John 3:20-21(NLT)
“20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
God has given every believer the ability to discern what is good and bad, and right and wrong. Through His Holy Spirit that indwells us, we can distinguish what is from God’s Kingdom of light, and what comes from the kingdom of darkness. We can discern the origin of a situation, relationship, or person when we walk in the Spirit as God has commanded. Most of us know this, but we sometimes forget what it takes to remain spiritually sharp in Christ, and we forget that the origin of a thing determines whether we should accept it or turn it away. We may not realize it or maybe we do, but a lot of us want to hold on to situations and relationships that do more to hinder than to help our spiritual walks. We enjoy the company of those who do not hunger for God’s love and light. When it comes to a delay in the blessings we desire most, this might be an area we need to explore.
Our close connections and relationships are areas that many single women must pay particular attention to and be incredibly careful about. Because whether we like it or not, these individuals have influence in our lives. We do not own ourselves. We belong to God, and He purchased us from the realm of darkness with an exceedingly high price. 1Corinthians 6:19-20(NLT) tells us, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Heavenly Father has set us apart for His own purpose, and this must always be in the forefront of our minds, especially when it comes to future blessings.
It’s no secret that people today are very different than they used to be. They are given to demonic influences more than ever. Even many Christians today are dabbling in New Agism with crystals, sage burning, and other strange practices that are not a part of the Kingdom of God. He warns us in 2Corinthians 6:15-17(NLT), “15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” We must be very selective about who we allow in our lives and in our inner circles. It is very naïve to think that satan won’t use those who don’t know God to ensnare us. There are some folks that seem like a blessing but are dispatched by darkness to tear us down by harming our relationship with God and separating us from His blessings. Again, we must be so very careful.
Love attracts love, and sometimes God’s love isn’t as anchored in our hearts as it needs to be. 1Thessalonians 5:5(NLT) declares, “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.” When you love the Lord and carry His love in your heart, it will attract the light to you, and it will certainly dispel the darkness around you. God is letting us know that all darkness, no manner its form, has no part in His children. If we are still clinging to it in any way, it is because we are trying to bring what should be in the past into our futures. Doing this will block our blessings. Most of us are praying for newness to come into our lives, but our actions are not creating a space for new blessings to land. We are behaving like the children of Israel in the wilderness, refusing to put away the old mindset of enslavement and put on the heart and mind that is required for more of God’s strength, power, and love to take root.
Check out what Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees in John 8:43-44(NLT), “Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.” He’s letting us in on his dialogue with those who belong to satan, so that we understand what is at stake. They couldn’t even hear him because they have refused the light. Many of us have folks in our inner circle like this, and Jesus has told us what is up. John 8:43-44 are words of the Master, and we need not think we know better than him. Sadly, the folks that belong to satan are bamboozled, and the enemy uses them to masquerade the light, but its all a hoax. Don’t be fooled by those that pretend to love the light, but actually hate it. If you have any doubt that you might have associations and friendships that are harming your walk with God, don’t close your eyes to it. Ask Him to identify those that are planted in order to steal your blessings, then lovingly, gently, and quickly, cut them loose. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Choose to Carry God’s Love in Your Heart”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.