Pretensions

<sup>Tear Down that Wall!! (I remember this day so well)


2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4</sup>The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

How much time have you spent wasted worrying about what others think about you? I have been criticized more times than I could ever count in ministry and other areas. I can take that, pray about it and allow God the room to change me if need be... or I can dwell on it and let it define me and become unproductive in my walk with Christ. I had a lady yesterday sending me messages because I participated in a poll regarding the current health care amendment that is being proposed. This lady was basically saying that I was attacking Canada because I said "look at Canada" meaning their health care system (which I would have to say I am well informed on what this package would mean for the US). She went on and on to the point of questioning my Christianity over a stinking poll. I personally thought that she should be worried more about all of the unreached people in Canada and less about me voting in a poll. She even talks about how she would not live here because of the crime and all...lets just forget about being a city on a hill shining our light for Christ or anything. We should all just hunker down where there is no crime, as if that could ever be possible. So, she goes on to basically bash the US when she was saying I was bashing Canada. I was not at all. I am not trying to get into politics or anything but everything I have learned or have heard personal testimonials of, points me to toward the direction of not wanting government controlled health care or a socialist country. I believe in Democracy and I think that we have been very blessed as a country and that the Lord will revive us again. She goes on about how she could NEVER live here and that she is a "Mennonite" and they believe in taking care of the least. That is good and fine because I sure think that we should always always take care of those who are genuinely in need. I just think that it needs to come from cheerful givers and not the government mandating it. I was really floored that someone that is a complete stranger to me would write me like that and go off and then turn around and do the same thing she was accusing me of. I never want to be a stumbling block and I fall short in so many ways, but I think it is fine for me to participate in a poll without someone trying to pick me apart. She told me that I know nothing of their health care and how she had a surgery and got great care. Wonderful! She then goes on to tell me that I can google her if I don't believe her, but that she is a nurse practitioner and her husband as she put it a "Dr. of Pharmacy." I got her whole resume. Well, that left me to conclude that of course she had the best of the best treatment (and I am glad)...she is a nurse practitioner. All of this is to say that it is petty arguments that can steal our focus, pit us against one another, and cause us to want to not put our foot out in muddy waters or uncharted territory. I totally just felt like this lady was an argumentative person and clearly needed someone to throw her lit match on a flame. Well, all of this is to say that we can not let one persons opinion of us define who we are or who we aren't. I can remember when Rod and I first got married and how horrible the first couple of years were. We are both equally stubborn and we knew one thing for sure which was how to push each others buttons. I finally came to a crossroad where I needed to decide some things. Was I going to continue to look at things in terms of flesh and blood? Or would I see that my war is not against flesh and blood? The enemy knows where I am weak and where to attack when he sees any guard down that the armor of God is not covering. Our enemy doesn't hesitate to play dirty! So, I went in prayer and it was if the Lord put this on my heart: Your husband does not define who you are, your family doesn't, or anyone else. I define who you are...so believe me and act on the truth. The more we believe the lies of the enemy the more we will begin to act on how we feel until it becomes a part of our belief system. There is valid criticism that we can learn from but not everything that you hear that tears you down is a word for you if you know what I mean. Words are so powerful! So many of us have been hurt deeply by what others have said and by the lies of the oppressor and the lies we have told ourselves. Yes we can learn from anything, but how often do you and I let one piece of criticism ruin our whole day, week, month, or even year? You and I are not what we have done. Those are two separate things. We may feel that we are scarred by sin or that we are wearing a cloak of sin that will never come off. Not true. When you begin to believe lies over truth you set up pretensions and vain imaginations against the knowledge of Gods word.
The word for pretension in the above verse is the following:

3053 logismo,j logismos {log-is-mos'}
Meaning: 1) a reckoning, computation 2) a reasoning: such as is hostile to the Christian faith 3) a judgment, decision: such as conscience passes

So we are told to cast down these pretensions...the thoughts and attitudes that are hostile to the Christian faith. I am telling you it is detrimental for your freedom in Christ and soundness of mind. When you quit looking to Jesus and start looking at others for worth and approval you will be one big ball of insecurity. Take it from one who knows.

I love the KJV of these verses:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

So, next time you are imagining that someone doesn't like you, or they are avoiding you, or maybe you are going off the deep end with the "what ifs" of life that have not happened...next time this happens ask God to help you think on things that are true, lovely, praiseworthy, and etc. Ask Him to help you to see the truth and for the stones that have been cast your way to be held captive by the knowledge of His word.

There have been numerous times where I have thought this person or that does not like me so I began to act differently and they did and then it cycled into some sort of tension filled relationship. Other times I have felt rejected so I began to demonstrate that in my behavior feeling that I was going to be rejected by everyone anyway. The list could go on and on. I am just wondering what would happen if we really tapped into the truth of God's word and took those thoughts or imaginations captive. We would be so much more free. So much more secure in the Lord.

How do we do that? Replace lies with truth. You are not going to feel like it but the more you walk in faith the time will come when you truly are persuaded by truth not just feelings or opinions. God is the only one who truly knows you. He is greater than your heart and knows everything.
Imagine you are standing somewhere and you have bricks being stacked up all around you. Those represent the lies that you have been believing and letting define you. The bricks get so high that they become a wall and you can't even see in front of you or strain your neck to look up. What needs to happen to be able to be free? Those bricks need to come down. How? They need to be demolished. Allow Christ to be the one who comes and cuts those bricks to pieces, demolishing the walls around you with the sword of the Spirit. My head can get so crowded and I desperately need constant washing in the word to make sure that my face is set like stone, determined to do His will...not my will or the will of anyone else...His. So let Him tear those things down. Give Him that access! Then, spend time in the word meditating on His thoughts. Fix your eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith! If you don't I promise you will get stuck in all manner of people pleasing, fear, worry, and just plain sin.

Galatians 1:10
¹⁰Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Just like the Berlin wall separated East Germany from West Germany our vain imaginations and constant worry over what people think separate us from Christ and His perfect plan for our lives. It does not bring Him glory to sit around and wallow in our past sins and failures or past hurts. The only thing that will set us free is to look up.

I am getting ready to start a new bible study class at church for women. With that is going to come opposition so I should not act surprised. People are not going to like you or agree with you on everything. That is why it is so important to have a daily relationship with the Lord. One where Lamentations says to pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. We are so safe to do that with Him. Don't let others be the death of you or allow them to steal your joy and stifle your passion. Believe God.