We talked last week about what comes after confronting the lies we believe, and how we need to seek wisdom to fill the areas in our minds with truth, after getting rid of the lies. I want to encourage you because I know when you start this process it feels like an uphill battle that will never end, but it will. It’s true, confronting the lies and our ungodly beliefs isn’t fun, but it will be worth it in the end, I promise!
Wisdom will exalt you when you exalt her truth. She will lead you to honor and favor when you live your life by her insights. You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdom’s glory will wrap itself around you, making you victorious in the race.” Proverbs 4:8-9 (tPt)
I’ve seen so many friends go through the process of confronting the lies, receiving truth from the Lord, but a few months later they are overwhelmed and beaten down by the lies again. Just because you tell the enemy to get out of your head, doesn’t mean he isn’t going to come back and keep trying! Once you receive wisdom and truth from the Lord you have to focus on that, and that alone. If you give any space in your mind to the old ungodly beliefs, then they will rise up again because your thoughts give them power. In Switch on your Brain, Dr. Caroline Leaf says this about our thoughts, and getting rid of our ungodly beliefs –
If you don’t use the memory, the proteins it’s made from will [alter] and the memory will disassemble. Wherever there is more thinking activity, there will be more wiring. Whatever you think about the most will grow, because thinking stimulates the genetic expression required to make proteins.
Repeated replaying is central to the process of creating durable, long-term memories. And remember, this works in both the negative and positive direction.”
“Whatever you think about the most will grow”, which means if you focus on God’s truth, and repeat it over and over again in your mind, then the truth will take up the most space in your mind and the lies and ungodly beliefs will whither away!
…the truth will set you free.” John 8:32b (NIV)
It’s a simple thing to do, but not necessarily easy. It’s not easy because, as I’ve said many times before, the enemy is loud and repetitive and he’s not just going to sit back and let you take hold of the truth, he’s going to continue to bring up the wounds, lies, ungodly beliefs, over and over again. But if you discipline yourself to dismiss them from your mind every – single – time they come up, then they will begin to “disassemble” and the new thoughts, the truth, will become the foundation of your thoughts.
In order to stay focused on the truth, and take the power away from your old ways of thinking, you must stay connected to the Lord.
If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say. For the fountain of life pours into you ever time you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.” Proverbs 8:34-35 (tPt)
Start every day thanking the Lord for the truth He has given you and repeat it over and over again. Ask Him to reveal new wisdom and revelation to you each day. As you do this over and over again, every single day, the loud voice of the enemy will begin to get quieter and quieter, and you’ll begin to crave the wisdom of the Lord.
You will begin to experience joy and life, like you never have before. It was always the Lord’s plan for you to experience that kind of life but somewhere along the line you got bogged down with defeat as you listened, and believed, the lies of the enemy.
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (ESV)
Friends, I beg of you, stop listening to the lies and ungodly beliefs swarming your mind. Start the process of seeking truth and wisdom, and repeating it over and over again in your mind. The reality is that the things you’ve been holding onto for so long were planted there by the enemy and they were planted with the intention to steal your life way, kill your intimacy with the Lord and completely destroy who God created you to be. It’s just not worth it to hold onto those things.
I’ll tell you what is worth it though, disciplining your thoughts, making every though obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and letting the truth flood your mind. Living on the other side of my deliverance and the practice of taking my thoughts captive, I can tell you from experience that it is possible, it is absolutely worth it, and you don’t have to live with the lies forever – that’s just a lie the enemy told you. You can, and you will, live a life of freedom with the Lord, a life filled with truth and wisdom, a life that’s worth living to the fullest, not just enduring!
Confidence and strength flood the hearts of the lovers of God who live in awe of Him, and their devotion provides their children with a place of shelter and security. To worship God in wonder and awe opens a fountain of life within you, empowering you to escape death’s domain.” Proverbs 14:26-27 (tPt)
