The Devil is a Liar

This will be a short post today, but I just wanted to put this out because it’s so fresh…and real…and I don’t think that I am the only one who is experiencing these lies.

Backtrack a little to the beginning of this week. Monday, I woke feeling down…heavy…sad…anxious…etc. Before I prayed or got into my study time I decided to journal about it. I got out my journal and I began to write down what I was “feeling” and while I’m trying to write down my FEELINGS, The Lord is steadily talking to me. It’s like I know in my spirit as I’m writing that these feeling are not from God…they’re from the enemy…they stem from a lie that I believe…they are present because my eyes are not fully focused on Jesus this morning and instead, I’m looking at situations! (I wasn’t aware that this was what was happening) Then I heard the Lord tell me to cast off the spirit of heaviness and put on a garment of praise. So I did that in prayer. I could still sense the “feelings”, but I didn’t give them any room and I didn’t speak on them.

Tuesday, was another hard day. Dealing with a situation that is frustrating but has to be dealt with. It deals with finances, too, so that adds to “feelings”. Then I started to have a little “sad party” for myself because of not having many views on the blog and no comments. I was “whining to the Lord” … haha, wasn’t that what my blog was about? Then as I was walking and praying I just told God that the Blog was His and I am writing because He told me to so I am sure that whoever He needs to read it will and it will accomplish what He needs it to accomplish. Then within 30 minutes I checked my email and had an email from a friend who was speaking on the blog with encouraging words. I just laughed.

Also on Tuesday, one of my friends had given my name and information to one of her friends who is an author, minister, speaker, tv personality, and comedian. She had told her that I was writing a book and asked if she could talk to me and give me some advice. Her friend contacted me on FB Messenger and we discussed a few things and she offered to help any way she could. (I have another friend who is a published author who I have met with who was/is a big help and encourager) So, I see God pushing me out of my comfort zone (out of the boat) a little more each day, but at the same time, the enemy is trying to hold me back any way he can.

So, today I was feeling pretty good. I got my Bible out and I begin to read and study…researching some things, cross-referencing, and even got the concordance out to really dig into some word meanings. Then when I finished I just thought, “Lord, there is so much I don’t know.” Now…that is true! There is so much that I do not know about God and about His word, but each time I read and study I learn more and when I talk to Him in prayer I get more revelation and understanding. So that’s ok…I can acknowledge that there is a lot I can still learn. BUT…WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS NOT OK!

The enemy, satan, the father of lies, tag-teamed on my thought and added his own as if they were still mine. My thought process continued, “I can’t write a book. I don’t even know enough to write a book. I can’t lead. I can’t teach. There’s so much that I don’t know.” My emotions started going downhill. So I got out my notebook (study notebook) because it was handy and started to write what I was feeling…just wanted to journal a minute. Praise God…He immediately stopped me and showed me how those were not my thoughts, but they were the words of the enemy. And if they were his words…they are lies and the opposite is true.

That,s right…the enemy had slipped his lies in there as if they were my own and I believed them. I’m thankful that it was only for a brief moment before God revealed the truth…but boy is he sneaky!

So instead of writing what I was feeling because of the devils lies, I begin to declare God’s truth on that page in my study notebook. I began to write…”I know who I am. I am a beautiful daughter of the one true King. I have been chosen by Him and commissioned by Him. I have been equipped by Him. He is still teaching me and equipping me every day, and He is faithful to complete the work that He has begun in me. I will walk forward with Him and fulfill all that He has called me to. I will write book(s) for Him. I will teach. I will lead. I will disciple. I will preach. I will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. I will raise the dead, set the captives free, lead the lost to Jesus and help others to see who they truly are in Christ. I will be who I was created to be and nothing will stop me! Etc.”

Just as soon as I finished this I got a message on FB from a friend asking me if I wanted to go with her next week to a Women in Media Meeting? Where women in ministry, in the media, authors, bloggers, etc. meet together. This was God reassuring me again and pulling me to step outside of my comfort zone…to trust Him.

So with all of that being said…Can I just say that the devil is a liar!!!! We have to learn to discern his lies (thoughts) from our thoughts. He is crafty…I just showed you how he tag-teamed on my thought. My thought was the truth, but it wasn’t a thought that would have brought me down or caused me to be discouraged or made me feel unqualified. Instead, it would cause me to want more of God…to study His word more and get in His presence more, but the enemy’s lies (thoughts) brought discouragement, doubt, feelings of being unqualified, etc. This is how he can cause us to miss what God is wanting to do in our lives. He has NO power except what we give him. He can only put thoughts in our minds and what we do with those thoughts determines what power, if any, that he has in our lives. Learn to discern his lies and take those thoughts captive.

I will leave you with this…if a thought causes you to feel negative about yourself, others or a situation, it is not of God. Take that thought captive to the obedience of Jesus and replace it with the truth of God’s word. Your thoughts should line up with God’s words. God’s word always brings life and the enemy’s words bring death! Know who God says you are and know that if He has called you to do something…you can do it!!! Step outside of your comfort zone and BE THE REAL YOU!!! The you that you were created to be!