Truth or Lies

https://youtu.be/1srs1YoTVzs

Fear is a Liar ~ Zach Williams

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ~ Psalm 91:1 NKJV

There’s a series of books for young readers called, Who Would Win, which matches two animals against each other, shares their strengths and weaknesses, then asks the reader, “Who would win?”. The books are fun to read and the author does a good job of presenting the case for both sides. I wonder, if Truth was matched against lies, who do you think would win? Ultimately, we know that Truth will prevail, but what about in our everyday lives? Do we allow Truth or lies to run our lives?

It occurred to me the other day that I’d recently believed some old lies. Thankfully, I recognized them faster than I had in previous times. The other night, when I sat down with my journal and wrote down all the lies I'd heard, I was shocked to see I had believed seven lies. However, the benefit of writing them in a journal is that I was able to cross out each lie and write a Truth in its place.

John 8:44 says “there is no truth in [the devil]. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it,” (NKJV). Satan's distinguishing nature and personal character traits are pulled from his supply of lies. Jesus counters the devil's lies by reminding us to abide in and dwell with Him. It’s through our time with Jesus that we’ll learn the truth, and only the truth can set us free from the lies we’ve believed, (Psalm 91:1; John 15:4; 8:31-32). 

Reflecting, now, on your life and habits, are you abiding and dwelling with Jesus? Are you positioning yourself to learn, believe, and remember His truths? Or have you taken a vacation from abiding and dwelling? Taking a vacation is easy. Staying disciplined takes effort. But remaining disciplined will save you the grief of letting lies dictate your life and decisions. Based on your current choices, who would win: Truth or lies? 

©Heather Potts 2021

Washed in Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srs1YoTVzs&list=RD1srs1YoTVzs

Fear is a Liar ~ Zach Williams

So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you. You will show that those who speak against you are wrong. These are the good things my servants receive. Their victory comes from me,” says the Lord. ~ Isaiah 54:17 ICB

We've all experienced the hurtful sting of someone speaking ill against or to us. But sometimes we let those hurts define us. When Savannah was one month old, they called her "failure to thrive" because she never regained her birth weight. At All Children's Hospital, they wanted Savannah to eat formula. We offered it to her, but after she threw up the first one, she refused the others. The next morning, the student doctor told me I was a bad mom. The words hit me harder because someone had already commented that "failure to thrive" refers to babies who aren't held enough. Those two comments crippled me, right there. I wanted so desperately to be a good mom, but right out of the gate, I was told that I was a bad one.

Has that ever happened to you? Did you recover? Or are those words, is that lie, still spinning in your brain? 

Savannah's story ends well. The "real" doctor came and gave her Similac Alimentum, which we later discovered is the only gluten free formula. After that, Savannah went from failure to thrive to the 90th percentile, where she still registers. 

Why do we allow hurtful words and lies to define and weigh on us? It's time to cast off those hurtful words and lies! God says you are a beautiful masterpiece that He created, (Ephesians 2:10). Sometimes when we've believed a lie for so long, it's hard to believe something else, even though we want to believe the Truth. That's why Jesus said He's washing His Bride in the water of the Word, (Ephesians 5:26). He's going to continue to speak, sing, minister, and as gentle as water, pour it over you until His Truth replaces old lies.

If there's a lie you've believed, it's time to give it to Jesus and let Him wash you in His love until you believe it's true. 

©Heather Potts 2018