Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Hey, friend. Welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love, and grow.
So grab a seat, settle in, and join us on this journey to turn inspiration into action.
Let's dive in foreign.
Hey, friend. Welcome back to Perspectives into Practice. I am so glad that you're here today. Today's conversation is about something subtle, something many of us experience every day, but we don't always stop to question it, and it's our thoughts. I'm joined by my new friend, Bethany. And she had a moment during an ordinary zoom call where God called her to sharpen her discernment and shift how, how she understands spiritual warfare in daily life. This story isn't about the distant past. It's about what God is actively teaching her right now and how that awareness is changed, how she walks with him and that I can't wait to dive in. Bethany, I'm so glad that you're here. Welcome.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: Thank you. Great to be here.
[00:01:13] Speaker A: Yeah. All right, so before we dive in, you know, I love to share a fun fact. And Bethany's fun fact is that when she was born, she was so tiny that her dad's wedding ring fit around her wrist like a bracelet, which is just an amazing fact.
So, Bethany, looking back at that, how does that story shape the way that God's cared in your life today?
[00:01:39] Speaker B: Yes, thank you for sharing that. Yes. I was born at 24 and a half weeks on a ventilator for eight weeks after that. And so that is the reason for my voice quality. And that fun fact ties into all of that. And so looking at it now, there are so many ways that I could go with this, but to keep it at this time frame. The Lord has recently really been convicting me about how we view spiritual attacks and how easily it seems like some Christians may not necessarily see spiritual attacks as such. So I, I'm working on, I'm going through the entire Bible almost verse by verse and just seeing how Satan's subtlety affects people.
And so I'm sure that Jessica has a list of questions for me, so I will wait to share more until she asks.
[00:03:11] Speaker A: Yeah, you know, sometimes God uses small moments to get our attention. And so that is what we're focusing on today is that story that reminds us how easily that something so subtle can carry really a deep spiritual significance. And so I'm wondering, can you take us back to the zoom call moment where you sensed in real time what God was revealing to you? And how you recognize now what that moment was that you might have missed before.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: Yes, that wonderful question.
That time I was on a zoom call with someone else, and a thought came into my mind, an urgency thought, no less.
A thought that, looking back on it now, I know that wasn't from God because it was something that caused that zoom call to end up ending a way that I didn't necessarily want.
And so thinking about that, what. Where can I go back to?
Shows me, you know, why. Why attacks, why spiritual attacks are so subtle and we have to be on guard always. I believe.
[00:04:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:36] Speaker B: In working on the book, I came across second Samuel, chapter 11. And that chapter talks about another spiritual attack, a choice that was made. King David in that chapter, he was supposed to go to war, but he didn't. And because of that choice, because of him giving into that choice, giving into that spiritual attack, I believe 2nd Samuel 11 and 12 are two of the most powerful chapters in the Bible, showing us that restoration is possible, that we don't have to live in the grip of spiritual chats.
We can have freedom.
Yes. They can be subtle, they are taps. But we have tools we can use to help us be on guard.
[00:05:52] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. And I love that you brought up that, that we have a choice, because we talk about that a lot on this podcast, is that we. God gives us a choice. He gives us that free will. And Jesus didn't sin even though he was tempted, so there was temptation, and he didn't sin in that. And so the temptation is not the sin. It is what we do because of the temptation. It is the choice that we make after that. And you're right, the enemy can be so sick, subtle, and he can just sneak on in there and start whittling away and, and working on us. And. And we get to choose. Okay, Am I going to stand firm in what I believe or am I going to. To give in?
And. And you're right. We have all of the tools. The Bible gives us all the tools. God gives us everything that we need.
[00:06:45] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:06:46] Speaker A: But we have to choose to use them, and we have to choose to practice those tools. Right. It's not just simply opening the Bible and reading it, but it's studying the Word, it's researching it. It's. What's it called when you look back from a verse to another verse?
[00:07:04] Speaker B: Cross reference.
[00:07:05] Speaker A: Yes, you have to cross reference and see, okay, it might be talked about here, but what does it say in other, other ways? And how do other people, you know, work through this? And just like we do in our lives. The Bible gives us those amazing stories of so we can learn from them and then not make those mistakes, which I love. I love that.
So how do you recognize now, having that. That epiphany? I will. I'll say from the zoom call. How do you recognize now those moments that the enemy likes to sneak in, those subtle attacks that you said?
[00:07:44] Speaker B: Well, I. Being born as I was at 24 and a half weeks, over the years, I've wondered, you know, God, why. Why is this your choice? For me?
[00:07:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:59] Speaker B: And he has shown me that. He has given me perspectives.
[00:08:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:06] Speaker B: Early on in my life so that I'm able to help others to better understand that they don't. They don't have to give in to spiritual jets. They don't have to dwell in that pit of negativity or with that pit in their stomach or their chest that they just feel like, how can I go on? But that there is a choice that they can make.
And so I truly believe that God has given me such a wonderful gift to be able to help people, and I'm very passionate about it as I believe can be heard.
[00:09:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:05] Speaker B: I could spend hours talking about various things like this.
[00:09:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: I won't.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: But we keep it short here.
We get. We get down to it.
I love that. But I love that you, again, are choosing to take what could have been just a depressing life and just. Well, this is just, you know, everything sucks and everything's terrible and, you know, this is what happened to me and just go down that rap, that rabbit trail. But you've chosen to see the positive in it, to help others. And I just think that that is just so beautiful and just such a great example of God's work in your life. Because you're right, people. People, you know, lean the other way and they. They get stuck in that. And the enemy wants to keep you there. He wants to keep you in that darkness and in that shame and in that regret if thought process. But the Lord wants you in freedom and he wants you to be in the light and to share with others and to teach them what he's. It's just. It's so much better on this side, isn't it? It's just so much better on this side. That doesn't mean that it's easy. It doesn't mean that we don't have the enemy's attacks. It doesn't mean that it usually means that we get more attacks because the enemy knows that we're onto something good and he doesn't like that.
So it gives us more time to practice.
We get to practice a lot more. A lot more.
So you. You shared about this experience and how it changed your understanding between your thoughts that come from God and the thoughts that come from the enemy. So how do you personally discern that difference now?
[00:10:52] Speaker B: Like you just said, it's not that, you know, his Satan's attacks don't happen.
[00:10:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:00] Speaker B: But I'm better aware of how to respond. And that is part of the perspective I will be sharing at the end of this. For me, my overnights were horrible.
I would have dreams that were not from God at all. They were scary dreams. They were.
And even during the day, my responses to things were just. Instead of peace and taking time to think things through, my responses before were very reactionary.
I have such a passion for helping people break free from that.
Break free from those reactions that are not becoming of Christians if we really stop to think about it. You know, when. When there's no difference between how a Christian responds to things versus how unsafe person responds, that's not very wise, I don't think.
[00:12:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:21] Speaker B: And so personally, it's just been so incredibly freeing to be able to understand.
Okay, I can choose differently.
I don't have to allow this circumstance or thought or whatever else to engulf my mind.
I can choose.
I can choose to respond different. And like I say, my. It's amazing how green.
[00:12:59] Speaker A: Yeah, this.
[00:13:00] Speaker B: Yeah, truly is. And so I. I would encourage listeners, if you want, reach out to me because I have learned and put into practice.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: So that's amazing. So what has God shown you about how subtly those thoughts can take root if we don't pause and pay attention to them.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: Yes. Just as King David in 2nd Samuel 11, just as his decision led him to that.
God has really been teaching me that the importance of intentional time, truly just stopping, even if it's for a second or five seconds or just to understand things. And to understand that, again, we do have a choice.
We are responsible for our choices. And it is so powerful that you have even mentioned that you talk a lot about choices on this podcast. And I think that is wonderful because we do need to understand how important choices are.
[00:14:23] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. And be reminded that we have that. Because I feel like a lot of people get stuck in their gunk and think, well, this is just the way it is. This is the way it's always been, and this is the way it is, and that's the end of that. But no, the reality is you can choose at any moment now, five minutes from now, 10 minutes from now, 18 years from now to change it.
And that's something that I teach my children, is that you don't have to allow other people to control you. When you have an emotion or a thought or whatever pop up, you get to choose how you're going to react to that, where you react or respond.
You get to choose that. And so, you know, a lot, because a lot of times they'll come up and be like, oh, well, she made me do it. No, no, no, you chose, you chose to do that. And, and just as adults, we have that choice. Yeah, we have that choice. And so, yeah, just that constant, constant reminder that we have that. And you know, it says in, in First John that it says a lot of times in the Bible, but I was just reading through First John that a Christian will be known by their fruit. And you, you mentioned that, you said that, you know, if, if a Christian and a non Christian react the same way, what is that showing?
And a Christian will be known by their fruit. And if you look at an apple tree and it produces apples, you'd be like, hey, that's actually an apple tree. But if you see an apple tree that has oranges, what kind of tree is that? I don't know.
I don't know what kind of tree that is.
But we have to show that fruit, which means that we have to be actively pursuing our relationship with the Lord and our following of him and putting off what is bad and putting on what is good and not allowing the enemy to take over and choosing to do something completely different.
God. It also says in First Samuel that we are supposed to be peculiar. So we're made differently. We're made differently in Christ and that's amazing. I want to be different.
I want to be different.
So earlier you mentioned, well, not earlier, but when we were talking earlier, you mentioned James 4, 4, 7 and how easily we can reverse James 4. 7 and submit to the enemy and resist God, where James 7 says to resist the enemy and submit to God. And so without even realizing it, we can do that sometimes. And so how is God teaching you to submit to him first in your day to day life?
[00:17:09] Speaker B: I have gotten into the routine of doing some more specific times of prayer and two of those times are before I get up and before I go to sleep. Yeah, and even as we talk about James 4, 7, I do believe that having those specific prayer times is key.
And this, I honestly could go on a lot longer on this too. But to answer the question, so before I get up and then before I go to sleep is how I submit to God.
And obviously there's other things throughout the day that I do as well. And yet just having those trouble two times, I believe that helps us, Helps our minds focus on what we need to focus on. I mean, how many times do we just get up in the morning and go about our day and. Yeah, you know, maybe even before breakfast or certainly before lunch. We're all frazzled. And it causes me to wonder, well, how do you start your day?
[00:18:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:35] Speaker B: If you, if you aren't intentionally starting your day by acknowledging God in prayer, is it any wonder why you're attacked so much?
[00:18:48] Speaker A: Yeah. Yes. Yeah.
[00:18:50] Speaker B: Because I won't get off on that. But it's one of my concerns that, you know, we. We have to be intentional. And that is one way we submit to God. I believe.
[00:19:07] Speaker A: Absolutely. Yeah. We have to be vigilant in our defense of, or I guess offense of the enemy. We have to. The Bible tells us to put on the armor of God.
[00:19:19] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:19:20] Speaker A: If you think about putting on the armor of God halfway through your day and wonder why the first part of your day was a wreck, you're absolutely right. I love that you mentioned that. Because you're protecting your mind before you go to bed and you're protecting your day and setting yourself up for success and then again ending the day with it and beginning that. It's just, it's a cyclical effect and it is a beautiful submission to the Lord and say, God, I give you my night, I give you my dreams, I give you my mind, I give you my day.
That constant submission. I. I love that. I love that so much.
So what is obedience to that verse look like for you now?
[00:20:03] Speaker B: Yes, that's a great question. It looks like what I just was mentioning how that. Yeah, I choose to acknowledge God before I get up. I choose to acknowledge him before I go to sleep and at other times throughout the day. And so obedience to that verse, for me, it looks like that.
It looks like also taking time when those attacks do come, you know, instead of reacting with fear or something unbecoming to a Christian, you know, just pausing and.
[00:20:49] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:20:50] Speaker B: Quickly analyzing the thought or the circumstance and, you know, reminding yourself that God is protecting you. And. Yeah, God is restraining Satan over your life.
And so whenever a sudden thought or sudden circumstance comes up, that's not from God, you're able to recognize that as from Satan and you're able to resist that.
[00:21:25] Speaker A: Yes. Yeah, that's exactly it. Is that intentional? I love that you keep saying intentional because we have that's what we have to be, is be intentional. And if you don't, that's how the enemy just gets right in there because, yeah, it's easy. I love that you talked about how God. God. That you talk to God all throughout your day and that I know that he longs to commune with us. He loves to talk to us and to be with us and to hear from us at every part of our day. And it really does have to be a consistent part of our day. And I think that's. That is submitting to the Lord in being obedient in that. And it also helps us to. To resist the devil and to not take those subtle little. Little jabs that he gives us.
And that prayer in the morning, in the evening, in the daytime. I mean, it's. It is for our protection and to keep.
To keep Satan away from us.
Bethany, this has been so wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing with us your story.
This is just. It's such a great reminder that discernment often begins with paying attention, slowing down, like you said, pause. And choosing to submit to God in those small moments. Friend, if this conversation has stirred something in you, maybe something God has been highlighting in your own life, I want you to know that your story matters, too. This podcast is a place for everyday women to share what God is actively teaching them and how they're learning to live that out. I would love for you to be a guest and would love to hear from you. You can visit perspectivesintopractice.com to learn more and to share what God is doing in this season of your life. I cannot wait to hear from you.
So, Bethany, one last question that I ask every guest, because this really is the heart of this podcast, and that is what is one perspective that you would encourage listeners to put into practice today?
[00:23:30] Speaker B: Getting into a routine of before you get up and before you go to sleep, you take, again, intentional time to pray. And if you say, well, I don't have that time. Well, let me give you just two things that you can thank God for and that will help your mind.
Thank God for his protection.
And then, number two, thank God for restraining Satan.
Now, yes, you say, well, God does that automatically. Yes, he does that. But how quickly do we forget?
I mean, that's the perspective. I would encourage listeners to start a routine of before you get up and before you go to sleep. Thank God for those two things verbally.
[00:24:29] Speaker A: Yeah, I love that. Beautifully, beautifully said. It sets us up for success, for everything that we're doing in life. I I love that. Friend, if you've ever dismissed a thought too quickly or ignored a gentle check in with your spirit, I really hope that today's conversation encouraged you to pause and ask God for clarity.
He is faithful to guide us and to protect us and to draw us closer when we're willing to listen. And side note, if you want to go back and catch up on all the conversations that we've had here and share them with a friend, do that. Go to perspectivesandepractice.com and you'll find all our past episodes. We've got blog posts, Place to share what God is teaching you in this season.
And again, it's being intentional. You can choose to put positive things in your mind, or you can choose to allow the negativity around you. Which, let's face it, there's a lot of negativity in this world. But you get to choose, friend. And remember, even small shifts in perspective can lead to big changes. Now go put those perspectives into practice. Talk to you next time.
