I will exalt you, lord, for you rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
(Psalm 30:1, NLT)

The enemy’s greatest tool in my life is my own self talk.  That point where I take my eyes off the Lord and start letting my thoughts run down dangerous paths filled with potholes, this is where the enemy lies in wait.  While I know he is limited and cannot read my heart and mind like the Lord can, he is shrewd and able to discern what he might be able to use against me just by the things I do or say.

We all have memories of words spoken over us through out our life.  These memories often serve as recordings that sometimes play over and over in our minds.

If the words spoken over us were life giving and encouraging, then we may respond to situations in our life with confidence.

But any negative words spoken into our lives, if left unchecked, will crush our spirits, create doubt, and even produce fear.

We can’t fight this battle on our strength.  But, if we cry out to Him, the Lord will rescue us from this enemy.  We must use the mighty weapons He provides, not worldly weapons, but godly weapons to knock down the strongholds of human thoughts and to destroy false arguments (2 Corinthians 10:4).  We must replace the lies of  harsh and foolish words in our minds with godly, wise words.  The Lord will transform us into a new person by changing the way we think (Romans 12:2).

We can also ask the Lord to send us people who will speak loving truth into our lives, for the words of the godly are a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 10:11) and the words of the wise bring healing (Proverbs 12:18).

Every time the ugly recordings begin playing in our minds, we have a choice: to listen and believe or to refute the lies and allow the Lord to replace them with His truth.

What words have labelled you?  Stupid?  Failure?  Unworthy?  Not enough?  Too much?  Unlovable?

Counter those labels with what the Lord says:

You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do the good things He has planned for you to do (Ephesians 2:10).

You area new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

And remember, God has not given you a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7).

Prayer  

Father, your word says truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed (Proverbs 12:19).  Expose the lies I have believed and fill me with Your truth.  And may the overflow of my heart speak encouragement and life-giving words into the lives of others.

Grace & Peace