Slung over the arm of the couch with my bare feet swinging,
I sat reviewing my 3rd grade report card with my dad. My dad said, “Good
job Sis!” My teacher had told my dad that I was very bright, but very
scatterbrained. He told that story to me and chuckled, I giggled too, but it
stung just a little. I remember that lie, like yesterday. Not that I needed years of therapy or
resented my father or my teacher, but that little lie is like tiny streaks of
water on a sandcastle destroying the delicate shape. The truth is I have an attention
problem. I am fascinated by so many
sparkly things in every direction. I notice everything! If
one really catches me, I can dial in. They
probably would have labeled me with A.D.D. if I grew up in this generation.
We all have lies we believe, “you’ll never amount to
anything,” “You’re such a liar,” “Your sister never did this,” “You should be
ashamed of yourself,” “You can’t hold onto your money” “You deserve what you
got, “or anything with the words “always” or “never.” I
don’t know what your lie is, but we need to identify, search out and replace it
with truth.
Lies come from a place of frustration and the slip of tongue
most of the time, rather than from someone who has actually thought about
steering someone in the right direction and carefully chose their words. Yet...we take that lie out of the box now and
then and believe its power. I find it no
coincidence that the Devil, himself is called the Father of all lies. Here’s a few things I know
about believing lies after watching people live and if I’m honest, with even
myself.
·
Believing a lie shuts down productive
living. After all, if you “always” act a
certain way or “never” do something right then why bother?
·
Believing a lie, clouds the truth. If I told a friend she looked fabulous, but
she believes the lie she is fat, she’ll never believe the real way I see her.
·
Believing a lie controls our actions. “Nobody ever listens to me, or no one
understands me.” You can watch a person
overtime begin to shut off their feelings and communication because they
believed the lie.
·
Believing a lie produces shame and guilt. Do we really deserve all that happens to us?
(I’m not talking about consequences) Or is it because we live in fallen world
and bad things can happen to good people.
Let me tell you a little what truth does:
·
It can set you free - (John 8:31-32) I need that
daily.
·
It leads you to the Father (John 14:6) Oh how I
want to know Him more and more.
·
It teaches us how to live (Psalm 25:4-5) Finally, Someone
to tell me how to do life!
·
It helps us to worship in the Spirit (John 4:24)
It’s hard to worship when you don’t believe your value
·
Love rejoices in it (1 Corinthians 13:4-6) Who
doesn’t like happy love?
·
Grace seems to always accompany truth (John 1:14)
We can’t have enough of that in our lives.
When I read about the truth of the word, I realize that I am
not scatterbrained and I do have the ability to stay focused.
I am not stupid but empowered to love and do many things all at once!
Not everyone can do that! You see how a
little act of truth goes such a long way.
When you hear that little lie in the back of your head taunting you to
give up, or believe it and shut life off, apply Truth to the situation. What does the Author of all Truth have to say
about where I’m at? I bet He has lot to
say about you and me AND He’s not frustrated and not just throwing out His words. His words are intentional and kind and cause
us to grow.
