Overcome

We often talk about the enemy wanting to "steal, kill, and destroy," but we rarely stop to analyze the order of those words. Have you ever noticed that stealing comes first? You don't steal from someone who has nothing; you steal because they possess something valuable. This implies that before any attack begins, you already carry a treasure—a divine purpose or a blessing—that the enemy craves. By studying us and learning our innate patterns, he tries to find the "in." But if we look at Scripture, we see that he has patterns too. He is a creature of limitations, and his primary tactic isn't raw power—it’s the subtle shift of focus. He uses distractions, delays, and a sense of "lack" to keep your eyes off the blessing GOD has already placed in your path.

The most dangerous lies aren't the ones shouted at us; they’re the ones whispered so softly we believe they’re our own thoughts. The enemy specializes in half-truths and bold judgments, effectively "ventriloquizing" his agenda through our inner monologue. By recognizing that the enemy is trying to steal our potential by distracting us with the immediate, we can reclaim our focus and move toward the objectives GOD has set before us.

When you start auditing your thoughts against your overarching objectives, you stop being a victim of suggestion and start becoming a master of your mental space.

We weren't just called to survive; we were called to Love, Elevate, and Dominate (L.E.D)  through the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus. If you look back at Genesis, GOD established a "Be-Do-Have" principle. “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…” Genesis 1:28 NKJV. He first defined man’s identity and ensured they were fruitful (Be), gave them a mandate to multiply, replenish the earth, and then subdue it, (Do), and then to receive the dominion and authority that GOD has always predestined for us all (Have). The enemy tries to flip this script, making us obsess over what we don't have so we do the wrong things and lose sight of who we are meant to be. True dominion isn't about crushing others; it’s about the self-mastery required to steward the Spirit’s power effectively.

We often think of sin as some dark, alien thing, but more often than not, sin is simply the excess of something good. Our human nature has a native propensity to over-indulge. We take a healthy desire—for rest, for connection, for provision—and we push it past its GOD-given boundaries until it becomes a vice. As Peter Morison noted in The Leader’s Cut, "The appetite isn't the sin; it's the way you satisfy it that can make it sin." Whether it's food, comfort, or ambition, excess is a vice that eventually leads to poverty, sickness, and isolation. It’s the "just once more" or the "I can stop when I want" that signals we’ve moved from enjoying a blessing to being enslaved by a habit.

Overcoming our nature is perhaps the greatest challenge we face. As Henry David Thoreau once said, "Nature is difficult to overcome, but it must be overcome." We all know our personal vices—those specific areas where we are prone to slip into arrogantly foolish internal dialogue. To purge these excesses, we have to stop negotiating with the "just one more",  “I can stop when I want”, or “ I’m going to stop” whispers. It requires a radical honesty with ourselves and a reliance on GOD to redraw the boundaries. To combat this, we have to treat our minds like a gatekeeper. Asking questions and questioning one’s thoughts have been a very effective tool in combating this fly. I like to ask myself these questions:

"Will this make me weaker or stronger?”

“Is this essential/relevant to my overarching objectives?”

“Is this something my ideal version of myself would engage in?”

“Does this person help move me towards my objectives or farther?”

“Therefore submit 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 NKJV

“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20 NKJV