“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).

Nectarios Trevino is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was as a squadron commander and also worked in intelligence. He served on General Schwarzkopf’s staff during the Gulf War. 

After Trevino retired he felt called to be a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church. As a part of his ministry he helps people dealing with demonization.

In a recent interview he talked about the first step people can take when trying to turn away from deception, temptation or darkness. As soon as someone has a thought come into their head which is clearly not from God, he encourages them to say ‘No’ out loud. This tells their mind and body that they are not going down that road.*

What happens in your mind is incredibly important. Thoughts turn into words which turn into actions. Perhaps we have thoughts that are angry, hateful, sexually inappropriate or profane. Does not Paul instruct us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ”? (2 Corinthians 10:5)

When we secretly foster dark thoughts in our minds, it’s as if we are cultivating a relationship with them. We’re giving them permission to get comfy and pull up a chair. But we should be giving them an eviction notice not rolling out the red carpet.

I’d like to take Trevino’s idea further. Not only can we say ‘No’ out loud when dark thought enters our mind, but we can say ‘Yes’ when we see or encounter something that shares and shows the truth or grace of Christ.

Yes… Yes… No… No… No… Yes… No…

For a lot of us, this very practical step can help us better discern (and choose) light rather than darkness. 

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).

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Notes:

-“Yes to light, No to darkness.” Click here. Sermon. 

-*“An Orthodox Exorcist Shares His Stories” on The Exorcist Files podcast. Posted May 9, 2024. Accessed here. 

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.