Pretty Little Lies....
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I love that we have landed right back in Genesis. Sometimes you just need to be reminded of your foundation. Genesis is a good reminder.
Without a solid foundation, we crumble. Without our beliefs built on the solid Rock of His Word, we fall apart.
This week, God made this crystal clear to me.
For the last few weeks, really since December, I have been in a weird place with my faith walk. The root of the weirdness was an internal struggle with fear that I was having.
Really, it should not have come as a surprise. Early December I spoke to a room full of women about the struggles I have had with fear and how I was able to have victory through God's Word.
I have been around long enough to know that when we share our hearts, encourage, and point others to Him, the enemy is on attack. In a big way.
I hit his radar.
Sometimes it's a subtle attack, so slow that it is almost impossible to detect. Other times it is so fast and furious that it knocks you to your knees before you know what hit you.
Mine was a knee-buckling fall.
It started with a pretty little lie. A lie that I should have known better to fall for. A lie about who I was.
Fearful.
Hopeless.
Doubtful.
Unusable.
Rejected.
Worthless.
Defeated.
I know these lies well. They are not new lies. They are old lies that I overcame years ago.
Until they come back to your doorstep and invite themselves in again.
My mind and heart had allowed a sliver of those lies back in. And boom. The bondage began.
The funny thing is, sometimes we can be in bondage and not realize that we are. We convince ourselves that this is just "how we are". We believe the lie that victory is for others and we are destined to struggle.
This is a lie.
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:14
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" Ephesians 6:16
Why do we fall for lies? Why are we so quick to believe what the enemy says about us instead of what our Creator says?
"I am holy and without blame before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
"I have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:16
"I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works" Ephesians 2:10
"I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath" Deuteronomy 28:13
"I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood" Ephesians 1:7
"For God has not given me a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7
"I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world"
1 John 4:4
Recently, I cried out to God and spoke these scriptures back to Him. In the midst of my self-pity, self-loathing, and fearful state of mind, I clung to the Rock that is Higher than I. The Rock of His Word. The Rock of His Truth.
Here's the thing....
Those lies are not just going to disappear. Nope. They have to be obliterated with His Word. With Truth.
His Word is the ONLY weapon against the enemy and his lies.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Want to receive SHINE by email? Oh, come one. You know you do. Go here.
I love that we have landed right back in Genesis. Sometimes you just need to be reminded of your foundation. Genesis is a good reminder.
Without a solid foundation, we crumble. Without our beliefs built on the solid Rock of His Word, we fall apart.
This week, God made this crystal clear to me.
For the last few weeks, really since December, I have been in a weird place with my faith walk. The root of the weirdness was an internal struggle with fear that I was having.
Really, it should not have come as a surprise. Early December I spoke to a room full of women about the struggles I have had with fear and how I was able to have victory through God's Word.
I have been around long enough to know that when we share our hearts, encourage, and point others to Him, the enemy is on attack. In a big way.
I hit his radar.
Sometimes it's a subtle attack, so slow that it is almost impossible to detect. Other times it is so fast and furious that it knocks you to your knees before you know what hit you.
Mine was a knee-buckling fall.
It started with a pretty little lie. A lie that I should have known better to fall for. A lie about who I was.
Fearful.
Hopeless.
Doubtful.
Unusable.
Rejected.
Worthless.
Defeated.
I know these lies well. They are not new lies. They are old lies that I overcame years ago.
Until they come back to your doorstep and invite themselves in again.
My mind and heart had allowed a sliver of those lies back in. And boom. The bondage began.
The funny thing is, sometimes we can be in bondage and not realize that we are. We convince ourselves that this is just "how we are". We believe the lie that victory is for others and we are destined to struggle.
This is a lie.
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:14
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" Ephesians 6:16
Why do we fall for lies? Why are we so quick to believe what the enemy says about us instead of what our Creator says?
"I am holy and without blame before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
"I have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:16
"I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works" Ephesians 2:10
"I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath" Deuteronomy 28:13
"I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood" Ephesians 1:7
"For God has not given me a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7
"I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world"
1 John 4:4
Recently, I cried out to God and spoke these scriptures back to Him. In the midst of my self-pity, self-loathing, and fearful state of mind, I clung to the Rock that is Higher than I. The Rock of His Word. The Rock of His Truth.
Here's the thing....
Those lies are not just going to disappear. Nope. They have to be obliterated with His Word. With Truth.
His Word is the ONLY weapon against the enemy and his lies.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Jeremiah 23:29
Coming out of the fog of bondage is the most exhilarating thing on this Earth. It's like putting on glasses never knowing you were blind all along. Suddenly, you are able to see.
I told the Lord that I was desperate to point the way for others living in bondage. I told Him that I was desperate for His Peace to be a river overflowing out of your precious lives. I told Him that I wanted to help free the captives. Just as He freed me.
And then I got mad at the relentless pursuit of the enemy for our hearts and minds. His relentless pursuit to steal our peace and our joy.
Ahhhh, but then I remembered this verse...
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
What has the enemy intended for harm in your life that God will turn around and accomplish for His Goodness and the saving of many lives?
Go claim your place, sweet girl. Remember who you are, and remember Whose you are.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" Psalm 139:14
"I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened." Ephesians 1:17-18
"I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me". 1 John 5:18
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:18-20
walking in Truth,
jill
