Willful Disobedience
Baby Girl,
If you ever hear yourself saying or thinking the words, “I know I shouldn’t, but…” STOP. Whatever comes after “but” could be replaced with “I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.”
When I hear you saying, “I know I shouldn’t watch this show, but at least this is a lot better than what I used to watch.” I hear, “Daddy, I know that I shouldn’t watch this show, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.” What I hear - that you are subconsciously saying - is, “My Daddy LOVES me and He won’t LOVE me any less because I watch this show. I know He said not to, but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.” By that, what you really mean is, “Everyone else is doing worse things, so He won’t get me in trouble over this.”
If you could see how disappointed I am as I shake My head, you’d shake your head, too. Do you hear yourself? Do you understand what you’re saying? As a GOOD Father who LOVES His little girl, do you not see that I’m not looking to punish you or keep you from a good time?
Baby, My desire for you to have clean hands and a pure heart is because that is how you protect your heart.
The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He LONGS to steal your innocence and he is succeeding with so many of My children.
Imagine sin as a tapeworm living in your digestive system. It starts out small…
Do you really not know what a tapeworm looks like? Look it up. Tell Me how big it can get and what damage it can do if it is not killed. I’ll wait.
Mayoclinic.org - good choice.
“A tapeworm is a parasite that can live and feed in human intestines. A young and inactive form of a tapeworm is called a larval cyst.”
STOP THERE. Think of this show you think is okay to watch (even though you say you know you shouldn’t) as a larval cyst.
Keep reading.
“It can stay alive in other parts of the body. This is called a larval cyst infection.”
STOP. You see, you think that when you sit to watch this show it’s not hurting you and it’s harmless. That is like believing having a young and inactive form of tapeworm in your body is okay.
The truth is that it’s an infection and, untreated, it is traveling to other parts of your body. First, it goes in your eyes and ears but it goes into your brain and forms a memory. As those memories pile up, you become desensitized to them to the point that it doesn’t even bother you they are there. Eventually, those memories become desires. When those desires become active, they become behaviors. It might take time but what you take in through your eyes and ears will eventually affect where your hands, feet, and mouth take you.
Keep reading.
“A tapeworm in the intestines often causes mild symptoms.”
STOP. Many people who are infected, in this scenario, many people who are watching these things have mild symptoms.
Keep reading.
“Moderate to severe symptoms may include stomach pain and diarrhea. Larval cysts can cause serious disease if they are in a person’s brain, liver, lungs, heart, or eyes.”
STOP. It’s progressive - just like sin. When sin is allowed to grow, even from a tiny little larva, it can end up causing serious issues.
Keep reading.
“Tapeworm infections are treated with anti-parasitic drugs. Treatment for larval cyst infections may include anti-parasitic drugs and surgery to remove the cyst.”
STOP. Sin is a lie. Sin is the enemy making a suggestion - that directly contradicts My Word - and you choosing to act on it.
The anti-parasitic drug is the Word of God and the surgeon is Holy Spirit. The sooner you catch the infection, the less severe the symptoms will become.
Keep reading.
“A tapeworm in the intestines may cause no symptoms.”
Isn’t that gross? You could have tapeworms living in you right now and be completely unaware of it.
Spiritually, when you say, “I know I shouldn’t but…” take that as your first sign that you have a baby tapeworm in your spirit.
The disgusted look on your face and tears in your eyes are priceless. A snapshot for the family album.
Keep reading.
Nope, you can’t just tell Me you get the point. Keep reading.
“The severity of symptoms depends in part on the number of tapeworms. Symptoms vary and some symptoms are more likely with some species of tapeworms.”
GET IT? Like there are different genres of entertainment - comedy, romance, thriller, horror - just different species of tapeworms, that’s all.
Keep reading.
“Symptoms may include: upset stomach or feeling like you could throw up; stomachache or stomach pain; not wanting to eat; loose stools; diarrhea; weight loss; gas; hunger pains; cravings for salty food.
“Symptoms of larval cyst infection depend on where they are causing disease in the body.
“Larval cysts in the brain or spine may cause: headache; seizures; dizziness; nerve pain in the spine or limbs; muscle weakness; poor coordination; changes in thinking or behaviors.”
Oh, man! Gotta love the parallel in that last symptom.
Keep reading.
“Larval cysts in other organs can affect how well the organ works. For example, larval cysts can cause severe disease in the liver, lungs, or heart.
“Symptoms vary widely. In some cases, a lump can be felt. There also may be pain and swelling at the site of the larval cyst infection.
“When to see a doctor: if you experience ANY of the symptoms of tapeworm or larval cyst infection, get medical care.”
Google this: “Can tapeworms kill you?”
Webmd.com: “Although tapeworms in humans usually cause few symptoms and are easily treated, they can sometimes cause serious, life-threatening problems.
“Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals who are infected while grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of tapeworms infection in people.”
GROSS!
“Tapeworm eggs are passed with bowel movements and a person who doesn’t wash hands well after wiping and then prepares food can contaminate it. A tapeworm can grow longer than 12 feet, can live for years, and each segment is able to produce eggs.”
Baby, stop. You are moving beyond My point. It’s interesting that you chose to read about them. I was just going to have you go look at them, but maybe knowing what you know now, it will make more sense.
Google “tapeworm infection image.”
I’m sorry. I know. You’ll never be able to unsee that image.
Next time you sit down to watch a show that makes you pause and think, “I know I shouldn’t watch this, but…” picture that tapeworm - that cute, little, innocent baby tapeworm - and ask yourself if you’re willing to let it hang curtains and make itself at home in your mind.
Tapeworms can grow in any area of your life in which you give the enemy even the smallest input into your thoughts, feelings, or actions. ANY TIME you think or say, “I know I shouldn’t, but…” about ANYTHING, you are saying, “but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.”
The same is true when you say, “I know I should, but…”
I know I should eat better, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I should exercise more, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I should read my Bible, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I should pray about it, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I shouldn’t yell at my husband and kids, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I shouldn’t show up late to work every day, but I am choosing to live in willful disobedience to the leading of Holy Spirit in my life.
I know I should go to bed right now, but…
Okay, Daddy, I see what you just did there! It’s 10:39 PM. I’ll be up at 2:15 AM if you’d like to finish this very distasteful little chat. I LOVE you!
LOVE you, too, Baby Girl. Sleep well!
Daddy
Galatians 5:7-9
