I was blessed to meet up with one of the pastors at our church tonight, to seek his wisdom and guidance in some "rough spots" of life. I ended up venting in ways I hadn't imagined, and for longer than I'd intended.
One of the topics of the afternoon had to deal with rejecting the lies we're told about ourselves, our capabilities, God's love, and our future. Sometimes these untruths, hurts and curses come from mentors, family, friends or even our own mouths. These words can diminish our self-worth, destroy our relationships, ruin our health, alter our life's trajectory and affect our beliefs. For example, if we're told we're "nothing" as children, we run the risk of carrying that negative self-image throughout adulthood.
Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
When these lies inevitably come, we need to do as Jesus did and defend ourselves with scripture.
Matthew 4:1-11 (New International Version)
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
The World says "You'll never make it."
The Bible says "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." - Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
The World says "You're unlovable."
The Bible says "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life." - John 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
The World says "You're a loser."
The Bible says "Lucky Israel! Who has it as good as you? A people saved by God! The Shield who defends you, the Sword who brings triumph. Your enemies will come crawling on their bellies and you'll march on their backs." - Deuteronomy 33:29 (The Message)
Please join me in the reprogramming of the toxic "code" that's taken residence in our minds. We need to stop believing the lies, and start speaking the truth into our lives, and sew encouragement into those lives we touch.
Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)
2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Good Night
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