Are you battle ready?
 
Although most of us have never heard of entrainment, we’ve all experienced it! Entrainment is a subcategory of resonance, a phenomenon of sound in which powerful vibrations of one object will actually change the vibrations of another, causing the second object to lock in step or synchronize with the first.
 
A room full of pendulum clocks set at different times will eventually synchronize so they all move in harmony. The same is true of a group of metronomes set to begin at various times. Their discordance will ultimately come into perfect synchronization, making one harmonious sound. This is the phenomenon that resets the menstrual cycles of women living together until they’re all on the same cycle.
 
The Gospels are full of examples of entrainment, both good and evil. Time after time crowds followed Jesus, reverberating as one heart with His heart as they witnessed His love, teachings and miracles. But the Pharisees countered with reverberations of envy, jealousy and hatred, rapidly entraining these same crowds to turn on Jesus. They came after their beloved miracle-working teacher with swords, clubs and sonorous words (Matthew 26:55), insisting on the release of the notorious criminal Barabbas rather than Jesus (Matthew 27:20), demanding with one voice that He be crucified (Matthew 27:22-26). It’s shocking how quickly the powerful reverberations of one group can reset the resonance of an entire community.
 
Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. But out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words. Luke 6:45
 
Each of us has the capacity to be entrained or be entrainers. Think about the ongoing assault of messaging meant to entrain you. Think about how repeating what you hear, and the manner in which you speak, facilitates the entrainment of others. When you speak judgment, curses and defeat, the atmosphere around you resonates with the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Conversely, when you speak love, blessing and the promises of God, the atmosphere begins to reverberate in resonance with Holy Spirit.
 
You have the ability—and the authority in Jesus—to change the world through the very sound of your spoken declarations. Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life. Proverbs 18:21. It’s up to you to come out of agreement with the dissonance of this deceitful world and into agreement with the truth and Shalom of the Kingdom of God.
 
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
 
What forces, good or evil, are working to entrain you?

 
Where are you in lock step with things that oppose God?


Where are you in alignment with things that advance God’s Kingdom?

 

Know your enemy and know yourself,
and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
Sun Tsu