The practice of disinformation, or propaganda as we used to call it, has been heavy on my mind. So has a part of the brain called The Reticular Activating System. It is at the base of the brain, about two-inches long and is a heavy-duty thought filter. The two have been messing with my understanding of discerning and discerning of spirits and my perception of truth.

The definition of RAS includes the phrase—the RAS filters out unnecessary noise…. The RAS is so powerful it will filter out any solutions, truth, or any strategy regardless of rightness or wrongness and sources depending on how we instruct it.

How do I know, then, for sure that what I “discern” is anything more than my ignorance and willfulness to hear only what will support my point of view? How do I discern accurately?

I noticed this when checking YouTube. If the post or program is more than 4 hours old, I usually think it is not fresh enough or is out of date. Perhaps I’m alone in this, I am so desirous to know what is going on that dictates activity in my world and hear as many opinions as possible that I want my preachers/teachers to help me understand, or to help me learn the import of front-page news from a biblical point of view . That determines what I want sermons to contain and what I want church to be like in these days.  Apostle, Preacher, Teacher, Prophet, Evangelist, what can you tell me that will bring order and light to the dark chaos and/or will instruct me how to respond with Kingdom fidelity?

Others don’t want to hear their preacher talk about those things. “I get enough of that from TV! Just preach the Word!” Listening to a podcast, I was hearing the same stuff I just heard another podcaster and guests say. That may be called “Circular talking.” I wondered how what I was hearing was anything but intellectual gossip. I shut it down.

Heavy on my mind, heavy on my spirit. I need time to monitor and recalibrate my RAS. I believe the Lord signaled me to schedule and honor appointments to hear His word and be in His presence. When God “speaks to me” it is seldom in capitalized, 20 point, red font. There is no shouting. That unique voice comes in italics, 14 point font. Listening to one of my trusted teachers, the voice came in 16-point font. The teacher and the voice said,

“Steward this well!”

Steward what?

An hour later, I was reading, TIME Magazine, Publish date February 15, 2021.  

The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election

It is a lengthy article which purports to be an exposure piece, but it reads like a news release from a self-proclaimed cabal about how they influenced and controlled the election itself and days leading to it and following it. It is stunning, shocking and sobering. The TIME reporter tells us that media, tech, “disinformation” are only public players taking orders from an unknown group.

You can Google this for yourself if wanting to know specifics. I also listened to Charlie Kirk talk about the article and announcement.

https://www.google.com/search?q=charlie+kirk&oq=Charlie+Kirk&aqs=chrome.0.0j46j0l6.19430j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8   Scroll to episode: “How they did it….”

We came away from this feeling “There is no use to try! No reason to fight for our Republic. We are already controlled by a faceless, nameless group of people.” Several opinionators react with disgust about the arrogance and bragging. “This is the way we did it!” I also think this “news release” is a warning—you—so-called WE THE People  are without power—you can’t do anything about it.

Steward this well!

I get it! Steward well how you interpret this, what you conclude and what agreements you make with it. Stewarding well is a big-font call to intentionally setting appointments to…

“…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things….” (Colossians 3:2).

Not to the exclusion of our life on this planet at this time. We cannot choose between an openness to information and seeking/hearing God’s revelation of grace and healing. We are called to a physical response—tune your soul and plan times to recalibrate your RAS. “For the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16)–and restoration of soul.

Recalibrating!

©2021 D. Dean Benton

Something spooky and then unnerving started happening to me several weeks ago. I began to see the numerals 11:11 on the clock. I would notice it was 11:11 while reading. I would roll over in bed to see the clock said 11:11. It happened 15-20 times. It was unsought and startling. One night I went to bed early and then woke up. It was 11:11. I passionately asked, “Lord, what is this about?”!! I was frustrated. Something was going on and I couldn’t figure out what I was to do about it-how I was to respond. I talked to my people who know more about such things than I, but nothing seemed to fit. I began to research. Eleven-eleven has a numerology meaning. It also has dark spirit meanings as well as New Age. I decided to see what the biblical meaning is. Here’s what I found.

The dictionary picture,  is an open hand. So I’m told. Two words are connected to the joined numbers of 11:11. They are transition and revelation. The connecting of an open hand in a transition time demands revelation. I am satisfied with that. It feels right.

Several years ago, I received a vision or dream that featured a hand opening a door. It was vivid and latched onto my soul. It was an exterior door with etched and colored glass on each side. Looking at the door from the outside, the hinges were on the right side and the door opened in. The hand had opened the door and in the same gesture invited the person to “go right on in.” My mental response was that God opens doors and He is desirous to do so. In recent months it seems to me the hand is also beckoning, not just gesturing, “Go on in.” But, to whom? For what?

The 11:11 stuff has rattled me with no resolution or answer. I thought it was over, but three nights ago there it was again. And last night, I looked into the bedroom and the clock was announcing 11:11. My soul jumped as if awakened by the scanner to an incoming alarm.

During these weeks, I wondered if it referenced a Scripture. Rummaging in the Bible to find an appropriate proof text didn’t seem right to me. This morning, Carole called me from my office to hear a trusted preacher/teacher reference Jesus saying in John 11:11:

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to wake him up.”

Is that what 11:11 been about? I think so enough to pray into it and contemplate it, but I am also open to further insight or revelation. Open hand, open door, transition, revelation and Jesus saying He is waking us to that which has been asleep or not consciously perceived.  Awakening to what has been hidden? Awakening to something we have not known, have dismissed or ignored? Perhaps been praying for.

A Great Awakening!

©2021 D. Dean Benton

The text is from Dean’s manuscript Seizin’ The Season  to be published later this year.