Originally published Monday, 07 April 2014.
Are you believing lies? Do you think it's hopeless, you are a failure, and that you were born to fail for such a time as this?
Lies. Lies. Lies.
When I attended Dream Culture Conference, I heard speakers Steve & Wendy Backlund. Steve wrote a book entitled Let's Just Laugh At That! Their session radically transformed my thought process, and why it's important to laugh out loud at the enemies lies!
Did you know that God laughs in heaven at what His enemies are saying and planning (Psalm 2:4)?
"We can become more like God by laughing with Him at the ridiculousness of Satan's lies. The phrase 'Let's just laugh at that' has the unusual ability to take the power out of the demonic deceptions (and then prepare the soil of our hearts for truth)."
Did you know that we have to let go of something in order to laugh?
"Just as disagreeing with family members have to let go of something to laugh together, Christians often have to let go of manipulation, bitterness, and/or unbelief to laugh. God asked Adam this in Genesis 3:11. It is an important question for us too after we declare something that is contrary to God's perspective about circumstances or our own identity."
You were not born to fail for such a time as this.
"The Truth: Nothing is hopeless because all things are possible with God. Any thought in our mind that is not sparkling with confident hope indicates that it is under the influence of a lie (Romans 15:13). If you feel hopeless, ask the Holy Spirit to expose the lies that are being believed. Past failures do not create your identity, nor do they disqualify you from having significant impact in the future.
1. Peter denied Christ three times, but was later restored to preach the message that birthed the church (Acts 2:14-41).
2. Moses failed at the start of his 'ministry,' but still became a great leader (Exodus 2:11-15, Exodus 14, 15).
3. Abraham failed when he and Hagar conceived Ishmael, but the nation of Israel still came from him (Genesis 16-21).
4. David committed adultery and murdered one of his own men; however, he repented and was recorded as one after God's heart (Acts 13:22).
5. Even Samson wreaked havoc for the enemy after miserably failing (Judges 16:25-30).
Here are three strategies for overcoming the lie that you were born to fail for such a time as this:
1. Believe that God sees you through the lens of Jesus' death and resurrection (Psalm 103:12). When we turn to God, He forgives us and rewrites our history!
2. Overcome comparing yourself with others (2 Corinthians 10:12). Do not try to be someone else. Celebrate your own uniqueness and the personal calling you have from God. Be the best 'you' can be.
3. Trust that God uses all things to work for your good (Romans 8:28). When our hearts are turned toward Him, God even works our mistakes into something powerful for our lives and the lives of others.
Here are four declarations to renew your mind:
1. I am successful, and I make a positive difference in the lives of those around me.
2. Everyday I succeed more and more at fulfilling God's purposes for my life.
3. God works in my past failures into something glorious.
4. I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus."
(Excerpt from Let's Just Laugh At That! by Steve Backlund with Phil Drysdale, Chuck Mayer, Kim McGan & Jared Neusch, © 2011).
[photo credit: Sergiu Bacioiu via photopin cc]
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