The word "but" is one of the most negative words I can think of when it comes to serving the Lord. It is sometimes used as an excuse for the lack of follow-through in doing something positive for God--like__________. I’ll let you fill in the blank.
It is sometimes easier to
throw in the towel of defeat or raise the white flag and surrender to the roar
of Satan’s manifested schemes and methods of detouring Believers away from
God’s purpose for their lives.
It takes stability in our
faith to discipline ourselves to not listen to the words of a defeated foe and
stand tall in the strength of Almighty God--to conquer fear when facing a
mountain of challenges, or enduring trials in the valley of tribulations.
Satan tries to curse us with
defeatism if we listen to him, but Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave
when He was raised from the dead after dying on the cross for our sins--thus
defeating Satan at every turn. Praise be
to God in the highest!
If a person hears themselves
use the word ‘but’ in conversation or allows their mind to focus on it, it may affect their attempts to achieve certain goals--especially when
trying to secure victory over something that seems like it borders on the impossible. All things are possible with God at work. In Him, we walk in power.
Doubt in oneself limits
successful ministries for Christ and can, at times, make it impossible to
realize perfection in Him when the above uncertainty or hesitation arises. That person may feel defeated already in
their mind’s eye because of the battle raging within them. But God’s Spirit imparts wisdom and power to
rise above any doubt.
I’ve heard “Sunday Christians”
use the phrase, “I want to live for Jesus, but…” They insert the word "but" after their
statement of dedication to Him and then continue by explaining why they are struggling to live
for the Lord.
If they only knew what that three-letter word "but" was taking away from their faith, they would stop using it. Instead, they should use positive words that their soul can absorb--words that encourage their walk with Jesus rather than depleting the joy of the Lord that is in them.
I believe using the word "but" opens one’s spirit to negativity because it is a defeatist word that can
steal a person’s victory and cause them to relinquish holy ground to Satan--giving him too much power over their everyday living.
My advice from personal
experience is this: ‘stop trying and just live’ what God has given us the power
to accomplish His will, according to the power that works
in us in Jesus’ name. We must allow Him to fight our battles and believe that He will do so, and quit
giving in to Satan’s lies who is trying to convince us that what he says is factual. He is indeed the father of lies and the
deceptive spirit of darkness.
(Romans 8:37), “Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (vs 38)
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,” (vs 39) “nor height nor
depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Philippians 4:13), “I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
When we put on the whole armor
of God, as spoken of in the Bible, it prevents us from being defeated in spiritual
warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). We need to eliminate the word "but" from our
vocabulary and be more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.
Before my dad gave his life to the Lord, two of his vices were smoking and drinking. I remember asking him how he stopped after I became a Christian. I remember his exact words. He exclaimed, “How did I stop!? I put 'em down and didn’t pick 'em up!” There was no "but" in his response. He made up his mind to serve God and that was it—period! … no ifs, ands, or buts.
When talking to my
father-in-law one day, he told me that too many Christians want to justify
their actions regarding what the flesh wants to do. What he said next stuck with me. He
said that the justification of one’s deeds does not make it right in the eyes
of God, even though it seems right to those individuals wanting to do their own
thing.
It behooves us to know what godly limitations are and to live within those parameters. This is where the Bible shines God’s light on
the pathway of righteousness. For this
reason, God gave us His word as a roadmap to help us succeed and experience an
abundant life in Him.
(Proverbs 14:12), “There is
a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
My dad and father-in-law--both
Christians--believed that it takes dedication and a made-up mind to serve the
Lord with no excuses attached, especially the word "but." Their motto was this: “Stop trying and just live it!” They were referring to living
for Jesus. He is our strength and high
tower. In Him, we live strong each day and remain unmovable against Satan’s attacks.
We can ‘live it’ when we walk in
the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. He gives us the ability to refuse Satan’s down-casting doubts concerning the supernatural abilities we have as
Christians--to speak words of truth with boldness while ministering to those in need, in the name of Jesus.
www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com
Written by,
Papa Boyd
