In the above scripture, we have been given a directive. The directive is to, "not be conformed to this world." This means that there is a part that we must play in making sure that we do not conform! We can do this by seeking God and allowing Him to direct our steps. But how many of you know that sometimes; "life" seems to get in the way!
Many of us have bad habits, negative lifestyle patterns, or even destructive ways that can lead to our abusing something or someone; before you know it, we have conformed. Well, fortunately for us; negative and destructive actions can be changed, transformed, or even canceled!
Being conformed is nothing more than being "stuck" in a pattern. But what happens when we get "stuck?" We can start believing that we are what our behaviors and patterns say that we are!
I recently heard part of a message by Pastor Steve Furtick on how we are falling prey to the patterns of our lives. I heard him say, "If you'll change the pattern, God can change the product. You don't have to be stuck like this; you can get a new pattern!"
Needless to say, I never made it through the rest of his sermon because I didn't hear anything else after he said, "you can get a new pattern!"As I pondered those words, God began to speak. (Never got to hear another word out of Steve!) However, I heard the word, "PATENT!" So, I went to the computer and began to look up the word patent to see what God was wanting to show me.
A patent according to Merriam, is having exclusive control or possession of a thing; or making an exclusive "claim" on something.
As I sat there trying to make sense of the word, I began to think about the different areas in my life that seem to keep me bound. It's as if the enemy has some kind of stronghold or "claim" on certain areas in my life! Could that be what God was trying to show me? That there are areas in my life that He still does not have control over? Is this what the enemy does with us! Does he watch us carefully; Studying our habits and those things that tend to keep us defeated? Does he track our destructive patterns, in an effort to find the perfect time to place a patent or a stronghold upon certain areas of our lives, making him the exclusive "claim" holder of our failures? Have I given the enemy "rights" over things that I am not ready to get rid of? Things that have become regular patterns in my life. Things that have become a part of who I am.
Satan doesn't have to work hard to find the areas in our lives that are defeated. We tend to flaunt our defeats in his face daily. When we don't pray about them; we're flaunting them. When we don't apply the Word to them; we're flaunting them. When we don't fight against them, and continue to hold on to them...we flaunt them. Our defeats after a while become so second nature that we begin to walk in them. Believing that this is just who we are; it's just what we do! It is what it is! ....and our newest slogan for those trouble areas as we declare that, "the struggle is real!" ...We simply begin to "conform" to the pattern that the enemy has set before us!
See, a patent assigns or gives ownership to something, and that's what the enemy does with our bad patterns; He attempts to form a partnership with us; but how many of you know that if you give him the wheel, he will become the driver! So, I'm sitting here thinking about how we can come from under these patterns or patents that Satan has placed on our lives in hopes to keep exclusive control over our thoughts and actions. Those things that seem to keep us bound; keep us distracted; keep us defeated!
Well, unfortunately for the enemy, but fortunately for us, I have done a little research on patents. I have found that there is something called a patent transfer! And just as it sounds, I found out that in certain instances patents can transfer hands or ownership in the event that (3) things take place: "a merger, an inheritance, or a bankruptcy! I'm thinking that would be great, but Lord, how do our strongholds qualify for this patent transfer? How can we be protected from these patents (strongholds) that have been placed on our lives by the enemy?
He took me to this scripture found in 1 Samuel 24:15, that says,
"The Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
As I began to listen closer, I could hear the Lord saying, If you trust me to deliver you, I can get you out of this mess! "Let's take a good look at those things that you need to qualify your strongholds for a patent transfer, starting with the "merger!"
- Because you accepted me as your personal Savior, a merger took place that made you a part of my Kingdom, so that makes any and all of your strongholds; eligible for a patent transfer;
- And because of that merger, I have adopted you as my own; not only giving you an inheritance, but making you joint heir with my Son...and that makes you double eligible for a patent transfer;
- and as for that bankruptcy clause? Well, when I died on the cross; every sin, every bad habit, every stronghold, and every destructive pattern...along with their consequences were nailed to the cross, bankrupting the enemy and every claim that he thought he had on you! So, you inform the enemy that you are no longer bound by his patents or his strongholds because you are changing authority!
Today! you can make up in your mind that your strongholds, your hard places, and your bad patterns are changing hands! You are changing ownership! You are eligible by default to be patent free from the patterns that the enemy has tried to place on your life! You are NOT the patterns that you have walked in!
Let God break those patterns for you! Let God give you a new way of walking; a new way of believing; and a new way of trusting! You are patent free!
Now give God some Glory and begin to walk in the newness of your life!!!
