I am putting this here for my well being. I want it written in my own words so if I forget and back peddle or I become distracted, I can come here and read this again to remind me what I have learned! It is valuable to me and I hope you will find value in it too. I have gotten all the anger, bitterness, self pitty, rage, blame etc. out and dealt with it and this is what I will use when it tries returning. Will it be easy....probably not, but I have this well being tool to help me when I need it and the Truth will once again set me FREE

I just wanted to share something here that I have learned. I have learned that when I focus on a negative thought, I bring on more negative thoughts. When I focus on negative feelings, I bring on more negative feelings. When I focus on what I don't want, I get more of what I don't want!

Now, stop for a moment and think....yes, I said THINK...because what we choose to think about is what we attract into our life. Remember to think about the end result of what it is you want to accomplish, remember to let yourself feel what it will feel like to have whatever it is you want to have. Draw pictures of what it is you want or find pictures on the internet or in magazines of what it is you want to accomplish, have, be...Visualize it and look at it daily and act as if it is already a reality. Feel and relish in the good feeling.

Remember for just a moment what it felt like on those days that you were feeling sorry for yourself and not choosing GOOD thoughts....how did you FEEL?? Did it feel good? If you want GOOD in your life then think about good! Gently, change your thoughts when they start going in the negative direction. If you are thinking of something angry, stop and think about the opposite of anger. Think of something that makes you happy. Think of something that makes you FEEL good. Think of a time when you laughed so hard your stomach hurt from laughing. Remember that feeling and change your thoughts to good.

Tell those voice of doubt to SHUT UP! Immediately remember and say things that are the TRUTH about who you REALLY are! Do not let the Lies of the enemy have any power over you. You know the secret now and remember the words you need to say! Do not let them have a foothold over you, they love people who are depressed who have low self esteem, who feel worthless. Do NOT let them reign over you! You have the power to wipe them out....use it!

Do you want good things in your life or do you want bad? Do you want to be happy or do you want to be miserable? Do you want to be a victor or go back to being a victim? Do you want to continue recovering or do you want to go backwards. Do you want to believe the lies or believe the Truth? Do you want to feel worthless or worthy? Do you want to feel beautiful or ugly?

You have suffered enough! You have cried enough! You have beat yourself up enough! No more!!! It doesn't have to be like that anymore! It is a CHOICE and this is the one thing you are in CONTROL of!!! You choose your attitude.

Do you really want to go back to feeling like you have so many days? Those days of misery and days of being trapped, days of not being able to even get out of bed? Do you REALLY want to have one of those days?? It is up to you...you have the Control, you have the Power, you have the Choice. No one can make that decision for you, isn't that cool Don't forget that Debra! You have so much POTENTIAL, You have so much to Offer, you have so much to Give, you have a Purpose, You have a Mission, You will Succeed!

Don't let the Lies of the enemy gain control of your thoughts!
Don't let the Lies of the enemy control your self worth!
Don't let the Lies of the enemy define who you are.
Don't let the Lies of the enemy distract you and disturb you
Don't let the Lies of the enemy define who you can and are becoming.
Don't let the Lies of the enemy hold you back from the GREATNESS within.

The Truth is, you are Beautiful
The Truth is, you are Worthy
The Truth is, you will Accomplish Great Things
The Truth is God will take your Mess and turn it into a Message
The Truth is, you are in Control of You
The Truth is, you are Loved
The Truth is, you are Amazing
The Truth is, you are Incredible
The Truth is, you are Loveable
The Truth is, you are an Inspiration
The Truth is, you are Capable
The Truth is, you are Talented
The Truth is, you are not Alone
The Truth is, God Loves you

What Demons Want To Do To You
by Dr. Robert Jeffress

“The demon enters, it is true, as a squatter and not as an owner or a guest or one who has a right to be there. He comes in as an intruder and as an invader and enemy. But come he does if the door is opened by serious and protracted sin.”
—Merrill F. Unger

Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life. If he cannot succeed in robbing you of eternal life, he will do everything in his power to deprive you of the joy, influence, and rewards that come from serving God in this life. Since Satan cannot be in more than one place at a time, he has delegated much of his work to demons who discourage, distract, and deceive through a variety of means.

Through Nature
Since Satan is referred to as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), it is reasonable to assume that he and his demons have some control over the elements of nature such as wind, rain, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Living in a city that was almost leveled by a tornado, I can assure you that nothing is more discouraging to Christians than seeing their homes and possessions completely destroyed in an instant. Remember that it was Satan (or one of his “wind demons”) who directed a “great wind” to collapse the home of Job’s oldest son, resulting in the deaths of all Job’s children (Job 1:19).

Through Illness
To blame every illness on demonic activity is neither logical nor biblical. Some of our illnesses are the result of our inhabiting sin-infected bodies. Because our bodies have inherited Adam’s curse, we contract illnesses and die. Other times, our diseases are precipitated by poor lifestyle choices: too many trips to McDonald’s, too few trips to the gym, or hurtful addictions to things such as alcohol, nicotine, drugs, or Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream (now you know mine).
Though not all illnesses are caused by Satan and his demons, some of them are. In describing Jesus’ ministry of healing, the gospel writers distinguished between sicknesses that were caused by demons and those that were not.
When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed…And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons (Mark 1:32, 34).
If every illness had been caused by demons, Mark would have recorded that the people were bringing to Jesus all who were demon-possessed instead of those “who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.” Obviously, Mark is telling us there were some people who were physically sick but not under demonic influence.

Through Mental Disorders
Again, it is a mistake to say that all mental illness is directly attributable to demons. When I asked a Christian psychiatrist about the relationship between mental illness and demonic activity, she responded with her own question: “If mental disorders are the result of demonic activity, then why do the symptoms almost always disappear when treated with the right drugs?” Good question.
Our thoughts and emotions are directly traceable to a series of electrical and chemical impulses in the brain. When the brain does not function properly, drug therapy can help restore the natural balances that God intended. However, our thoughts and emotions are more than a series of electrical and chemical impulses. There’s an immeasurable, though very real, spiritual component that influences our thoughts and emotions. Positively, this spiritual component can protect us from anxiety and its attendant consequences: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
We will discuss how to apply this passage in a later chapter; my point here is that if a positive spiritual exercise like prayer can influence our thought processes by removing anxiety, then it is reasonable to conclude there are also negative spiritual influences that can seize control of our minds and emotions. While not all mental disorders are caused by external spiritual forces such as demons, some of them are.

Consider the man in Luke 8 who was controlled by numerous demons. A refusal to put on clothes, withdrawal from others, strange voices emanating from his mouth, and deep depression were symptoms that today would immediately land him in a mental hospital. Yet as soon as the demons left him, notice the immediate and radical change in his mental state and behavior: “The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well” (Luke 8:35-36).

The restoration of this man’s mental health did not require years of psychotherapy or drug treatment, because his root problem was not primarily physical or emotional, but spiritual. Please understand that I’m not condemning psychotherapy or chemical treatment. Strong biblical counsel and appropriate drug therapy are tools God can use to bring emotional healing to people. What I am suggesting is that sometimes there is also a spiritual component to mental disorders we should not ignore.

(My own comments added here: I was on anti depressants for 10 years. I couldn't have survived without them!  When my spiritual mentality changed I no longer needed the drugs to keep me going.  One day I looked the word depressed up and found the meaning ironic...."low in spirits".  When the Spirit of the Lord filled my life, my depression went away.  No coincidence there and pretty self explanatory!  I'm living proof that the person who wrote the above is right on the money!  So if your feeling depressed, try putting on some good Praise and Worship Music and let the Spirit sink in you...I bet you will start to feel better...it's not a long term fix, but it could be a quick fix for now)

Through Other People
Demons can use other people to discourage, distract, and deceive us. In extreme instances, demons have the ability to use human agents to persecute and murder other Christians. John attributes the slaughter of God’s people during the coming Great Tribulation to demonic activity (see Revelation 18:2, 24). We have witnessed similar persecution throughout history and in many areas of the world today.

(When I realized that this was possible, I examined all the people who I am in daily contact with.  I realized there was one in particular that had demons attached to them!  I could not ever figure out what it was, but this knowledge gave me power!  I noted that when I was around them, I felt agitated, I was not at peace and I was easily angered and discouraged.  When I gained the POWER, I started praying over this person and binding evil spirits away while I was in their presence.  I was aware there were enemies around me when this person was in my presence even though I could not see them with my eyes!  When you have knowledge, you have power...once again, I am living proof that this information is spoken in truth!  I thought it was a bunch of hogwash when I first read it, but now live it daily and use the POWER to fight the enemy who is nothing but a cockroach to me!)

What Can You Do?
While no Christian can be possessed by a demon, we can be influenced by demons. Any area of our lives that is not controlled by the Holy Spirit is vulnerable to being controlled by Satan and his forces. You may remember from physics that nature abhors a vacuum. The same truth applies to the spiritual realm. Some spiritual force is going to fill or control your life. Any area of your existence—finances, marriage, work, and morality—that is not being directed by the Holy Spirit is vulnerable to being controlled by demonic influences.
The key to resisting demonic influences in our lives is to make sure that every area of our lives is filled or controlled by God.

(Adapted from The Divine Defense by Robert Jeffress, Waterbrook Press, 2006)

How I fight the unseen enemy:  Prayer, Using Scripture, Using the Name of Jesus and using the Blood of Jesus.

(Praying a prayer over yourself, your home or the people in your presence helps!  I simply say..I am a child of God and Satan and your evil army have no place in my life, in my home or over me.  I command you in the name of Jesus to flee and leave me alone.  Get behind me Satan!  I have been given authority by God to cast you out and demand that you leave!  By the blood of Jesus you are commanded to leave!  Jesus is The Lord of My Life, Jesus has control of my thoughts, Jesus works through me.  I pray this in Jesus Name..Amen)

Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

When Satan Comes Knocking
by Dr. Robert Jeffress

When Satan comes against your mind with wrong thoughts, you don’t have to concede defeat. Use these practical actions to confront loose thoughts by securing them with the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14).

Action 1: Refuse to feel guilty for wrong thoughts
Imagine you are awakened at 3 a.m. by someone pounding on your front door. More than likely, before you open the door, you’ll look through the peephole to see who is causing the commotion. If it were a neighbor, a friend, or a family member, you would probably open the door and invite him in. However, if it were a stranger wearing a ski mask and carrying a pistol, you would hopefully refuse them entry.

If you were certain the person seeking entry into your home intended to harm you, would you feel guilty over his wanting to assault you? Would you lament to yourself, What is wrong with me that would cause this person to want to hurt me? No, you would call the police immediately to apprehend the would-be assailant.

We are not always responsible for the harmful thoughts that come knocking on the doors of our minds. Although allowing outside stimuli such as certain TV programs, reading material, or internet sites to fill our minds can incite thoughts of immorality or greed, we are not always to blame for the first assault of these ideas. If you were stranded on a deserted island, you would still battle against wrong thoughts.

How do I know that? Consider Jesus’ experience in the wilderness immediately following His baptism. For 40 days Christ was completely isolated. No other people, no newspapers, no e-mail. Yet during those 40 days, Jesus was tempted with thoughts of discontent, greed, and pride.

“Since God hasn’t provided you with what you need to survive, turn these stones into bread.”

“You don’t need to wait to reign over the kingdoms of the world; they can be yours now if you are willing to worship me.”

“You don’t need to follow God’s timetable. Demonstrate you are the Messiah now! Put on a spiritual circus to demonstrate you are the Son of God.”

Where did these thoughts originate? “The devil said to Him” (Luke 4:3) — nowhere in the biblical account of Jesus’ temptation does Luke record that the devil appeared to Jesus. Possibly, Satan spoke to the Lord the same way he often communicates with us: through the mind.

Yet did these ungodly thoughts make Jesus a sinner? Of course not! He remained the perfect Lamb of God whose blamelessness qualified Him to be our Savior. If you and I are going to win the mind games, we need to first stop feeling guilty when evil thoughts invade our lives and, instead, learn how to deal with those unwelcome intrusions.

Action 2: Refuse to allow wrong thoughts to linger
If we entertain and embellish wrong thoughts for any period of time, those ideas have a way of transforming into obsessions. These, in turn, result in overt actions or attitudes of disobedience. Pastor and author Charles Stanley vividly demonstrates:

“The initial thoughts the devil sends to us may be just a toehold the first time we entertain those thoughts and dwell on them or fantasize about them. The longer we entertain the thoughts, however, the more likely we are to start making mental plans about how we might act on them.

“It is then the toehold of an idea becomes a foothold. The more we develop plans for acting on a sinful idea or temptation, the more we find that the foothold has become a stronghold. We come to the place where we feel compelled to try out the idea in our behavior. We come to the place where we want to act on that idea more than we want to banish the idea.”

When we reach that point, we are in trouble. How can we prevent our thoughts from turning into strongholds for the devil?

Action 3: Recognize and replace wrong thoughts with God’s thoughts
My analogy concerning a burglar attempting entry into your home is flawed in one respect. While we may be successful in preventing an intruder from coming into our home, we cannot keep unwanted thoughts out of our minds. The fact that we are thinking about something means that the alien idea has already gained entry.

Nevertheless, we do not need to allow the intruder to sit down in our favorite chair, engage us in an extended conversation, and announce that since he has been so welcomed, he is taking up residence in our spare bedroom! Instead, we need to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice for dealing with an undesirable guest:

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Remembering the words recognize and replace will help you seize control over wrong thoughts. Use the questions we discussed previously to help recognize whether or not a thought could have satanic origin.

Is this thought true? Does this thought motivate me to fear more or to trust God more? Does this thought contradict God’s Word?

But know that simply labeling a thought as harmful and attempting to dismiss it from your mind is not enough. In fact, the more you try to reject an unwanted thought, the more you will find yourself obsessing over it.

To dismiss Satan’s thoughts we must replace them with God’s thoughts, just as Jesus did.

When Satan attempted to plant seeds of discontent, Jesus responded by quoting a verse from the Old Testament. “Man shall not live on bread alone” (Luke 4:4).

When Satan enticed the Lord with thoughts of power and riches, Jesus recited God’s greatest commandment: “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Luke 4:8).

When Satan tempted Jesus to act independently from God, the Lord quoted: “You shall not put the lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12).

Jesus understood that the best way to dismiss an unwelcome thought is to replace it with another, more-powerful thought. The best way to dispel darkness is to confront it with light!

When fearful thoughts try to seize control of your life, you can replace those thoughts with,

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV).

When you are tempted with thoughts of discontent, you can replace those thoughts with, “We have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:7-8).

When you are tempted by fantasies of sex with someone other than your mate, you can replace those thoughts with, “The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; he who would destroy himself does it” (Proverbs 6:32).

I believe it is this process Paul has in mind when he encourages us to gird our loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14). Our success in spiritual battle depends on confronting any loose thoughts with the truth of God’s Word.

(Adapted from THE DIVINE DEFENSE by Robert Jeffress, Waterbrook Press, 2006)