I felt I needed to write this today, coming out of an exhausting ministry weekend... I remain standing while being a target in full on attack mode, but share these things as they are still fresh.
1 Peter 5:7-9 New International Version (NIV)
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between truth and lies. They can be so similar, and sometimes lies can be sprinkled with truth... and in a fog, it is good to know how to weed through your mind, and discern one from the other. This is how I do it... and some of the bits and pieces behind how my mind works.
(Romans 12: 2)
- To KNOW the truth, you must KNOW the word of God.
To know the truth, you must know it first in your mind, because your heart will deceive you. To know the truth, you must know God's character, and you can only know this by reading the word of God.
This is the single most important part of knowing the difference between truth and lies... Knowing the word of God, knowing God's character.
- Gods will invite you forward, a lie will condemn and keep you in the same place.
Whenever I have had to figure out a lie, I have had to ask myself, if a statement invites me forward, or keeps me in the same place. satan is sneaky. he will prey on your weaknesses, and speak truth, but it will be truth that keeps you in the same place, rather than inviting you forward.
The best example i have of this is in being a mom, having a sleepless weekend and yelling at my children instead of taking the time for teachable moments in the moment. Monday morning devo's... I get this nagging thought... "You were a horrible mom this weekend." Truth. I was a horrible mom this weekend... BUT not helpful, definitely not moving me forward. I do not dwell on it... I do not make excuses, I do not shame myself further, I simply go, yup... and move on. After time in the word, confessing my shortfalls to God, another thought comes in. "You were hard on the girls this weekend... I wonder what you could have done differently." See the difference? Invite into making change happen... God knows I know... I then walk through the steps of putting a plan in place to get rest, accountability from my hubby, and issue has been dealt with.
Had I listened to the first lie, I would not have been compelled forward. God's love for me NEVER speaks to me by telling me I am a horrible. That first lie attacked me as a person... Jesus took that attack on the cross... disregard it. Take the invite to change your character, put a plan into action and move forward.
- Lies will isolate and truth will invite you into community.
Because a lie shames and attacks character, you feel too horrible about yourself to interact with it in community. I find I am given a question then given the answer almost immediately after I ask. The answer more often than not includes the body, and how to bring others in, based on gifting, accountability or wise council.
I underlined "be of SOBER mind" in the beginning, because it is important to have a sober idea of your weaknesses and strengths as well. You will be insecure in your weaknesses, and self-sufficient in your strengths. Both are wrong. Jesus says when you are weak i am strong, and You are the body of Christ. Your weakness is where you depend on God and others the most. Allow those to shine so that God can be seen through it all. Humble yourself to know that as you become less, he becomes more in you, and in the world. To be lost you will be found... found in him, who created you and set you apart from the beginning.
That's it, hope it helps. If you get a minute pray for your leaders today please do. Attack is real, and comes in waves... but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world!
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