Face Check

     Everywhere I went friends asked, “What’s wrong?” I said, “I’m fine.”

     It had been a solid week of battles, and inner questions about how God would help me this time. But why did people ask me, “What’s wrong?”  I didn’t discuss my struggles with anyone.

    The LORD suggested I look in the mirror. I looked, and wondered who that person was. People were used to my face looking happy. A thought came:

The fruit of religion is a long face.

The fruit of His Spirit is joy.

    I realized that some thoughts and even Bible verses going through my mind were from the enemy. Religious spirits were twisting scripture to take me out.

     It shouldn’t have surprised me. The enemy used scripture to trick Jesus in Matthew four. Psalms 91 was a promise of protection to those who dwell in His secret place. The enemy used Psalms 91 to tempt Jesus to do something stupid. Obviously obeying the enemy’s suggestions is never a place to go and expect to be safe.

     I decided I would agree with Jesus response to the enemy. Jesus said, I live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. I knew I needed to go quickly into the secret place, take a deep breath, worship and hear only his quiet voice. There I could find words from the mouth of God, and rebuke the enemy’s religious words.

     There my face could reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit called JOY as I got rid of religion. And hopefully when I checked the mirror it would reflect joy and other fruits of the Spirit.  Have you done a face check lately?

     Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.