The Lies You're Believing
This past Sunday, Pastor Joe shared a powerful message about reframing our thoughts. If you find this difficult, you are not alone. From a young age, we are conditioned to think in the world. The input we receive from worldly sources, which counters God’s voice, is constant and loud. But what happens if we, as God’s image-bearers, begin to counter the world and move our thoughts to God’s sovereign, higher thoughts? This involves removing distractions and taking in increased Godly input. As Pastor Joe put it: it takes intentionality, movement, and aggression to change our deeply-ingrained patterns of thinking.
Here are some common lies that our minds often tell us, followed by Biblical truths that can set us free:
Lie: “If I think it, it must be true.”
What God says:
“My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.” (1 John 4:1)
Not every thought is true and deserves a home in our minds. When we question the ideas that enter our minds and weigh them against the word of God, we are able to reframe how we see situations.
Lie: “I know exactly what is going to happen.”
What God says:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Though I’ve read this verse many times, it stirred something in my heart when I thought about it within the context of God renewing the thoughts of His children who love him.
Though we may have experienced something a certain way in the past, we do not know what victories lie ahead or understand how God is working right this moment toward a breakthrough.
Lie: “It will always be this way.”
What God says:
God is always moving in the Kingdom, creating something new, (Isaiah 43:19) always demolishing strongholds, always driving a path through the wilderness with living water, always giving new life where we experienced great pain. Don’t be fooled: Everything that the enemy stole from you, God can restore. Every season that you are in, God can use for His glory.
While the process of reframing our thoughts seems like a lot of work, Jesus did not die so we could accept him and be instantly saved, but then live in bondage to strongholds. He died so we could be saved and free, and so we can be part of bringing His Kingdom here on Earth. It is through reframing our minds toward the Lord that we are able to live out our kingdom purposes here on Earth. Let’s become convicted and ask ourselves again:
Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it kind?
It’s not easy. But if we look for Him wholeheartedly, God promises that we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)