The Foreboding Spirit (Murphy's Law)

Week 2 - Day 12

"...put off ...your former conduct ...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind ...that you put on the new man which was created according to G*d, in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

The passage speaks of the "spirit of your mind." I believe this is the subconscious part of us that is the driving force of our attitudes and actions. These are strongholds (both positive and negative) that have been established thoughts and words (Romans 10:17). As we pursue "full joy", it is important to know that unchallenged lying thoughts will create and maintain strongholds of the enemy in the spirit of our minds (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Many have a stronghold of foreboding, which is having a feeling that something bad is going to happen. Those who have this attitude will not experience much joy. It is the opposite of hope and faith. It is "the confident expectation that bad is coming." Those plagued with this are regularly bracing themselves to "have the rug pulled out from under them again."

Murphy's Law seems to be a major pipeline for foreboding. Who was Murphy anyway? His mantra is "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. If the toast falls on the floor, it will always fall butter side down; or the wind will always blow in the direction of the non-smoker, etc." Murphy's philosophy is "smile, tomorrow will be worse." Obviously there is a lot of "tongue and cheek" humor with this, but many unconsciously believe these "laws". This belief, unfortunately, attracts problems to them and thus reinforces the lies.

We can demolish the foreboding spirit stronghold by:

• confessing it as a sin (1 John 1:9)
• proactively declaring trust that will build positive expectancy (faith) in our lives (Romans 4:17)
• feeding on the materials of faith teachers (Romans 10:17)
• becoming accountable for our thoughts (1 John 1:7)
• persevering in changing our thinking because our experience will catch up to our beliefs (Matthew 9:29)
• laughing when the devil says foreboding lies to us (Psalm 2:1-4)

Declaration: I reject foreboding and embrace hope and joy. I am now building a stronghold of joy in my life.