Why do we listen to the voice of the enemy? We all do it, whether we want to admit to it or not. It is not an everyday occurrence, but regular non the less. Yes, I'm calling myself out too. Logically speaking it makes no sense. He is a liar. So why are we listening to him? The truth of the matter is that we listen to him because he entices our sinful nature and says he can give us things that we desire. Even though we both know that only God can give us the desires of our hearts. Yes, the enemy was good once, he was one of God's angels who developed a big head and got demoted. But that was long before we were born. So It's not like we thought the enemy was good and then learned the truth later. We have always known this. Yes, he tried to tell us that he can give us things that we desire that are outside of God's design for us but sound appealing to our sinful nature. The enemy's one mission in life is to steal, kill and destroy. This begs the question of why we listen to him. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10. God wants to give us a beautiful life and the enemy wants to destroy it.
One of the many things I struggle with is my outward appearance. Both God and my hubby, the two most important voices in my life, both say I am beautiful and according to my standards of beauty and what I look for in others, I am. Some days I do see it, but, most days, I cannot. The enemy says I have to wear makeup and work for my outer beauty. But God, says that I'm already beautiful. So why do I believe the voice that says I have to work for something when the other voice, the most important voice says that I do not have to work for it? It makes no sense. It's time to silence the voice of the enemy and turn up the voice of Holy Spirit.
The other reason why I think we listen to the enemy's voice is that he is sneaky and plants little ideas in our heads and when aren't careful and on guard we entertain those thoughts. In other words, there are times when we "choose" to listen when he is offering things that he has no business offering and when we are not fully on guard and watching our thoughts.
Recently at work, I was thinking through our laundry. My hubby has a habit of leaving piles of dirty laundry around our apartment. It's a combination of it being just the two of us in our home and likely his ADHD. No, not here to vent my marital frustrations or put my hubby down.
Part of my heart and mind say that because I do the majority of our housework that he could at least put his laundry in the hamper. Sometimes in the evening, I tell him I'm doing laundry the next morning and ask him to put all the piles he wants washed in the basket. He then quickly gets up and puts it all in the basket.
Part of my thoughts were directing me back to a conversation I had with my counselor. We were discussing household chores and such. She suggested that I "give" my hubby the chores that I wasn't particular about how they are done and what hills I wanted to die on, and what I am willing to live with. I am annoyed with the piles of clothing, but it's not the end of the world. I know my hubby doesn't do it intentionally. Between his mental health and his ADHD, he struggles with some tasks. Again, not here to slander my hubby. Ruth spent a lot of time complaining and talking down about her hubby. Hannah is a new woman 😉 and spends very little time talking down about her hubby, or at least I'm working on it. 😉
Anyways, one of the thoughts the enemy gave me was that if I picked up the piles and then washed, dried, etc I would be doing everything and become a doormat.
Thankfully Holy Spirit interrupted the enemy and informed me that I was listening to the enemy because my thoughts didn't line up with Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." It stopped me in my tracks. Because I was then able to turn around and tell the enemy that that's not who my hubby is. He doesn't treat me like a doormat. He loves me.
Yes, I do the majority of the work around our home, but I do it out of love, enjoyment and because my hubby appreciates it. Of which he tells me regularly. When he comes to me and tells me how much he appreciates it, it makes me feel loved and appreciated.
Like I said before. The enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy. In my situation with my outward appearance, he wants to destroy my God-given confidence and relationship with God. he wants me to think that I have to work for my beauty. In my laundry situation, he wants to destroy my marriage and put a wedge between my husband and I. Friend, we need to silence the voice of the enemy and turn up Holy Spirit's voice in our hearts.
I pray that you would also silence the enemies voice in your life and turn up Holy Spirit's voice.
God Bless
~Hannah
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