Today was a day like most ... busy, with a “to do” list that never seems to get any shorter. In fact, I hate those lists. Yet, I am a list maker ... I need a list to keep track of my lists ... especially all those Post-Its.^® Don't you just love them! I have them in all colors and sizes, prints and plain, lined and unlined. I color-coordinate them: pink for writing, yellow for appointments, green for spiritual, and ... well, you have the picture.

Truth is, my system doesn't work for more than a day or so. I could spend all my time working out the “system” and never complete one item on my “to do” list.

Distractions are the jewels of Satan's arsenal of diversion. Keeping us busy, but not productive. Keeping us on the journey, but down the wrong paths. Keeping us in the game, but on the bench.

You do realize the “evil one” is not a creative player. He never has an original idea. He is a stealer in this game called life.

Remember who he is! A fallen angel. With that fall, all power and authority was taken away. His very identity was lost. Satan cares nothing for us. He only cares about what he can steal from us: our peace of mind, our joy, our ideas, our love, our hope, our choices, our thoughts, our very identity. He wants to sidetrack us from our journey toward Christ, and to discredit God.

Satan is sneaky and sly. He's quick to tell you everything is not okay. He whispers partial truths and promotes our weakness: “You're not good enough.” “God had nothing to do with it ... you did it!” “You're worth it ... you deserve it.” “That'll never work.” “You don't need Him.” “Are you going to let her get away with that?” “You have plenty of time.” “You can't say no!” “Just once won't matter.”

Yes, he wants to manipulate good into perversion and to take credit for all that God's done.

Then there's fear ... he loves that! It leads to delayed and poor decisions, loneliness, anger, withdrawal, doubts, worry, hesitancy. It's like a pothole so big we can't climb out of it ... a detour that takes us nowhere. Satan delights in discouragement, negative attitudes, insecurity, laziness, wasting time, immaturity, overcommitment, worry, doubt, resentment, lust, self-persecution, criticism, greed. He “loves” the workaholic and the multi-tasker, whose focus can easily be fragmented. And the substance abuser. Even those who have been hurt and abused.

If Post-Its^® and list-making can distract me and divert me from my relationship with my Heavenly Father, think of how much more negative thoughts can be used to keep us from reaching our full potential and fulfilling God's plans for our lives.

Those of us who have experienced emotional abuse and are prone to the Deadly D’s: disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, doubt, depression, disorganization, dissociation, defeat, despondency, and disability can become easy targets with negative thoughts running like a hamster in its wheel.

Here are a few ways to handle those D's:

1.  Tell yourself, out loud, that your negative feelings are related to the depression. They usually do not reflect reality. Besides, feelings are fickle and unreliable. We all know that. Remember: “God sees us as He would like us to be, but loves us as we are.”
2. Get out into the sunshine; turn all the lights on. While you’re letting in the light, check out what Paul says in Ephesians 5: “Live as children of light... Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them... and Christ will shine on you” (NIV).
3. Create an upbeat atmosphere. I play classical music or my favorite Christian CDs or tapes. Play whatever is uplifting to you: jazz, rock and roll, songs of the 70's. Whatever. Fix a couple cups of tea, coffee or cocoa and curl up in the sunshine with a “they lived happily ever after” story or uplifting poems. Thank God for the air you breathe, for shelter, for food ... focusing on the things you do have and the people who care about you. Write my name down. Write God and Jesus’ name down. We care about you!
4. Phone or email a trusted friend and chat a bit. Ask her to pray for you. Specifics are not necessary—God knows. (Unsure of that? Read Psalm 139.) Ask, “How may I pray for you?” Focusing on others' needs can help us put ours into perspective.
5. Do what nurtures you. Be around people who are positive and who lift you up. Avoid being alone and secretive. Take a walk. A little exercise plus sunshine can do wonders. Playing the piano is comforting for me. Sometimes I get out a coloring book and crayons. I have no artistic talent, but this is relaxing and something that I can finish with little thought involved. “Yeah, I finished one thing today!”
6. If you’re finding it difficult to concentrate or to get tasks done, set a timer to do little bits at a time. Clean the mirror and forget the rest of the bathroom. This is not the time for spring cleaning, for reading a huge novel, or organizing a women's luncheon. You need to take care of you. Rest and do what you're able. That is an accomplishment.
7. Get in touch with your Dynamic Duo—that’s you and the Holy Spirit. Whether you feel that way or not, the Holy Spirit is with you to comfort, guide, and represent you. Read God’s Word and pray when you are able. If you just cannot, read this one verse: Romans 8:26, and you will know that the Holy Spirit is standing in for you before the Father with the words and feelings that you cannot express.

Write this down! Whenever we fall for Satan's deception, we can turn around and reclaim God's promises and authority. The prescription reads: Any time, every time, over and over as needed. That's how much we are loved!

Satan cannot ever rule the game. “He hasn't paid the price of admission. Once we truly understand that we've been bought with the greatest price—the blood of God's Only Son, THEN we can rise out of any pit we might fall into in this life.”¹

So don't waste your time on the distractions of life. “The bright light of Christ marks the way. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions to pursue. Figure out what will please Christ and then do it” (my paraphrase from Ephesians 5, The Message).

Deception will always fail when we make Jesus smile!

Copyright © by Constance Gilbert
*Coda = the ending, in music, or the section at the end of a text giving additional information.

¹Taken from Pack Up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box then Sit on the Lid and Laugh by Barbara Johnson (Thomas Nelson, 1993). Share

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