I sometimes visualize “The Barney Bag” when I think of the enemy’s tricks and devices. For those who: 1) May find it bizarre that I know about the Barney bag; 2) Find it bizarre that I parallel the two concepts, and 3) Have no clue what the Barney bag is, follow me. I became an aunt at the age of 5. Although I was older than my nieces and nephews, I had to watch what they liked-and they LOVED Barney. Hence, I’ve seen a lot of episodes and know some of the jams from the show. 

The Barney Bag was a magical bag (because everything about Barney was magical) that would appear in the classroom/learning center filled with various items that Barney and the kids used to create various crafts for their enjoyment. They sang these lyrics each time they explored the items in the bag: “Well, I’ve been looking in my Barney Bag. And I’ve found a lot of things: gizmos and gadgets and odds and ends. Even some old string. So let’s ask ourselves a question: ‘What can we make today?’ With imagination and the Barney bag, we’ll see what we can make today.” I believe the enemy has his own “Barney Bag” and that he also looks through the devices with enthusiasm. There’s nothing spectacular about what’s inside; he simply knows how to create devices that cause distraction and destruction among the sons and daughters of God. 

Duplication is one of the enemy’s tricks. He is huge on counterfeits and has his version of everything that God has. God has conviction; the enemy has condemnation. Condemnation and shame are close kin. The enemy uses condemnation to trigger others to become silent, isolate, self-sabotage, hide, and settle further into where they are. Condemnation makes people feel worthless and unworthy. It separates its listeners from the love of God. 

I grew up in church. One of our memory verses, or what I now call “pocket scriptures”, was John 3:16. I could say it at any speed on the drop of a dime, but it took decades for me to learn the depth of what God was actually telling me in that verse. The world and I saw different versions of me when I left my parents’ nest. The enemy used some of the things I experienced and indulged in to douse me in condemnation which led me to believe that I was not worthy of the kingdom’s full benefits. I knew God loved me, but I didn’t KNOW He loved me. So, when I came to salvation, I took a backseat to everything. I hid because I felt I did well to be in the kingdom. I didn’t really need to try to push any limits by doing anything else beyond repentance. I felt three times less than unworthy.

I want everyone to know that condemnation does not come from God. We should always be remorseful and willing to turn away from what grieves or displeases God; but we should never feel that we cannot talk to him or return to him. Jesus plainly explained Satan’s plans to kill, steal, and destroy; he also plainly explained his own. He came that we could have life more abundantly.

The abundant life, life that is full of goodness, provision, protection, love, peace, and more, is available to anyone willing to accept it. We are not ignorant regarding the devil’s devices! I encourage you to refer to the word of God for insight into what God thinks and says about you. You’ll see for yourself that God has nothing but love for you. We can't go backward. It's time to move forward. Put the enemy’s device of condemnation to death and enjoy the life God intends for you.