The Lies We Believe Can Destroy Us
It was this way from the beginning. The liar, they call him the father of lies and he has a lot of experience at it.
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 B NIV
The Lies That We Believe That Steal Our Joy
The lies, replay and they tell us we are too stupid, too fat and that we are too ugly. That we are unwanted, unlovable, and worthless. They tell us that we can’t do this or that because… (insert the lie here). So we don’t smile for the picture because it might show that double chin or the laugh lines too much. It might reveal that your teeth are not Hollywood straight or blindingly white. Or we avoid the camera all together.
The Lies That We Believe That Take The Fun Out Of Life
I was doing photography last summer for my friends Equine Obstacle Challenge and I was amazed at the fact that almost every lady out there hated something about herself to the point that they avoided the camera.
These women who had the courage to get on a massive creature and tell them what to do like it was nothing at all and yet hated the way they looked so much that there was no record of the joy these days brought. They hated their skin, the size of their body, loose skin on their arms, wrinkles on their face, the bowing of their legs, the hair on their head, and so many other things that none but them could see.
Click. Click. Click my camera went recording the moments of this fun day. Where others saw that they were having fun, that they enjoyed being outside, that they weren’t afraid, they saw wrinkled skin, skin tanned by days in the sun working with an animal who had stolen their heart.
I heard some ask no photos from the side, another that she never got pictures of herself taken. So as I sat there editing photos I couldn’t help praying that when they got to see these pictures they would see themselves through His eyes, not their own. And you know what, almost all bought them and were surprised at how good they looked (It’s amazing how far a little prayer will go).
The Lies That Rob Us
Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
How much differently would we feel if instead of looking into the mirror with human eyes and seeing the pimple or zit those irritating freckles that someone enjoyed teasing us about? That lisp or the sound of our voice? That hair that just won’t curl or is so curly you just can’t seem to tame it? That head that once held a flowing mane but now is gone? The pooch that has crept to our waists or rears or the envy that we aren’t as thin as some other people. But instead, we looked in the mirror through His eyes. Instead, we saw what He sees. Mirrors can lie because they can only see what the world counts as beautiful not what God considers beautiful.
The bible reminds us in 1 Samuel 16:7 that the Lord looks at people’s hearts, not their outward appearance. That your true beauty comes from the inside that is what is important.
The world says to get that plastic surgery and try to look 20 at 86 and get those teeth bleached until they are white as snow but God says to focus on your heart.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
Related Article: He Looks At The Heart
In the bible, most of the names that stick out are men, but there are some amazing women of God in those pages. Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Jael, Rehab, Ruth, Ester, Hannah, Mary, Martha and her sister Mary, Jairus’s daughter (the one that was dead and Jesus brought back to life), Elizabeth, Anna, Joanna, The woman about to be stoned, The crippled woman, Tabitha, Syrophoenician woman & her daughter, The woman at the well, the woman who had the issue of uncontrolled bleeding just to name a few, trust me I can keep going.
Some of them made huge mistakes which are forever remembered through the pages of the bible. But they all have something to teach us. Some are lessons of Faith, others that no matter what others say God can use you for amazing things like Deborah leading the entire nation or Jael in her own backyard (or tent in her case).
All through the New Testament, Jesus is reaching out to women and not just the ones that have their life all straightened out. The woman about to be stoned was a prostitute. The women who anointed his feet was a sinner. He reached out to the ones who were considered trash, he reached out to the poor along with the rich. When he rose from the dead who were the first ones that He appeared to? A group of women.
The Lies We Believe About A Woman’s Worth
Christians during the first century were often known as the ones that would go to the trash heaps or (dump) where Roman families would leave babies to be exposed, and rescue the infants. They most times were girls, but also children with the wrong color eyes, or hair, or were not physically the way the father wanted or were handicapped in some way. Midwives would place a newborn child at the Father’s feet. If they reached out and picked up the child it became part of the family, if not it would be taken outside and was exposed. Left to die. They said that it was up to the “gods” if it lived or died.
Jesus Destoys The Lies We Believe And Redeems Us
Jesus often does that for us. He goes to the dump and picks us up out of the trash and says you are worth more than precious jewels. You are beautiful. You are not defined by the world’s standards but His.
John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Who better to destroy the lies than the truth Himself. The one go give life and gives more abundantly.
Related Article: Priceless As Rubies
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 30:30-31
So get out there beautiful! Be all who He has created you to be and let that beauty shine.
Check out these other articles:
- You Are Mine
- Women In The Bible Study: 10+ Powerful Studies To Strengthen Your Walk
- God Looks At The Heart
- Keep The Faith When It Looks Like All Hope Is Lost
- Leaning On God For Strength When Life Is Overwhelming
- Keeping The Faith When Life Doesnt Go The Way We Hoped
