John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
As long as I can remember I have heard the sentence “Don’t believe the lies of the enemy, he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy whoever he can.” I would then hear how the enemy could not “snatch” a believer from God’s hand but that he could torment and steal the joy and ultimately effectiveness of a believer. I decided when I was young that I would not listen to the lies. The funny thing is, as I grew up, I became a liar myself. I found it comforting to hide in a partial truth or a lie that would either reduce my trouble or at the very least minimize it. I don’t have to tell you that there is a consequence to lying even when no one knows it’s a lie.
What I did not realize was that by lying to avoid being seen, I was aligning myself with the Liar himself. I was accepting that partial truths or outright lies were acceptable for others to believe, and this belief extended to my own life until my early years of parenting. I was unaware that I was ensnared by the enemy’s lies, which made dishonesty seem acceptable. I did not understand my true value or worth because I was listening to and agreeing with the ultimate Deceiver.
In those years of early parenting, I was growing in my biblical literacy (reading and understanding the bible) and I was devoting a lot of time to prayer and spiritual disciplines, especially in the area of identity. As I grew in understanding, I started to shed the lies of the enemy because my eyes were being opened to the truth. I was beginning to discern how God would guide me, convict me, and challenge me to change for the better.
Some lies were easy to spot and break away from, such as feelings of insecurity, not feeling attractive enough, believing I was a troublemaker, or feeling unworthy of protection due to past sexual abuse. These lies were ingrained in my mind, serving as a filter through which I processed life. One by one, the Holy Spirit revealed each lie that was not aligned with my identity according to the Word of God. He showed me how to “break up with that lie” and then “replace it with truth.”
We recognize God’s truth by spending time with him. He never condemns or shames. Rather he corrects in love. His voice makes us feel seen, heard, known, and cared for. His voice reminds us we were made in his image and belong to him. When he speaks truth to us, even when we need to be redirected, it draws us to him. We learn what his voice sounds like as we saturate ourselves in the Bible. We learn to recognize his tone when we take time to worship and sit in his presence. He guides us and teaches us to recognize when he speaks.
As we recognize his truth, he gives us the courage and strength to break up with the lies the enemy instilled. Breaking up with a lie is simply acknowledging a lie for what it is. You proclaim you no longer agree with the lie you are holding onto about yourself or others. Next, spend time forgiving the offenders who spoke that lie over you, whether it was yourself or someone else. Then ask the Holy Spirit what truth counteracts the lie. God cares for you and desires for you to walk in freedom and truth. As you ask, he will surely reveal. As he reveals, it is your responsibility to renounce those lies and adopt God’s truth. In addition to knowing scripture, put on the armor of God to protect you from ongoing attempts of the enemy who wants to render you hopeless, joyless, peaceless, and inactive.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, reveal to me lies that I am currently agreeing with. Speak to my heart the truth of who I am so that I can identify the areas of life that I am partnering with the Liar about my identity and worth.
Prayer:
Father, you are truth and light. You desire for me to walk in truth and light as your child. I stand in ultimate agreement with your truth about me, written in your word. I rebuke the voice of the enemy in my life and I silence the lies in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, intervene in power and break off the effects of those lies in my forever. Help me to recognize when the enemy is trying to lure me back in. Place on me and teach me to use the whole armor of God that protects me from the schemes of the enemy. I speak Ephesians 6:14-18 over my life: “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for my feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, I take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, I will be praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, I will keep alert with all perseverance.” Thank you for setting me free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses On God’s Truth
Psalm 51:6
“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
Psalm 145:18
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Proverbs 12:17
“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”
John 16:13
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come”
Ephesians 6:10–18
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”