Silent Treatment
Good Morning Girls! We all know what its like to be tormented by the enemy. We have all experienced his relentless chatter in our minds. We all know he is the father of lies and speaks them to us nonstop.
My question today is: If we all know this.....why is it still such an effective weapon used against us?
Why is it that day after day I am bombarded with thoughts and lies that are contrary to what I know to be true, or believe in my heart? Why is it that I even add to the words of the enemy....agreeing with him at times and entertaining his "theories"? Why is it that any time I hear a thought that speaks of me and my life in a less than victorious way I don't shut it down and forget about it?
The "forgetting about it" is the thing I struggle with. I will hear the accusations, the self defeat, I will shake it off knowing it is not true.......but....it sticks with me. It's in the back of my mind all day. It's waiting there to prove me wrong. One wrong step. One mistake. One shred of evidence that proves that the lie is in fact true.
It is only 10am. I have been awake for 3 hours. So far I have "felt" like I will never get back into the shape I was a couple years ago. I will never eat right on a consistent basis. My hubby doesn't like me but rather finds me annoying and irritating (so I better tone down my energy which sucks the life out of me). My writing stinks...I've lost whatever talent I once has, but who really cares anyway because I've lost whatever readers I once had (except for the 5 of you loyal peeps....perhaps there is something wrong with you guys too-Lol). I have no direction in my life. Am I missing out on something? Is there something I should be doing that I am not?
All that negativity in just 3 hours. And that all occurred while cuddling with my kids before school, making cookies and lunches, cleaning the kitchen, and having devotion and prayer time. What's a Girl to do (besides take a nap which I fully intend on doing if my hubby ever leaves for the office......what is taking him so long!!!???)
Many of us have learned to answer the lies of the enemy with the Word of God. The Truth that gives life. I agree with that. HOWEVER, if I answered every single negative thought that went through my head I would be talking all day. Not that I mind talking all day....it's just that I don't want to waste my life talking to the devil all day.
I don't believe he is worth all of my time or effort!
Sometimes, I choose another weapon. It's a dirty one that I experienced many times in my life. I always hated it because it made me feel invisible, insignificant, and like I wasn't worth the time of day. Unfortunately many of you probably experienced it yourself at times.
Yes. It is the Silent Treatment.
Though I never recommend you use it on another human being (unless it is someone speaking hurtful to you). I do find it is an excellent weapon against the enemy. It says everything we want it to. It says: you are irrelevant. You are insignificant. I cannot hear you. I am not going to waste my breath on you. That is just too stupid to bother answering.
Giving the silent treatment alone is not enough. It is not enough because whether you want to or not, you will hold on to the lies in your head. They will be there waiting for you to prove them right. The next step in the silent treatment is this:
TAKE ACTION
Don't tell him you are not a quitter. Show him you are not a quitter. I told you the thoughts going through my mind so far today. I did not answer any of them. Rather I ignored them (well except for sharing them with you) and took action. I took action in the form of not eating a fresh baked cookie (though I did hold it in my hand and breathed in the warmth and smell...oh mama...my baking gift is tormenting!). I sat down to write (still fighting the thoughts that my writing stinks). And I have my workout planned for later when I am at the Y for Charley's swim practice. Oh yeah....and I will be taking a nap if my hubby EVER LEAVES!!!
So Girls, add another weapon to your warfare. Answer the lies when appropriate, but also answer with action. I don't know who coined the phrase "Action speaks louder than words", but I agree. I mean saying "God has given me the spirit of self control" doesn't mean much if I am saying it will a mouth full of delicious fresh baked chocolaty chip cookies right? But at the end of the day when I have not eaten a cookie both the enemy and I will be amazed (only I will be happy and he will be wondering "what's up with that?")
In case you don't agree with the Silent Treatment, let me just show you that it is scriptural......
Psalm 38:13-14 But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply.
Sometimes I make myself giggle.......
Love, grace, and a day of Silence to you all-
Jen
My question today is: If we all know this.....why is it still such an effective weapon used against us?
Why is it that day after day I am bombarded with thoughts and lies that are contrary to what I know to be true, or believe in my heart? Why is it that I even add to the words of the enemy....agreeing with him at times and entertaining his "theories"? Why is it that any time I hear a thought that speaks of me and my life in a less than victorious way I don't shut it down and forget about it?
The "forgetting about it" is the thing I struggle with. I will hear the accusations, the self defeat, I will shake it off knowing it is not true.......but....it sticks with me. It's in the back of my mind all day. It's waiting there to prove me wrong. One wrong step. One mistake. One shred of evidence that proves that the lie is in fact true.
It is only 10am. I have been awake for 3 hours. So far I have "felt" like I will never get back into the shape I was a couple years ago. I will never eat right on a consistent basis. My hubby doesn't like me but rather finds me annoying and irritating (so I better tone down my energy which sucks the life out of me). My writing stinks...I've lost whatever talent I once has, but who really cares anyway because I've lost whatever readers I once had (except for the 5 of you loyal peeps....perhaps there is something wrong with you guys too-Lol). I have no direction in my life. Am I missing out on something? Is there something I should be doing that I am not?
All that negativity in just 3 hours. And that all occurred while cuddling with my kids before school, making cookies and lunches, cleaning the kitchen, and having devotion and prayer time. What's a Girl to do (besides take a nap which I fully intend on doing if my hubby ever leaves for the office......what is taking him so long!!!???)
Many of us have learned to answer the lies of the enemy with the Word of God. The Truth that gives life. I agree with that. HOWEVER, if I answered every single negative thought that went through my head I would be talking all day. Not that I mind talking all day....it's just that I don't want to waste my life talking to the devil all day.
I don't believe he is worth all of my time or effort!
Sometimes, I choose another weapon. It's a dirty one that I experienced many times in my life. I always hated it because it made me feel invisible, insignificant, and like I wasn't worth the time of day. Unfortunately many of you probably experienced it yourself at times.
Yes. It is the Silent Treatment.
Though I never recommend you use it on another human being (unless it is someone speaking hurtful to you). I do find it is an excellent weapon against the enemy. It says everything we want it to. It says: you are irrelevant. You are insignificant. I cannot hear you. I am not going to waste my breath on you. That is just too stupid to bother answering.
Giving the silent treatment alone is not enough. It is not enough because whether you want to or not, you will hold on to the lies in your head. They will be there waiting for you to prove them right. The next step in the silent treatment is this:
TAKE ACTION
Don't tell him you are not a quitter. Show him you are not a quitter. I told you the thoughts going through my mind so far today. I did not answer any of them. Rather I ignored them (well except for sharing them with you) and took action. I took action in the form of not eating a fresh baked cookie (though I did hold it in my hand and breathed in the warmth and smell...oh mama...my baking gift is tormenting!). I sat down to write (still fighting the thoughts that my writing stinks). And I have my workout planned for later when I am at the Y for Charley's swim practice. Oh yeah....and I will be taking a nap if my hubby EVER LEAVES!!!
So Girls, add another weapon to your warfare. Answer the lies when appropriate, but also answer with action. I don't know who coined the phrase "Action speaks louder than words", but I agree. I mean saying "God has given me the spirit of self control" doesn't mean much if I am saying it will a mouth full of delicious fresh baked chocolaty chip cookies right? But at the end of the day when I have not eaten a cookie both the enemy and I will be amazed (only I will be happy and he will be wondering "what's up with that?")
In case you don't agree with the Silent Treatment, let me just show you that it is scriptural......
Psalm 38:13-14 But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply.
Sometimes I make myself giggle.......
Love, grace, and a day of Silence to you all-
Jen
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