Stockholm "Sin"drome – Galatians 5:1

1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
– Galations 5:1

Stockholm "Sin"drome

"Stockholm Syndrome" describes the behavior of kidnap victims who become sympathetic to their captors. The name comes from a 1973 hostage incident in Sweden. After six days of captivity in a bank, the hostages actually resisted rescue attempts. Months later, the victims still refused to testify against their captors at trial.

What causes this odd behavior?  It's a defense mechanism – small acts of kindness actually cause the hostages to become comfortable with their captors.  Rescue attempts soon become seen as a threat for fear the captives would be harmed in the process.  The behavior is considered a common survival strategy and has been seen in battered spouses, abused children, and POWs (for example).

When it comes to dealing with the captivity of our own sin, many people react with their own version of Stockholm Syndrome.  Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, wants to free us from the bondage of the slavery that keeps us in recurring sin; He wants to free us from being a willing prisoner to the very thing we hate about ourselves but just can't seem to escape.  Many of us actually choose to stay in bondage, clinging to the very things that are destroying us and keeping us captive; feeling secure in the familiarity of it and somehow finding a warped sense of comfort from it.  It's killing us but we just won't let go and we argue that the sin has a terrible grip on us, but in reality, we are our own jailers - we hold the key but we refuse to use it because it is more comfortable to stay right where we are.  The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus came to pay that ransom so we could be set free – forever! 

What about you? Are you holding on to the sins and habits that are keeping you captive?  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal those things you need to be delivered from – Jesus is waiting for you to let go so He can rescue you and give you your inheritance of eternal life with Him.

Prayer
Lord, I recognize that I am holding on to some things in my life that are a sin against You.  Please help me to let go of those familiar spirits so that I can reach my full potential in You.  I need Your Holy Spirit to help me because I know that I tend to fall back into bad habits from time-to-time.  But with Your power and grace I know that I can be an overcomer and that I can live a victorious life in You.

Have a blessed day everyone!
– Richard 

The Devil likes to Fish! – James 4:7

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

– James 4:7

The Devil likes to Fish!

My brother and I used to go fishing all the time when I lived in Dallas.  We would get up so early and we'd be on the lake at sunup.  We had some good times but at first it was just plain frustrating.  You see, before I moved to Dallas, my brother used to tell me about all the fish he would catch – sometimes 30 to 40 in one day!  I don't care who you are – that's good fishing.  The frustrating things is that when I moved and we started fishing together, we didn't catch anything – nothin – nada – zilch – zero!  I began to question his stories of abundant fishing.

After about a month or so of getting "skunked" every outing, we decided to change our bait.  We switched to live minnows on a double rig – in no time we were catching limits of hybrid and small striped bass.  Fishing was fun! 

As we had more and more success, we moved on to Black Bass and we learned all we could about how to catch them – we bought topographic maps that showed the underwater structure where they lived, we could see where water channels and deep  pools were located so we could strategize our trips.  We checked out the different lures and techniques and we learned what was effective and what wasn't.  Soon we were catching good size keepers.  I really miss those days fishing with my brother!

The enemy uses the same techniques on us – trying to lure us into sin by presenting us with things that are appealing and seem good.  He knows what whets our appetites and he watches our reactions to each attempt.  He is patient and quiet, and he knows just how to dangle that hook right in front of our faces so that when we get hooked, we don't even realize what has happened.

The Bible tells us to be big, mature fish (Christians).  A fish only gets big and mature by avoiding the temptation of the lure – in fact, most times, when a lure is dropped in the water, the mature fish will swim the other way.  It won't try to get a closer look (it has already seen others get yanked out of the water too many times), it won't dance around the lure or even try to smell it - the mature fish knows that the lure means danger and it avoids it at all cost.

As you run away from sin, the devil will try to find less experienced fish to prey on – oh, don't be fooled – he will NEVER leave you alone because he wants to bag the trophy fish, but he will turn his attention elsewhere until you make a mistake and he will try out a brand new and shiny lure to get you when you are at your weakest.

So if the devil won't ever completely leave us alone, what chance do we have to get big and fat (so to speak)?  The key is to stay where the devil won't go – in the Word.  You have to be so into God's Word that the devil will run away when you come around.  The power of the Word is such that the enemy MUST flee, he has no choice.  You also have to put on your armor every day – the day you forget is when a dart will come flying in from a distance and you will be vulnerable to attack.

The Word of God and the Armor of God – the best things to put in any tackle box!

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word.  I submit myself to You today and I ask that You lead me in the way that I should go.  I look to You for every direction and I submit every thought and every action to You.  I need Your Word to protect me against the attacks of the enemy and I will put on my armor every day so that I can stand with my brother and sisters against his attacks.  Thank You Father!

Have a blessed day my Brothers!

– Richard