Episode 84: Counteracting The Adversary’s Tactics

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One of the things that I think we often get mixed up is our natural man state and the adversary. They are actually two different things but they do assist each other. We all have a natural man inside of us that is in opposition to God and creates opposition inside of us. That opposition can be chaotic, confusing and uncomfortable.

The guide to the scriptures says that the natural man is “A person who chooses to be influenced by the passions, desires, appetites, and senses of the flesh rather than by the promptings of the Holy Spirit."  So when we are in the state of our natural man we are choosing to be there and be influenced by an opposing force to God. 

The definition also says that “Such a person can comprehend physical things but not spiritual things. All people are carnal, or mortal, because of the Fall of Adam and Eve.”  When you are in this state you can not understand the things of God and the still small voice of the Spirit is very difficult to hear. Remember, this is a natural phenomenon that happens to everyone because of the fall of Adam and Eve. 

One question I get is “then where does Satan play into all of this?” And I found the perfect scripture that tells us. It’s in Mosiah 16:5 and it reads, "But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him."

This teaches us first, that the natural man is different than Satan and second, that when we are in our natural man carnal state we open the door to allow Satan to have power over us. That is what I want to talk about today. What can you do if you fall into this natural man state and the adversary starts throwing all his tactics at you. I want to talk about how to counteract those tactics. Before I do let me first share 4 major ways I see the adversary attacking women today when we fall into that natural man state. 

1. Sense of Time

Making women feel stressed that there isn’t enough time to do everything. Or feeling disorganized, scattered, or unfocused and getting distracted easily. Even feeling  like they are falling behind and will never get caught up. Can you relate with any of those tactics that the adversary uses against us?

2. Ability to Help the People You Love 

He can make you feel angry when the people you love aren’t doing what they should. Or worried that something might happen to them. Often times he will make you feel guilt when you can’t provide what they need and helpless when you are not sure how to provide relief for them

3. Lack of Energy

 When the adversary zaps your energy by you feel like you are failing when you make mistakes. Or that you are inadequate when you can’t measure up to what others are doing. Truly exhausted from trying to keep up with everything and overwhelmed with everything that is on your plate.

4. Disturbing Your Peace

The adversary will make you feel anxiety at night so you can’t quiet your mind to sleep. You may feel confused about the decisions, direction or purpose of your life. Or feel disappointed with the things that aren’t getting done. Or maybe even out of control as though you are not in charge of your life. The adversary is really good at creating chaos and blurring the lines of truth in our thoughts

Can you relate to any of those tactics?

Most everyone can. That’s why learning to remove the mental roadblocks that the natural man creates with mental health skills through a spiritual lens is the most effective way to access time, energy, help and peace beyond your own and combat the tactics of the adversary.

If you can learn to understand how to catch these mental roadblocks that the natural man creates before the adversary can gain power over them and fuel them from a campfire to a forest fire. You will have a better shot at putting that fire out.

If you had mental health tools to combat each one of those thoughts as they came in, you would be able to return to the Savior sooner and receive what He wants you to receive. The other part of that definition of the natural man in the guide to the scripture tells us this very same thing.

It says, “Each person must be born again through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to cease being a natural man.” Being born again means to return to the Savior each time you enter into the natural man state. Sadly what I see happening to a lot of women is the adversary already has power over them in these 4 categories. So much so that the campfire turns into a forest fire very quickly.  

The most effective way to return back to the Savior when these tactics are being u sed is learning mental health tools through a spiritual lens so you can stop wasting time and getting distracted and accomplishing more in less time. This is because you know what is the most important thing to be spending your time on. You know this by receiving information from a source,  the Holy Ghost. 

He is getting his information from the the Savior, who sees the end from the beginning and knows exactly what you need to be working on at each given moment. You will start seeing progress in your day and satisfaction in your efforts. You will know that whatever you are spending your time on is where the Lord needs you to be. The stress of what you aren’t doing will subside because you will know you are right where you need to be. 

When you use mental health skills through a spiritual lens, you will feel a massive load taken off of your shoulders because you will become a vessel for the Savior to know the exact way to help the people you love. You will know what each individual person needs from you because you have direct access to the Savior that knows exactly what that person needs. He has atoned for everything every person you are helping has experienced. All you need to do is stay connected to the Savior so you can receive the guidance to provide what each person needs.

Mental Health Skills through a spiritual lens will also connected you to your divine spiritual DNA to get more done than you could have possibly done on your own. You are then yoked to the Savior and His power to work. Your abilities will be enhanced mentally, emotionally and physically.

Finally, mental health skills through a spiritual lens will help you feel peace in the unpeaceful parts of life. You will still be able to lay your head down at night and fall asleep even when life is not going how you wanted. Inner peace about who you are and what you are accomplishing in your life.

These mental health tools through a spiritual lens that help you combat these tactics of the adversary are something I teach in depth in my Removing Roadblocks to Revelation Group Coaching Program. If you related to any of those tactics this program is for you.