The Gift of God

​     We have all been given a great gift – a treasure beyond measure, a pearl of great price.  Some aspect or aspects of God’s nature have been gifted to us, as we are made in His image by His hand.  Satan sees this gift, and despises it – not because he is invested in or interested in us, but because he hates God.  So Satan sets out to squeeze it, to bind it, and to cover it up.  He cannot destroy if because it is the gift of God.  But if we agree with his deceptions, he can convince us to hide our true nature in a cave of self-protection that becomes a prison for our hearts.  He can bind our hearts up in lies, so that the “weeds” in our hearts choke out our true nature, preventing it from pouring out into the world. 
     Against Satan’s intentional and cunning strategy, we have a very powerful weapon:  the truth of Christ.  Rather than constructing a wall of self-protection of our own design that we build around our hearts, which only hardens our hearts and cuts us off from our own feelings and our true selves, Jesus’ truth is a shield that protects us from the very thing that causes us harm - the lies of the enemy.  The more truth we know, the stronger our shield of protection.  Jesus’ truth also is effective at pulling out weeds.  When the weeds are thinned out, more and more of our true selves can shine and grow in the sun of His love.  As our true natures begin to flow freely from our hearts, we become more and more fulfilled, have more to give from our hearts, and know more fully our true value and worth, which according to Christ is worthy of dying to save. 
     Ask Jesus for truth, every moment of every day, no matter what the situation or circumstance.  It is a prayer worth praying without ceasing.