The Messy Three
Since it’s summer, there is always a reason to celebrate with family and friends. However, there are three party crashers that we never want to show up. They are none other than the demonic Spirits of Discouragement, Entitlement and Misperception. I refer to them as “The Messy Three.
There’s a reason I call them “Messy.” Once they make their exit, you can be sure confusion and strife will be left behind as parting gifts. How many times have you been at work or home minding your business when someone suddenly tries to deliver you a package from one of “The Messy Three” to disrupt your life? The great news is that we do not have to entertain them. For instance, my mother always wanted a home for us with plenty of space for a back yard. For ten long years, she held tightly onto the Lord’s promise of homeownership. She did this even when others around us started to move out of the projects that I was born in. She refused, however, to allow the Spirit of Discouragement to defeat her. Until one day, we were blessed with a house of our own. Thank You, Jesus! Through her actions, she taught me the true Power of Faith. Hebrews 11:6 NIV reminds us “And without faith it is impossible to please God.”
The Spirit of Entitlement is as equally damaging to us. In fact, out of all The Messy Three, this is the one that I despise the most. Do you want to know why I loathe it so much? The presence of entitlement means the absence of gratefulness. It has completely disintegrated or fled! Sure, it’s great to know as Children of God, He will bless us with miracles, gifts and talents. Nevertheless, it’s something entirely different to believe we deserve them. Now, you talk about a dangerous road to travel! There’s only one destination that a Spirit of Entitlement will guide us to and that’s a road of self-destruction. Proverbs 18:12 NIV warns us, “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
Lastly, let’s look at a Spirit of Misperception. Few things can make us look as foolish as misinterpreting a situation. Here’s an example. One day, a new employee at work came to me and declared, “I hate my job!” As a HR Generalist, it’s my duty to try to find the root of an employee relations issue. So, I asked her why. She then cried and said, “Everyone hates me in my department!” Stunned, I thought, “What? How is that possible, you just got here!” After doing some digging, I discovered the employee didn’t really know how to communicate with her colleagues. After patiently pointing out several significant facts, I was able to help her dispel the feeling of alienation that she felt. Then she was finally able to see that things weren’t as bad as she had originally thought. Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” Better yet, Proverbs 14:29 NIV says, “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.” In other words, we should be careful not to rush to judgment. The Lord knows I’m just as guilty of this one myself!
Beloved, as we embark on this new day, let’s avoid entertaining any aspect of “The Messy Three.” So, when one of them comes knocking at your door, block their foolishness by preventing them from even entering your sanctuary of peace. Then use the Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) and send them right back the way they came!
