Other than the three repeats to follow, I love repeats! Unlike a crazy girlfriend of mine, I have repeated movies up to a thousand and three times. Songs, shoes, shopping, day’s out, night’s out, breakfast, snacks, you name it I repeat it. Like an average four year old girl whose favorite line is “I wanna do that again!” Yup, that’s me.

These three things, in its context, weighted me so desperately for so many years. Ugh. But in my wise old age I’ve learned that with a proper mindset and a certified plan of attack, they’re not that bad. Well, two of them are not that bad. One is just plain from the depths of hell.

 …following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air…in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body…

Ephesians 2:3-4

Ah! The 3 repeats: The World, The Flesh, and The Devil. Again, we must purpose to attain a proper mindset regarding each of them and carry out a preset plan of attack. If not, well, we all have stories, don’t we?  

The World: We are in it. Living in it everyday. That’s not a bad thing. It’s a sign that we are alive. That is a good thing! The world in its creation is lovely and beautiful and broken and enticing. It’s a marvel, really. Plan of Attack: Behold its beauty for what it is. Purpose to separate the lovely from the broken, the beautiful from the enticing. Embrace the world for the purpose of shining the Light of His Love on it. Brokenness and enticement will attempt to lay its traps at your feet, but if your heart and eyes are set on His Love, then the Light will outshine the darkness.

The Flesh: Darn this flesh. But not all that our flesh desires is wrong. Being human and alive, again, is not a bad thing. It means we are alive. That is a good thing! It is a Design! Plan of Attack: Know the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in you. Give your ear and your response to the Holy Spirit in you. Be careful not to set your limitations and freedoms based on others. Ugh! That is the worst trap to choose. You are the only You. God created You. Christ died for You. The Holy Spirit lives in You. These three truths alone define how fabulous YOU are. Does that not make you desire to use your body as a tool of righteousness? Rather than allowing your flesh to use you as a tool. 😉 Don’t sell yourself short. Simply be true to what you know to be truth in your walk with God. Have confidence in the convictions He has placed in your heart. This is the only way to truly shine the Love of the Lord to a darkened world and the only way to silence the stupidity of our flesh.

The Devil: Tell him to go to Hell. I do not mean to undermine him, because he is a lion and he is lurking and his hellions are cruising our days with a dripping desire to suck the Shine right out of our Light. But Come on. We give him way too much time, space and credit. Plan of Attack: Tell him to go to Hell. How? Jesus! His Name is above all names. His name is a fear that shuts Satan up to his core. As a child of God, we have the authority to use the Name of Jesus Christ to silence the fallen angel! Remember, he has already encountered his doom. His future is already proclaimed and sealed by the blood of the Lamb! That is a double victory for us! Yes, he taunts. Oh, but Jesus!! Grab hold of that Victory! 

When we determine to flip a mental switch, we can change our perspective on these 3 repeats. Through a fresh perspective we can stand stronger, bolder and brighter. Pick a Plan of Attack and practice, practice, practice. Yes, repetition is the best way to flip a mental switch.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.

Ephesians 2:5