rick Joyner Hospitalized Following Series of Strokes

Rick Joyner Hospitalized Following Series of Strokes

On Friday, May 26, MorningStar Ministries founder Rick Joyner suffered a series of strokes. Acting President of MorningStar Ministries and Lead Pastor of MorningStar Church Chris Reed made the announcement on Pentecost Sunday: "Our founder, Rick Joyner, had a stroke....

Police and Jews Clash During ‘Pentecost Protests’

Police and Jews Clash During ‘Pentecost Protests’

A Sunday morning clash erupted between dozens of Israelis, many of them Orthodox Jews, and Christians who the Israelis claimed were proselytizing at the Western Wall. The Christians were part of the Pentecost 2023 Global Day of Prayer for Jerusalem and the Nations, a...

Pin It on Pinterest