WHICH LIES DO YOU BELIEVE?

Last week we learned how the lies that we listen to in our own heads and hearts affect our lives. We need to conquer negative thoughts for the sake of our future. Today, I want to highlight three common types of lies that try to infiltrate our thinking:

1. FORLORN  THOUGHTS 

The enemy is always trying to make us sad. Ezekiel 13:22b says, “with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad…”  Often the devil twists the truth to make us melancholic. He wants to magnify your pain and create a sense of hopelessness.

It may be true that you have faced failure, but the lie may be, “Nothing ever goes right for me.” Such thoughts are not true. They make us sad and cause us to slow down. They open the door to heaviness. 

Fighting sadness is so important. I don’t mean that we bottle our pain. We must pour out all hurts in the presence of God. However, thinking forlorn thoughts which actually make matters worse. 

2. FUTILE THOUGHTS 

Psalm 94:11 says, “The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are futile.”  As humans, we have an unhelpful default towards pointless, unproductive and futile thinking. 

Do you often find yourself focusing on what is hard in life rather than on what is going well? That is futile and will not help you. Do you meditate on the difficulties you are facing? Do you regularly rehearse regrets? Such thinking is futile and it drags you down. 

3. FEARFUL THOUGHTS 

It amazes me how the enemy tries to pretend he is prophetic. When something horrible happens, he sows seeds of fear in our minds that the worst possible outcome will come to pass. He plays out gloomy predictions in our minds eye.

Daniel 5:6 shows how fearful thoughts can affect our lives:  “The king’s countenance changed & his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.”

Fearful thoughts can affect us physically and they always drive out our faith. We don’t have to listen to the devil’s lies. In fact, we must not if we want to fulfil our destiny. Next time the enemy tempts you to be afraid, arrest that thought.

CATCH THE THIEF

The Passion version of 2 Cor 10:5b is powerful. It says, “We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought & insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.” You have a choice what you dwell on. 

Next time you notice yourself thinking forlorn, futile or fearful thoughts, capture those ideas  and then speak back! Remind yourself immediately that you choose what you meditate on and kick those lies out.

REPLACE THE LIES WITH THE (RIGHT) WORD

Instead of focusing on lies, remind yourself of the promises of God. Find a Bible verse that addresses your situation and declare that over your life every time the enemy tries to throw lies your way. 

Instead of sadness, remind yourself of the goodness of God. Instead of pointlessness, proclaim to yourself that the Lord works all things together for good. Finally, refuse to be afraid and instead lift your eyes to Lord and tell Him, “I trust You!”

A BETTER WAY

Phil 4:8 says, “…Fix your thoughts on what is true & honorable & right & pure & lovely & admirable. Think about things that are excellent & worthy of praise.” I love the last part. Your testimony out the other side of this situation is worth of praise so think about that.

The more our hearts are healed of life’s hurts, the easier it is to get our thinking right. If you’re in the NE of the US, join us on Sep 12th at REFRESH. If you’re in the UK, come to Fixing the Foundations on Sep 21st. God will do more than you could ask or imagine!