“Search me oh God and know my heart. test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
Psalm 139:23-24
We each have our own narrative - filled with life experiences that have shaped our perspective of ourselves, perception of others, and view of the world. But I would bet that despite our differences we have all heard similar lies about who we are. We have been deceived by the enemy through the manipulation of our stories; our identities.
The enemy uses our experiences, whether positive or negative, and he distorts our narrative. He convinces us that as a result of our experience we are unworthy, rejected, unwanted, abandoned, failures, or inadequate.
The enemy whispers in our ear false beliefs that we then internalize, and after a while, we, too, begin to believe the lie. Our inner monologue may sound something like:
I am abandoned or I am an orphan.
I’m not worth it.
I have no voice.
No one loves me.
I will never get over this.
I am not enough.
Any of these sound familiar?
The beliefs we harbor in our hearts have the power to shape us and influence our way of thinking. How come we know God’s truth, but at times fail to believe what God says about us? What does it look like to release the negative, false thoughts we have about ourselves in exchange for the truth?
He wants us to be whole, healed, flourishing, not just functioning. Therefore, you must examine the lies you have agreed with. An easy way to examine a lie or place of healing is to examine your actions and your thoughts. How we respond to others or to our situations can be very indicative to what is in our hearts. Think about the things you’ve thought about yourself that you know go against God’s word. Identify and name it.
Perhaps your lie comes from shame, rejection, guilt, trauma, abuse, and feelings of unworthiness. Be reminded that we have a savior who wipes away all your stains and heals the brokenhearted. When we are able to examine, expose, and let it go into God’s hands, He removes the shame, brokenness, wounds, and our sins. He rewrites our stories.
He gives us TRUTH in exchange for the lie. We must choose to release the lie. We then can receive the truth and take hold of who Christ says we are. The truth that is written in His love letter (the Bible) has an abundance of truth we can speak over ourselves.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
We cannot change what we do not search for. God cannot heal what we do not expose to Him. We cannot grow or become until we let go and begin. Uprooting and releasing the lies is a step toward that healing.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of the world; and you knew me from the beginning of time. You have made me in your image, and I am thankful. Help me Lord to discover my limited beliefs and lies from the enemy. Give me your truth in its place and help me each day to speak that truth over my heart and mind. Remind me every Lord that I am who You say I am. Continue to search my heart and move me toward greater freedom. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Written by: Ashley K. Stovall
