Lies We Tell Ourselves

One of the best things you can do for yourself when problem solving is to align yourself with truth. Without truth, your life (motives) will always come into question. It's bad enough when we tell ourselves lies; when we make a lifestyle out of them, the result can be disastrous!

Here are some common lies we tell ourselves, and Biblical principles to correct them:

My Past Is Unforgivable

Correction - your past is only a part of your present because you refuse to forgive yourself. You do not have to spend the rest of your life feeling guilty for the things you have done. The very thing you’re doing at this moment – recalling, rehearsing and wondering how you can make peace with your past – is a great step in the direction of change. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”; This means you are clean! and if someone recalls what you've done, quote this verse from Acts 10:15 “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

I’m An Underachiever

Your battles are usually won long before your victory. When you find yourself continuously fighting the same battle, you need to look at your mindset. Overcoming is a process that consists of small continual steps of observing and adjusting. Philippians 3:13-15 says,“ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Your mind is where all battles are won. God will graciously reveal to you all the areas where you need to overcome!

I’m Waiting For _____

Maybe one of the most convenient lies we tell ourselves is that we need to wait until the conditions are perfect before we can proceed. Such convenience doesn't exist. If a farmer waited for the perfect conditions, no seed would ever get sown. The Bible says in Colossians 1:29 “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Your ‘waiting’ does nothing more than weaken your ability - until you lose it altogether. As you strive, your abilities will develop.

It’s always the right time to do the right thing, but the trouble is, you think that time is on your side! One day you will wake up and realize your heart is waxed cold – then it will no longer be pliable… so don’t wait!  

What If?

“What if” has got to be the most vague question ever! It is filled with endless (im)possibilities that weighs you down. “What if” invites too much speculation and undue anticipation for situations that may never occur. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 1:3-9 says “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” It is best to limit the “what if's” by handling them IF they emerge. You really have no control over the things that happen; you're only able to control how you respond to them.

I’m In Danger/I Need To Protect Myself

Psalm 23:3-4 “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”.

They don't call it an idle-threat for nothing... Most of what we fear is nothing more than an idle (empty) threat (menace). Did you know that fear is nothing but a thought with a feeling attached to it? How useless to be paranoid of a thought! When you perceive the ridiculousness of that; you are in a better position to control your thoughts and conquer their attached emotions. 

I Can't!

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”.  Enough said!

I Won’t Be Happy Until _____

you allow God to correct you. Seriously! The Bible mentions the word “happy” only 25 times in the KJV. Job 5:17 says, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty”: Only fools despise correction (Proverbs 1:7), and I have yet to meet a happy fool... 2 Chronicles 9:7 “Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.” That literally means that correction and wisdom work together to build you up effectively – no matter what you do for a living - even if you are a servant. 

I Need _____

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

God provides you with everything you need – so if/when your needs surpasses what He has supplied you with, your needs may be in vain. Anything done in vain is in opposition to the things of Christ. A good example of a vain need is thinking you need revenge when you should be offering mercy, or, believing you are deserving of something you’ve never worked for; Another great example of vain belief is when God provides you with something and it wasn't good enough for you! Be careful especially if your needs are complaints in disguise!

Bad Things Always Happen To Me!

So many people believe this; but it’s simply not true. Perhaps you were assigned this challenge because God wants or needs you strengthened in this area. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. Your Bible is your instruction manual – to guide you through this life; challenges are actually opportunities for growth!

When I was going through my deepest-darkest struggles, I would write it out and seek the Scriptures and write them over my life. That is how I gained my victory. I encourage you to do the same!

I'm Nothing Special

This is a lie we tell ourselves when we get picked over when a promotion was up or didn’t get that recognition we thought we deserved. We can’t shine a light unless it's on God’s terms. Jesus says in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

When we labour selfishly (for recognition) we do it in vain. Matthew 6:1-6 says, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”.

We are not to parade our abilities; God knows what they are; after all, he blessed us with those specific qualities. We ought to be faithful with them and serve Him with them. Believe it our not, but when we do good in secret, we show God who we really live for and He rewards us for it. 

I’m Too Old/ It’s Too Late

No one knows what the future holds – and what good does it do to live in the “one of these days or the good old days” mindset? Age is only an earthly account of your time spent here. The good news is, your soul is ageless. John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

If you really want to proof, look back on your life – consider all this time you’ve spent waiting; where has it gotten you but to this point of still not being ready? What a waste! 

The time to live is today, as long as it is today. Deuteronomy 1:10 the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. God made this promise to Abraham and it is still being fulfilled today; isn't is awesome that you are included in His miraculous plan? If so, then take on the role that God issued to you.

I'm Not Good Enough

This phrase has the power to kill your confidence especially when you put your confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3 says, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” We need to be careful where we place our confidence. The most confident people are going about their work in whatever it is that God has called them to do. If you are dealing with defeat in any area of your life, you need to examine in where or what you place your emphasis on. If it's not led by God, you will always experience some sort of tension or defeat.

I Can't Change 

This lying phrase kills ambition, nullifies your ability and guarantees failure. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This means that you have the ability to change, but you have to apply your mind to take on new thought patterns; these new thought patterns only come from the Word of Truth. Think about this; it's the way of the world that got you “into this mess”; so it's only the Word of God that will get you “out of the mess.” 

The Bible says in “Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Use it to your advantage to set you free from the lies of the enemy!

© MARIA MORTON 2022 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

8 Important Reasons To Forgive

Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Oddly enough, there are twice as many reasons to forgive as opposed to refraining...

The primary reason people harbor unforgiveness is they abhor the idea that God gave them grace when we believe, that they need to pay for what they did to us. Sadly, many Christians are unforgiving...

There are 4 typical reasons why people will not forgive:

1) They are filled with self-love. 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy:

2) They believe they know what is best for them instead of God; 2 Timothy 4:4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

3) They have a hard-heart. Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

4) They deny their own sin; Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

The Bible makes it clear that they are seeing themselves incorrectly. 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Those who have a perfect image of themselves have a superiority complex. The majority of folks see them as sanctimonious.

There is a clear difference between someone who is sanctimonious, and someone who is a sinner. The sinner knows Jesus whereas the one who is sanctimonious knows not the LORD (1 John 4). This is the first most important reason why a person needs to learn how to forgive!

The sinner is honest about their sin (Luke 7:47) and is willing to acknowledge (repent) it; but the one who is sanctimonious, is too focused on the sins of others. This is the second most important reason why we need to learn how to forgive.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Unforgiveness is a poison to the soul, because those who are only focused on the sins of others grow in wickedness and pride. This is the third most important reason we need to learn how to forgive. Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Remember, froward means righting your wrongs...)

There is this quote which reads; "it is much easier to become a Christian when you aren't one than to become one when you assume you are already one".

New Christians have this one advantage: "they are only aware of the wrongs they themselves have committed".

Those who are locked-in to their own sense of being are headed for destruction. This is the fourth most important reason we need to learn how to forgive.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

When people deem themselves to be as holy as God, they have a false sense of authority. This is because the truth is not in them. They have elevated themselves higher than Jesus. When people challenge their authority, they cut people off; but little do they realize that they are cut off! This reinforces that their hearts are filled with self-love. Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! This is the fifth most important reason we need to learn how to forgive.

Jesus tells us to learn from Him; however, we cannot learn from Him IF we are cut off from Him. Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The Bible shows us that when our hearts are in Right Standing with God and others, we can endure anything. When we are in Right Standing with God, we have the Mind of Christ. 1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. This is the sixth most important reason we need to learn how to forgive. Christ's work in you is perfected when you overcome unforgiveness and all it's ugliness attached to it. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. This is the seventh most important reason we need to learn how to forgive. Unforgiveness leads to an eternity apart from God. This is the eigth most important reason we need to learn how to forgive. Proper teaching on forgiveness is the biggest fail of the modern church. They miss the concept every time I hear a sermon preached on the subject. The Modern church's teaching appeals to self as opposed to Following Christ. Jesus says in Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." This verse is a direct consequence for those who are hostile toward others. Romans 2:1 also says, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." The best way to learn how to forgive others is by acknowledging your own sin and realizing the importance of the Blood of Jesus, and what it means personally, to you. If you have been struggling to forgive, I pray this speaks to your heart in a rich way. God Bless