Thoughts About Truth (Part 2 of still don't know how many)

This is a continuation from my last entry--some more of my ever-dominating recent thoughts about truth. But this time, I want to focus on some of the ways we are lied to by the devil. The more we expose his work for what it really is, the more it becomes clear what we must do to protect ourselves from its effects on us. All he wants is for us to get caught up in his lies. He knows this will keep us from clinging to the truth of God's Word.

The devil's "true" identity is simple: he's a liar. And not just any liar-the ORIGIN of lies. The ruler of lies. The master of lies. John 8:44-- "He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and ABODE NOT IN THE TRUTH, because there is NO truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." The devil is the father of lies. Everything he stands for is opposite of the truth. And yet, because of his power and authority in this world (for NOW--NOT forever), he is very, VERY good at making us believe his lies. He is a skilled deceiver. I'm not giving place to him or condoning his work, but I think it's important that Christians know their enemy if they're going to be live daily in victory over him. His character is 100% contrasted with the character of Christ, Who tells us in John 14:6, that HE IS THE TRUTH. The Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of truth" more than once in Scripture. HE can and WILL guide us in ALL truth, but we have to choose to listen to HIM and not the lying spirits that hover around us, slithering and whispering in our "confused" ears, especially in our moments of weakness. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would "guide us into all truth, showing us things to come." HE SENT the Holy Spirit TO US so we could WALK in His truth, in His very Spirit of truth, after He left the earth. John 16:13; John 15:26

So what about those LIES WE BELIEVE? I could go ON and ON, but tonight I will write about only ONE that has-unfortunately-had a stronghold in my life from time to time. Here it is:

Lie #1: I'm rejected and abandoned.
The devil wants me to believe this because it hinders me from fully recognizing who I am as a child of Christ.

Psalm 139 tells me that no matter where I go in the entire universe, God will always be right there with me, and not just watching me or checking in once in awhile, but HOLDING ME. (verses 7-10) He knows the words I am going to say before I say them (verse 4). His thoughts toward me are precious and numerous, and more than the sands of the seashore (verses 17-18).

Whenever we feel rejected by others, and we WILL be (Jesus said men will revile us-Matthew 5:11), the devil wants us to feel rejected by God, too. So he lies to us. Telling us that NOBODY is there for us (not even God, or especially not God). He wants me to think, "NOBODY understands, NOBODY loves me, NOBODY cares." And if I'm absorbed in my own misery- enough to wallow awhile in that cycle of thinking- I will start to believe it. Forgetting all about Psalm 139.

Deuteronomy 4:31- "For the Lord thy God is a merciful God. He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them."

Ephesians 1:6- He has made us accepted in the beloved, in the glory of His grace.

Deuteronomy 31:6- "Be strong, and of a good courage. Fear not, neither be afraid (of man). For the Lord thy God, HE IT IS THAT GOES WITH THEE. He WILL NOT fail thee, nor forsake thee."

These are just THREE of MANY, MANY Scriptures that tell me that God's NOT going to reject me. If I really believe His Word like I say I do, why am I puttering around listening to the devil tell me otherwise?

I intend to write more entries on this--more about these lies we hear, these lies we must combat with the Word of Truth. Lies like "I'm worthless", "I can't do this because I'm a failure", "I'm guilty", "I'm not really saved". If you ever want to do a great word study in Scripture, look up "truth". It's a recurring theme throughout the entire Bible!! And it's no wonder!! The whole fall of man stemmed from a lie that Eve believed. We must WALK IN TRUTH, my friends!!! We must have it on our lips and in our hearts!!

Here is a video to a song that I recently came to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns. "I will choose to LISTEN AND BELIEVE THE VOICE OF TRUTH." NOT that other voice which only speaks lies to me every minute of every day, until that glorious day when he is finally silenced.