Made for More: 30 Days of Experiencing More Life, Love, and FreedomSample

Day 23: Kingdom of Darkness

We desperately need to be trained to see and hear with the eyes and ears of our hearts—to recognize and reclaim what’s been stolen, to see it reclaimed, redeemed and restored. The enemy wants your heart so that he has access to your kingdom, and he’s patient. They wait, working a long, quiet campaign. If the sustained assault eventually pays off, it’s often because we didn’t see it coming. And the casualties are more than just you; it’s your marriage, your children, your sphere of influence; your kingdom. The deception is subtle and strategic. The powerful whispers sound like our own thoughts:

I am unseen, unwanted, unlovable. This is just who I am. I’m on my own.

That’s the enemy’s number one lie “You’re on your own.” It’s the seed he longs to plant deep within every image bearer’s heart, especially early on. If he can get “inside” a boy’s or girl’s or young man’s or young woman’s heart, they can shape what happens on the outside for years to come.

This again, is how lies work. It’s not just about what a man or woman does—it’s what he or she believes, deep down, that drives them. Like default settings running quietly in the background, our thoughts and beliefs often go unchecked. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

The enemy knows this. And they wait for the day a boy or girl’s heart can be wounded; they lurk then pounce for the moment a lie can be believed. We’ve talked about it, but here it is again. A painful moment becomes a defining one. A vow is made—I’ll figure this out myself. I’ll protect myself. I’m on my own. And just like that, the seed is planted, and the false self begins to form.

Fear, guilt, and shame shake the foundation of belovedness. Over time, a man starts living with something to hide, something to prove, and something to fear.

That one moment, even in the innocence and naivety of youth can and will echo through the years to come. It stays because our enemy makes certain it is reinforced again and again, hoping to continue to cash in its effect inside your heart and outside through you on the hearts of others.

As John Eldredge writes, “Every man carries a wound. I have never met a man without one.” And you? No matter how good life may have seemed, you live in a broken world, surrounded by broken people. Therefore, wounds are part of the story, guaranteed.

But take heart—healing is part of this story too. Recovery is possible. You are not alone. And this moment—right now—is another invitation to reclaim a part of your heart, reforge a part of your identity, and win back another piece of your freedom.

As you reflect on all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Jesus, when and where did I start to believe the lie that I am on my own?

Holy Spirit, how have I reinforced that lie by agreeing and vowing to live a certain way? What other lies have I believed about myself that are in the way of my freedom?

Father, is there one phrase or sentence that feels like it’s just for me today? Would You help me hear it clearly and understand why it matters?