The voice of the old gray stallion choked with tears, “Why won’t he listen? It’s almost like he has an unseen bridle forcing him down every wrong path!!” The wise old mare sadly replied, “Oh, he does listen - it just isn’t us that he is listening to. And yes, he does have a bridle, but he just doesn’t know it.”
Defiant eyes glared as a teenager’s voice yelled, “It’s my life, I am free. You don’t have the right to tell me how to live.” Although many people might claim to be free, they are ignorant that they are actually prisoners of an unseen force, a bridle guiding their behavior.
Why do you suppose Paul would describe those under Satan’s control as having “worthless thinking” and a “darkened understanding?” Ephesians 4:17-18 Satan knows that he can gain control over someone by quietly slipping his deadly bridle of false beliefs over a person’s head. Once those beliefs are accepted, he is in control. What I choose to believe will create my value system which in turn will guide my behavior. If one’s beliefs are riddled with lies, one’s life will ultimately reflect those false beliefs through marred behavior.
Because God has revealed the truth to us through Jesus and His Word, we do not have to be slaves of Satan’s cultural and popular lies. We can choose truth to guide us through the paths of righteousness. This does not mean that one is “totally free.” All of us are prisoners. We are either prisoners of sin and puppets for Satan or slaves of obedience serving God. Consult Romans 6.
Recognize any of these false beliefs?
• “I’ve got to have it”
Yes, you might really want it, but does your life depend on it? No. This lie belongs to a family of lies which grows from the false belief that your worth and identity is based on what you have. This false belief destroys lives.
Consider Carlos who knew he “just had to have” that new car. He took out a loan which meant he neglected his family because he had to work longer hours to pay the bills. Of course his wife complained and he resented her for it. Although he would deny it, Carlos actually chose to have a bad marriage because he believed the lie that he “just had to have the car.”
Jesus said, “Watch out and be on guard against all kinds of greed, because one’s life is not measured in the abundance of one’s possessions.” Luke 12:15 How many lives and marriages do you know that have been chewed up by unnecessary debt? See 1 John 2:15-17
• “You have no right to tell me what to do”
This is either a slippery half-truth or a blatant lie. Either way it is false. Hiding behind such defiance of authority are the false beliefs, “all roads lead to ....” and “I know what is best for me.” Hence, why should you tell me which path I should take?
The truth is that God did give certain ones the right to tell others what to do. Ephesians 6:1; Romans 13:1-7 Furthermore, all roads don’t lead toward a desirable conclusion (Matthew 7:13-14; Galatians 6:7,8) and anyone making decisions guided by false information is always at serious risk.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1997
Other Articles Which Might Be of Interest
Training the Mind (We Create Our Own Perceptions)Choosing Your Own Bridle (Beliefs)
Where's the Treasure? (Issues of the heart)
Mt. Kilauea Erupts Again (Anger Can Be Controlled)
A Decision. Momentum! Values. Momentum! A Pattern. Momentum!