The enemy of your soul loves when you agree with his judgements of your life, relationships, and circumstances. If he can get you to think like he does, you’ll live in a growing negativism that makes you stressed, sad, bitter, unapproachable, and a real delight to be around. Best of all, your heart will get calloused against listening for God’s voice, and your mind will get jaded against sharing what he’s done in your life.
“Death and life are in the power of your words. You will eat the fruit of whatever your heart sows” (Proverbs 18:21).
Words that speak life to you and others are absolute death to the enemy. That’s why the fruit of the Spirit are some of your most powerful weapons, and why the enemy is so afraid of you growing in them.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.” (Galatians 5:22–23a).
Living in the peace of God puts your mind at rest, and at the same time makes the enemy anxious and stressed. Giving joy away heals and energizes your soul, and depresses the enemy. Choosing to respond in God’s love puts you in the middle of his presence, and completely displaces the enemy. The more you agree with what the Holy Spirit is saying to you and your circumstances, the more damage you do to the enemy.
God isn’t trying to grow fruit in you to teach you a lesson, or to use you as a pawn in some cosmic chess match. He’s trying to produce certain fruit from your relationship with him because it’s exactly what you need right now. It’s just what you’ve been praying for to heal pain, feel joy and peace, brilliantly deal with difficult things, thrive in your identity in Jesus, and love others to life.
During the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them past all the guards. When they were free, the angel instructed them, “Go, stand in the same place you were arrested, and tell everyone all you know about this life” (Acts 5:19-20, paraphrased).
What do you think God is trying to grow and overflow in your life right now?
Equip Your Spirit 