Effectively Disarming the Peace Thief

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

Lamp

“The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart” (Prov. 20:27, NKJV).

You know that vague, unsettled feeling that sometimes comes to hang over your inner space like an ominous cloud… seemingly for no reason? It sneaks up on you unawares. It creeps subtly into the corners of your mind. Then you find yourself feeling uneasy but not knowing why.

This is one of the adversary’s favorite tricks. Both out of sheer spitefulness… and because he is desperate to try anything that might hinder the terrifying threat you represent to his kingdom… he comes back time and again to try to steal your peace. The way he does this is by way of thought darts. Thought darts are negative thoughts cleverly disguised as your own, that actually didn’t come from you. They are directly from the enemy.

I have found that, whenever that haze of disquiet begins to roll in over my emotions, it always has a source. In each and every case, my foe has targeted me with a carefully crafted untruth. The Lord has trained me to pause when this happens. With His help, you and I can identify the origin of the unrest, address it, and stamp it out. Then voila… sunshine breaks out once again!

Here are the steps He has taught me to effectively deal with these attacks:

  1. Stop. Rather than just putting up with the emotional fog, pause and become aware. Hold your finger to the wind. Take notice that something is off. “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NET).
  2. Ask the Lord to show you the source. Usually, the enemy has quietly introduced some lie or threat into your mind without you even realizing it. As you listen to Holy Spirit, He will bring to mind exactly what that thought dart was. The Light of the World is one with your spirit. Through your spirit, His lamp will search out your inmost being. He will show you the answer. “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart” (Prov. 20:27, NKJV).
  3. Extinguish the attack. Once He reveals to you what the specific lie or threat is, put it out. Ephesians tells us that we do this by faith. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16, ESV). Notice it says we can extinguish all of them. There is not a single fiery dart the devil can come up with, that can get through your shield. Use it. Flex your faith muscle. Take hold of a specific promise from the Bible that addresses the lie attacking you. Declare it. Get violent with it. And put out that dart!!
  4. Nestle back into Daddy’s arms. Move right back into peace. This is your home. This is what you were created for. You can always have peace in Him! “For the kingdom of God is… righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17, NKJV).

Living in this way takes practice. Don’t be discouraged by how long it takes you to grow into your fighting skills. You will get the hang of it if you don’t give up. The Bible unambiguously tells us that we are called to peace (Col. 3:15). If God has called us to peace, He will faithfully teach us to live in it. Let’s not settle for anything less!

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When disquiet tries to sit on your emotions, how do you find your way back to joy and peace? What has worked for you? I’d love to hear your insights!

29 thoughts on “Effectively Disarming the Peace Thief”

  1. Excellent post and those darts are coming hot and heavy these days, which gives us all more reason to know their source and deal with them as you have indicated. I especially see our self centered pride being hit on to set us off course and redirect our focus from our Shepherd. The waves are indeed choppy but Jesus still walks on top of them! Blessings and thank you.

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    1. I am smiling joyfully to read your comment because that is the third time today that the Lord has brought up to me the story of Jesus walking on the water. The first in a devo I read this morning, the second in another blog that I visited this afternoon, and now your sharing here. I am so blessed! Thank you, Bruce, for being His instrument of encouragement 🙂

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  3. Praise and worship even when I don’t feel like it works best in these types of spiritual attacks for me. Sometimes stopping. Looking up and forcing my thoughts and mind to look higher than all events surrounding or trying to swamp my life. How GREAT YOU MY LORD ARE gradually soothes my mind. Life is an ever learning journey. I thank you for your thought proving blog.

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  4. Hi Jen, good advice thank you. Yes whenever I sense that dullness and downward feeling –eventually it is by acknowledging out loud the truth of my position in Father, inside His heart and that He is with me carrying me even in this “attack”.

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  6. In this season of much less distraction, the enemy has intensified his attacks ! The fiery darts seemed more subtle when my life was occupied with work [a job], lots more activities[due to better health], and interaction with people [now restricted due to more attention to my wives daily needs and care]. Searching for meaningful and productive things is a daily challenge. My thoughts are under constant attack from the enemy to lead me astray, wasting time with mundane events, such at tv and the internet occupy too much time and my nights asleep are disturbed often by vile nightmares. Praying during my devotional time in these regards is difficult at times. This morning, it literally took an extended time, crying out to JESUS to stop the thoughts in my head and pain in my heart. A direct satanic attack! YES! Victory did come and the peace of the Lord prevailed. I so look forward to the return of Christ or my return to Him. lOVE IN THE FATHER. Len

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    1. I’m sorry the battle has been so intense, Len. Saying a prayer right now for you and Linda, that the Father would minister to your hearts in such a tangible way today and each day on this journey. You are so precious to Him!

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  9. “Thought darts are negative thoughts cleverly disguised as your own, that actually didn’t come from you.”
    Exactly! I have said before, and I’ll say it again: Satan speaks to me in a voice that sounds just like mine – and in the first person!
    But before he can suggest something like “I’m hopeless,” I pray out loud (so I hear my REAL voice saying it), “Lord, thank You for emotions that confirm Your truth. But I also thank You that the truth stands on its own and needs no confirmation from me or anyone else. I thank You that my emotions don’t get to run my life. They don’t get to define me or dictate what I say, do, focus on, believe, or choose. I choose YOU as my Sovereign, not my emotions.” Usually after that I actually feel pretty good. But if I don’t, I just remind myself of what I just declared, and thank the Lord that those negative feelings aren’t going to last forever.
    Blessings, Jennifer.
    Annie

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    1. Smiling joyfully, reading your words. That is so good and so wise! Faith comes by hearing. How powerful, that you make sure your ears are hearing the truth they need to hear, out loud. I really like that! Also I like how you signed your name Annie. I know I asked you quite a while back what I should call you, but do you have a preference for Annie over Anne?

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  11. For me the thought darts come in waves. Lots one week, then few the next. Realising it is not an instant process is important, and that turning to God is the answer. Thank you again for practical wisdom.

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