Do you ever feel bombarded by lies? I have lately. After reacted badly in a situation that was actually very important to me, the enemy pounced on it. “You’re a terrible Christian,” he sneered. “And you think you can do some good as a Christian blogger?! Ha, what a farce!”
Never mind that I had apologized for what I’d done and truly regretted my words and actions. I listened to that lie of the enemy, and it left me feeling defeated, condemned, and worthless.
When we have wronged someone, we usually wish we could turn back time and undo it all. Since that’s impossible, though, all we can do is try to put things right and then move on.
It’s in moments like these that we really need to hear the Lord’s truths.
Truth vanquishes lies.
The best way to defeat Satan’s lies is with God’s Word. In John 8:12, Jesus taught that He is the light of the world. “Whoever follows me,” he said, “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” And then to those who had believed in Him, He said:
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:31-32, 36
In Christ, we can be free indeed. Totally and completely free, not partially, not mostly. But totally free!
But sometimes we let what Satan or other people say drown out Christ’s liberating truth. We choose to believe their words instead of Christ’s. We listen to the accusers, the naysayers, those who wrong us or who refuse to forgive. Even though they speak lies from the enemy.
We know, in our heads, that Christ’s words can silence every doubt and every lie. We know his word frees – but we sometimes forget.
We must believe Christ’s liberating word. We need to listen and believe when He says that we can indeed be free from everything that oppresses and tries to defeat us.
Christ’s power liberates us from:
1. The power of sin
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:18.
2. Guilt and condemnation
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
3. A spirit of fear
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
4. Worry and anxiety
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” – Matthew 6:26, 32
5. The fear of death
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” – 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
6. Our own past
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.” – Isaiah 44:22
7. The fear of man
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:17
In Christ we are truly free
We are free to follow Him and grow in Him, becoming stronger every day. Free to repent and make things right when we fall. Free to truly love, forgive, and serve others.
He sets us free from living under the bondage of sin. But we must choose to walk in that freedom.
Don’t believe the enemy’s lies. Focus on these truths and make them part of your life. For true freedom only comes through Christ’s forgiveness and by believing His words, not our own words or those of others.
Christ came to make us truly free – even from ourselves and all our own lies.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
📷 Image credits: woman on mountain; woman with hands raised.
Hi,
This part was my favorite: “We chose to believe what they say about us or make us feel, instead of listening to Christ. Instead of letting his words silence all the accusers and naysayers, those who refuse to forgive us, or those who cut us down in an attempt to make themselves look better. They are all lies from the enemy.”
Thank you for this nice post.
Hi Darlene, thank you! I’m truly blessed that this post encouraged you. May we always listen to what he says about us, and look to him!!
Some people think of freedom as license to do what they want; real freedom comes as God unburdens us from all the fears you’ve mentioned. Praise God for his truth that does indeed set us free! And thank you, Sheila, for highlighting the joys that true freedom can bring.
Thank you Nancy! You are so right. True freedom always brings some sort of limitations. Otherwise it’s just license. But the things it limits are always things which will harm us and/or others. May we always rejoice in the joy of his freedom!!
It’s so much easier to believe the lies than the truth. How ridiculous is that? But His truth is real and forever. I love that you wrote this. We need to be aware of the lies so we can combat them with the truth. Thanks, Sheila!
This is so true, and so sad Dayle. We seem so ready to believe a lie. But thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit and God’s everlasting truth to help us combat them!!
Great Scriptures to combat the schemes of the devil!
Yes indeed Matthew! We have a complete arsenal at our fingertips in the Word of God!!
Amen Sheila!
Thank you so much Bruce!