Focusing on Just the Facts, Ma’am

Focusing on Just the Facts, Ma'am

prov31grace

3 Mar, 2022

When I was a kid, my parents watched a show called Dragnet, a police drama featuring officer Joe Friday. “Just the facts, Ma’am,” was a phrase attributed to him because he wanted to get to the heart of the matter. His actual words were, “All we want are the facts, ma’am,” but because the phrase “Just the facts, Ma’am,” was so closely identified with him, his biography ended up with that title.

Fact or fiction?

When it comes to soul-clutter, we need to learn to filter out the lies from the truth.

Make no mistake. The most intense battle we will ever experience is in our minds. It’s vital to know the difference between facts and fiction.

It’s also important to realize you have an enemy

Evil is not just a concept; but there is a real spiritual enemy who wants first and foremost to kill you, and if he can’t do that, he will steal from you and try to destroy you.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 New Living Translation

Don’t despair, though; because as a child of God, you have a rescuer.

In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 New Living Translation

(And if you are not a child of God, do you want to be? Read my post, A Ticket Home, for clear instructions on how to become God’s child.)

Your Part in Spiritual Battle

I like to refer to myself as a warrior princess. Although, I’m God’s daughter, I still must fight. My part as a warrior is to load up my mind with truth.

I must be a student of the Word. I am required to do the work of God.

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

John 6:29 New Living Translation

Faith increases when we hear the Word of God. (See Romans 10:17) When you feel your faith is weak, get into the Word!

The Holy Spirit’s Part in Spiritual Battle

If you have loaded up your spiritual tank with the Word, then when you need it, the Holy’s Spirit’s job is to remind you of what you know.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:26 New Living Translation

But He can’t help you if you didn’t give Him anything to bring to your remembrance.

Declare the facts

As I see it, a warrior-princess must examine the thoughts and feelings she has stored in her heart. The times she has failed must be repented over, brought to the feet of Jesus, and left there.

Then as she studies the word, the truths she learns must be imprinted upon her heart and mind. The best way I know to imprint them are declarations.

I have a friend who is a trauma survivor. In order to keep the lies of the enemy at bay, she repeats OUT LOUD truths to herself every day.

Remember, faith comes by hearing. Speaking the truth is an important part of the process.

Before the enemy even tries to lie to you, start your day out with declaring the things you know are true:

Be on a fact-finding mission

It is my prayer you start with these and add more as time goes on. The Word has much to say about who we are in Christ. Study the Word for yourself to find out the facts. Yes, even after becoming God’s child, we need help. But He is more than willing to equip us and help us have that rich and satisfying life we spoke of earlier.

Hey! I’m on a journey. I don’t pretend I’m doing all this perfectly. I’m sharing the goals and dreams I have in my heart in this series, “A Rich and Satisfying Life.”  This is day fourteen of examining a life free from the clutter of both wrong thoughts, attitudes, expectations, and too-full calendars, as well as physical clutter. You can click here to see all the links to the series.

This series is part of a Write28Days challenge sponsored by Anita Ojeda. The challenge is now over, and I am still working at the goal of writing 28 times on my subject, “A Rich and Satisfying Life.”

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

Previous Post: Do Tattered Dreams Need to Die or Be Reborn?

I’m sharing this post with Grace & Truth, Inspire Me Monday, InstaEncouragments Link-Up, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Tune In Thursday