The lies we keep hidden in our lives that go unchecked cannot be changed without the truth. Truth can only be found in God's Word.
All my life, I have been what I consider an “old soul.” I've always been mature for my age, and a type-A personality. Even as a kid, I struggled with anxiety because I couldn’t sleep and put too much stress on myself. As a perfectionist, I wanted to get good grades, perform, and be perfect in front of everyone. At 13 years old, I was entering high school. I'd always gotten good grades and was in contention to be salutatorian of my junior high school class. However, when it came time to announce the winner and my name was not mentioned, I was devastated. It was at that moment when I realized I wasn't perfect and couldn't perform for everyone. That event was a shaping moment in my life. I began to believe that my effort was not enough. This lie still affects how I view the world (and myself) today.
If we're honest, we are all holding on to lies that we heard when we were kids. Whether it was our parents telling us we weren't good enough, or favoring one sibling over another, those childhood wounds follow us into adulthood. They shape who we are and affect how we see the world and how we see each other. Above all, they shape how we see God. When these lies go unchecked, we see God through a warped lens. We don't see him with the truth of who he really is, and we don't see ourselves in that truth either. As I've grown my faith, I've learned to exchange these lies with the truth of God's Word.
Here are some ways I've learned how to do that:
Read the Word
For many years, I slacked on reading the Word of God for myself. I went to church every week and attended small group, but I merely read the words on the page just to get it done. I relied on my pastor to interpret the words for me. When I became a writer in 2009, I had to learn how to interpret Scripture for myself. I had to consult commentaries and conduct research on the verses that I was studying. It was during this time that I fell in love with Scripture in a new and exciting way. I saw the Bible differently than what I had been taught.
When I first became a Christian, I believed the Bible was a set of dos and don'ts for my life. However, as I've grown, I've learned that the Bible is a love letter from God to his people. While it does include rules to follow for a righteous life, it is more about the ways God loves us. The lies we keep hidden in our lives that go unchecked cannot be changed without the truth. Truth can only be found in God's Word. Authors handpicked by God gave us the truth in the pages of the Bible. We must challenge our thoughts with what the Bible says about us. Do a study on the promises of God. Who does God see us as? Do we see ourselves the way God sees us?
Seek Wise Counsel
One of the best things I can do for my spiritual growth is seek accountability. When I have habitual sin in my life, I seek the help of those who can help me stop the habitual behavior and get to the root of why it's there. Often, sin is a symptom of a much larger issue. Sin sometimes is tied to emotional baggage and wounds that we carry. We can carry these unhealed wounds and give the enemy a chance to plant lies in our minds. Having mature Christians from whom I can seek help and advice allows me to see my situation from a different perspective. People who can offer advice based on their knowledge of the Word help me exchange lies with the truth of God's Word because I see my situation from a different perspective.
Bless Others
When I'm feeling down and those lies are replaying in my head, I've found the best antidote to change my mood is to bless others. For example, if I'm feeling hurt by a situation or angry about my circumstances, I choose to bless others. Whether it's a kind word, a note in the mail, or even service to my community, when I choose to focus on others, the lies that my effort is not good enough or God doesn't love me are rebuked. I experience in a new way the love that God has for me by loving others. Regardless of whether those people reciprocate that love, I experience the love of God when I seek to serve others with no strings attached. The love of God is the best way to rebuke the lies of the enemy.
Love Myself
This may sound selfish, but sometimes when I take care of my own physical or emotional needs, I'm able to rebuke the lies of the enemy more readily. The lies of the enemy strike most when I'm tired, not eating right, not treating myself well, or allowing emotional baggage to weigh down my heart. However, when I pray, spend quiet time with the Lord, go for a walk, get a massage, or do anything else that I feel I need, my spirits are lifted, and I'm able to fight the enemy's lies. God wants us to love ourselves as Christ loves us. This means treating ourselves with the care and respect we deserve. Most of the enemy’s lies have to do with someone else's opinion of me. However, when I love myself enough and I solidify my identity in Christ, I don't believe the enemy’s lies because I love myself and God loves me, and that's all I need.
In Genesis 3, we see the enemy at work when he lies to Adam and Eve regarding their place in the garden. When Adam and Eve began to doubt God's love for them and his all-sufficiency, it had dire consequences not only on their lives but on the lives of generations to come. If they had rebuked the lies and understood that the boundaries were for their good, not because God was withholding good things from them, we could all be in paradise. Yet, it was their doubt of God's love for them that ultimately led to their banishment from the garden.
When we tie our worth and value to other people's opinions, doubt God's love for us, and believe he's withholding good things from us, it leads to incredible shame and self-banishment from true fellowship with God. Yet, if we understand the promises of Scripture and know we are loved with an everlasting love, we can rebuke the enemy's lies and live lives of freedom that Christ desires for us. And a life based on the truth is the best life to live.
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