BY REV. DORAL PULLEY, Today’s Church Tampa Bay
READ | Matthew 7:13-20
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves
(Matthew 10:16).”
Wolves are conniving and destructive. The wolf is that part of us that does not desire to heal, grow, change, develop, unfold, or forgive. The wolf way of being keeps us in guilt, shame, and condemnation and causes us to operate from a place of low self-esteem, poor self-image, and lack of self-worth. Other ways to describe the wolf state is the lower level of consciousness, operating from the subconscious phase of the mind, or functioning as a lesser version of ourselves.
Different from goats who only harm themselves, wolves devour the sheep and destroy the sheepfold. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, out of hurt, pain, or fear, we all have adversely impacted ourselves and others through addictive patterns, feelings of bitterness, or acts of jealousy. The challenge is for us to recognize it and to correct it with the light of God’s love. The I AM of our being empowers us to release and eradicate wolf motives and purify our hearts.
Jesus warned his disciples that they would have all types of life events. With each life event, they had a choice of what the experience was going to be like for them (John 10:10). It is not the event itself that causes us pain but how we choose to experience it. We can have a wolf experience and allow the event to steal our hopes, kill our dreams, and destroy our future. We also have a right to have a sheep experience and allow the event to be life-giving and bring us success and prosperity. It is completely up to us.
Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Today’s Church Tampa Bay, 940 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg (Staybridge Suites) and 5107 North Central Ave., Tampa.
