I am not sure if you might be like me…at times it can seem to be so difficult to keep thinking the TRUTH of what God says about myself. Do you struggle with this too? But, somehow by God’s grace, we muster up the fortitude and remind ourselves,
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
I like to tell these thoughts, “I do not believe that! You <ugly thought> must be obedient to Jesus Christ. God’s Word says ______ .” (And then I speak or read the TRUTH of God’s Word.)
We are in charge of what we think! We control the thoughts that we allow to live in our hearts! We determine to put the TRUTH into our hearts and minds! That is exactly what this verse reminds us to do!
Have you ever thought or said any of the following to yourself?
“I look _____ <fill in the blank> … no one could ever love me like this.”
The TRUTH is: I am beautiful in His sight!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made and beautiful in the eyes of the Lord.
Psalms 139:14
“I am not important…I have no value to anyone.”
The TRUTH is: I have great worth to God!
Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten
in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted.
Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!
Luke 12:7
“I can never forgive ____ for what they’ve done! They don’t deserve it.”
The TRUTH is: I have been forgiven of so much! Forgiveness has nothing to do with what is ‘deserved;’ it is all about trust and obedience to God.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others,
then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:12, 14, 15
We all have occasional thoughts that are lies. Sometimes they are long-buried words that others have spoken to us in our past. Sometimes they are strongholds that are in our hearts that we have not dealt with. Sometimes they are vicious deceptions that the enemy of our souls speaks to us. It really isn’t too important where the lies/thoughts come from. What we do when we think those lies/thoughts is vitally important! We could dwell on those lies/thoughts, harboring them in our hearts and allowing them to fester and grow. NOT a good idea! Or instead we could recognize those lies/thoughts for what they are, and choose to refute the lie by replacing it with the truth of God’s Word, and have peace and joy. A REALLY good idea!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—
practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8 and 9
This is one way to replace those lies/thoughts, “…think about these things.” These are the things that God wants us to fix our minds on! Just look at them: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, of any excellence or worthy of praise…and when we do…we will have God’s peace. Just what we so desire, yes? Amen.
Are there lies in your heart that you believe about yourself? Take a moment…write down two lies on a piece of paper. Now, bring them to the Light—the light of God’s Word. Find the Truth in the Scriptures about who He says you are.
Perhaps you are not quite sure how to go about this…try this: google ‘God says I am worthy’ Now, try it putting into the Google search engine a phrase that you desire to find what God’s Word says is the TRUTH. And, if you need help, come back here and let’s work together on it, ok? I would love to work through this with you! ♥
Praying for each of you! ♥
♥ coleen
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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com
About coleen hayden
Coleen, thank you for sharing this encouraging and challenging word with us this morning. I love that God’s Word, our sword, is sharp enough to cut away every negative thought that tries to creep into our minds. It is our responsibility to pick up that sword and use it to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Thank you for all the “sharp” Scriptures to help us cut away the lies. The video full of Scriptures was beautiful!
clella, i loved that they put the Scriptures into the video “Ancient Words,” too! it IS a challenge to make ‘every thought obedient to Christ’ but, as i remind myself, it is also a sign of my obedience and, therefore, my love for my Lord. nothing more important that that! let’s keep wielding our swords, my sister! xo <3
Coleen, I so agree how we should search out the word for each negative thought we have and replace it with truth. Goes right along with what we have been studying this week on a sound mind. Good words this morning, thank you for starting us off on a good weekend.
thank you, martha! oh, how kind we are to ourselves when we ‘capture’ those negative thoughts and replace them with TRUTH! and pleasing to our Lord, too! 😉 <3
Coleen this is soooo good. I memorized 2 Corinthians 10:5 a couple of months ago, my friend and I call it the clappity clap verse because we imagine clapping the lies away!! I love everything you have written for us today!
you girls! thank you, diane…making our thoughts be obedient to Christ is SUCH the key to not dwelling on, or considering, or entertaining the lies…let ALONE responding to them! need to take a note from our sister eve…responding to satan’s lies did NOT bode well for her! <3