Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Sometimes all we need is a good old-fashioned Bible study. You know, the ones where we zip through more than one verse to really delve deep into the Word of God; hence the reason why we don't have one main focal point today. So, in moving on to our study, let's see what God has to say about Satan's lies. NOTE: Keep an eye on your email. I'm sending out a freebie to go along with this post. If you haven't signed up for the email listings, you can do so here. ~ ~ ~ Let me give you a little scenario. You're walking along the path of life and everything is going smooth. But suddenly, it hits. Finances are torn apart, your family is in shambles, and your health is wearing thin. That's when the devil has his chance to kick you down and start telling you lies. Child of God, I want you to know that you don't have to believe his lies. You don't have to sit there and take that abuse. The Word of God is your weapon and we're going to expose a few of those lies and I'm going to arm you with a few verses to fight against those lies. The first lie that Satan throws at us is that we're not good enough. Well, it's partially true. In our own strength, we aren't good enough. But aren't you glad there is a Savior who thought enough of you to go to an old rugged cross for you? Because of that sacrifice, you are good enough. God doesn't see those sins anymore. John 3:16 makes it very clear that WHOSOEVER believes. You are a whosoever. I am a whosoever. You are valuable enough to him that, even if you were the only person on earth, He'd still die for you. The second lie is that we're not strong enough. Again, not in our own power. But God...aren't you glad for the "But Gods"? Aren't you glad when God "buts" in? 2 Corinthians 12:9 gives us the key to kicking that lie to the curb. Even in our weakness, we are made strong through God's power. God still gets the glory through it all, but it is us that benefits from that strength. Even in our weakest moments, we can still call out to Almighty God. Isn't that amazing? The devil loves to use this next one; you're not able. He loves to leave out the part where God says "not in your own strength". He wants us to feel defeated and helpless. He wants us to feel like we're not able to handle the stress of choosing between groceries and medications. His very plan from the beginning was to divert our focus from God. 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Ephesians 3:20 both state that God...is...able. He exceeds our expectations. When you feel like God is too late, that's when He shows up and shows out. Mary and Martha thought Jesus was too late for the graveside service for Lazarus, but thank God He's never too late. And He is able. Some of us ladies can relate to this one. We wake up every morning in the mirror and nit-pick at every flaw. Acne scars, dark circles, stray hair...and the devil says, "You're not beautiful enough". Psalm 139:14 says point blank that you were made in God's image. You were made by His very own hands. He doesn't make mistakes. We traded ashes for beauty when He saved us. Then the devil says, "Well, you're not 'Christian' enough". Proverbs 3:5-6 throws that one out the window. Lean on God for guidance, not other Christians. Trust God and not doctrine or religious conventions. While doctrine and denomination are important, it should never outweigh what the Word of God says. We give in to this lie when we try to look and sound Christian the best we can, but in reality, all we need is the heart change. Everything else comes after. What other lies can you think of that the devil may have thrown at you? What verses can you think of to fight against it?
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Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - ECCLESIASTES 2:24 ~ ~ ~ When the word 'Christian' is brought up today, images flood our minds of fuddy-duddy people that will do nothing but keep their noses stuck in their Bibles. While that is commendable, the Christian life is so much more than that. Today's passage even tells us that fun itself is from the hand of God; we just have to discern wisely what is godly and what is not. For example, going out on a roadtrip to the mountains could be a wonderful way to have fun and still meditate on God's provision and creativity. Observing the mountains and the deep slope into the valley reminds us that God is with us no matter what stage of life we are in. It also reminds us that God is our Creator and He alone rules it all. He also gave us dominion over His creation. Take this into consideration; taking dominion does not mean trampling over things that are lesser than us. Fun can also mean gardening to tend to the Lord's ground, caring for the animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. Speaking of animals, what about a trip to the zoo? That would be an awesome opportunity to show the children in your life what all God has created. Fun with each other as a family in Christ is also important. Church events and corporate worship were meant for Christians to get together and enjoy the things of God; not sit sourly in a pew until the service is over. So yes, God intends for all Christians to have some sort of fun. He intended for us to rest and enjoy life. What kind of activities do you like doing that honors the Lord while still having fun? |
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