War of Words - Chapter Two - How do my expectations affect my communication?

Chapter Two, Satan Speaks, delves into Genesis 3, when sin enters the world. This chapter in Genesis is the first time we see the enemy challenge the authority of God.

"In that moment in the Garden we also see an interpretation of life different from God's for the first time. Recognize what Satan is doing here. He is taking the same set of facts that God interpreted for Adam and Eve and giving them a radically different spin." ~page 21

Mr. Tripp explains that if Satan's interpretation is believed, then the listener would no longer find it good or right to obey. This is quite a piece of information to chew on!

Who am I believing? God, or the devil? How am I interpreting? Am I trusting God? Or am I believing Satan?

"Many of our problems with words would be solved if we simply paused and asked ourselves how God would evaluate and respond to the present situation. We just let our thoughts run without challenging them. But if our interpretation of events is wrong, our words will not be right." ~War of Words, Satan Speaks, Page 22

The principle is summed up like this:

"Word problems are often interpretation problems."~War of Words, Satan Speaks, Page 22

As I look back at my own communication struggles, I see in each instance a wrong conclusion, a misunderstanding, or errant thinking brought on by misguided expectations or evaluations. Where did those misguided expectations and evaluations come from? Simply put, I had believed the enemy, accepting as truth, what God saw as a lie. Kay Arthur, of Precepts Ministries, helped me a great deal with this issue in her devotional book, Teach Me How to Live. In this gem of a book (now no longer in print), she teaches how we might transform the bitter waters of life into sweet spiritual nourishment. She led me on a journey with the nation of Israel as they left Egypt and found themselves weary and desperately thirsty before the bitter waters of Marah. (Exodus 15) Many of them began to grumble and complain because they had received a lie, "God is not caring for you. You would be better off back in Egypt in the bonds of slavery."

Ah, but God WAS caring for His people and He did not agree with their evaluation of the situation! The Lord showed Moses a tree and told him to put the tree in the water, "and the water became sweet."

"And He said, 'If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer." ~Exodus 15:23-26

To whom are we supposed to listen? God tells us to heed HIS voice, do what is right in HIS sight, listen to HIS commandments and keep all HIS statutes.

I should also like to point out, briefly, that the word used in Exodus for "tree," is the same word that is used in Galatians 3:13 "Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree..." What tree did Christ hang on? A cross. The same word for tree (or wood) is translated "Cross," in Acts 5:30, "The God of our Fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross."

So what's the point? How do we change our expectations and evaluations of any situation? How do we make the bitter into sweet? I've learned that by applying the cross to our trials, we bring death to our own evaluations and expectations. We receive God's truth and have an opportunity to count it all joy.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that testing of your faith produces endurance." ~James 1:2,3

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." ~James 4:7,8

As we surrender our expecations and evaluations, He shows us the truth. He will give us the right interpretation and consequently, the right words.

Discussion:

Do you agree with the teaching that our interpretation of life affects or influences our communication with others? Have your words revealed places where you have bought into an interpretation of life that is different from God's as revealed in Scripture?

Have you ever believed that the things you need in life can be found independently, separate from God, or elevated above Him? Do you trust your own evaluation more than you trust Jesus who is sovereign over all?

(Sadly, I can say yes I have believed this lie. At times, I have trusted myself more than I've trusted the Lord. I believe that the purpose of my existence here in the world is to learn Jesus. The more I trust Him, the more I don't need me. More of Him...less of me.)

This is such a meaty topic. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

If you still need the book, you can get it here:War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Resources for Changing Lives)

Grateful for Grace,

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