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Dislikes and Likes
Another interesting part of the wilderness, is that God usually makes you face your dislikes, and temporarily denies
you some of your most cherished and important likes. He does this so that we can face our fears, and also to pull down some
of our most precious idols. Much of our time in life, we avoid what we dislike, and cling desperately to the things we love,
like the pleasures that we feel we need to get us through life that ease our old pain. God knows that the enemy may try to
use these weak areas against us, to pull us off course. When all of these problem areas are settled, it de-fangs the monsters
we fear, and lessens our extreme need for certain things that we think we would just die without.
Most people know to some extent what their dislikes and likes are, but the Holy Spirit reveals and identifies them
to us very clearly, so that we know our triggers and traps, and the possible danger they could present in getting us to maybe
say "no" to God someday. Your dislikes may include:
Being under an unfair leader.
Living with other people.
Having to share, giving, having to wait, or relying or depending upon God or other people for your needs.
Having to work a lowly considered job, not having insurance, not having control over things.
Not having as much money as you would like, looking poor, mans disapproval, no earthly health care, being corrected,
or looking like a loser.
You can fill in the blanks for what your other specific dislikes may be.
Being denied your likes may include:
Not having a car, not having the foods that comfort you, not having the drugs that comfort you (alcohol, nicotine,
or caffeine).
Not having the sweets or snacks you like, not having your normal entertainment fix (TV, computer, movies, sports,
or games).
Not being thin, not having make-up, not getting peoples normal approval or compliments, having your beauty lessened.
Having your talent or position lessened, not getting promoted like others around you (that seem to deserve it much
less than you).
Not having a boyfriend or girlfriend. Not having a husband or wife, not being single, not being able to defend
yourself.
You can fill in the blanks with this one too.
Just remember that if this is happening to you, that God is doing this for your good, and you will surely not die.
We just don't realize the kind of power that our desires and fears have over us until we have to face life without them, or
with them. Like Paul, God wants us to be able to be happy whether we are abounding or abased, whether we are talked badly
about, or whether people think we are as wonderful as chocolate. God just wants our life to be balanced, and for us to be
able to say yes to everything and anything that comes from Him, and no to anything that doesn’t. He wants us to have
control over our life through His Spirit and word, rather than our flesh or evil spirits controlling us thought our fears,
desires, preferences, or dislikes.
God has so many good things planned ahead for you, and He just doesn't want them owning you. And when your greatest
fear does come, seemingly making you look doomed, God wants you to know that He will help you and protect you while you obediently
walk through it. Like Jesus said, the evil one came, but he found no place in Him to exploit, because there was no place to
exploit. We must be completely released from sins grip and control, for God to be able to trust us with His power and resources.
Always remember that no matter how scary or empty things may feel during this process, that God’s motives are always
good, and that you can trust Him 100% to finish what He started in you. He always knows exactly what we need to set us free.
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