Gaslighting

 

Jesus was so sure of his identity, that he did not have to PROVE himself. When Satan came to tempt him by questioning His position as the Son of God. Jesus did not engage by ‘proving’ himself or trying to convince Satan that He was the son of God. No, Jesus, responded with the security and proof of God’s word. Gaslighters will lure you in to engage in a battle of words. They will lure you into behaving in extraordinary ways that do not honour God. You must make a deliberate decision not to engage, so that just like Matthew 4:11, they will eventually leave you and angels of the Lord will minister to you, strengthening your heart and mind.                  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” - Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus prayed that they would be forgiven. Even if it feels like the perpetrator knows exactly what they are doing, the truth is that when we sin, we behave outside of the identity that Christ died for us to have. The ‘gaslighter’ is still worthy of grace, and room to grow out of their manipulative behaviour. To withhold grace from someone is to deny God’s ability to transform people regardless of their past wrongs. Though it is hard, we must forgive. This is Christ’s response. “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬