Mind Games

"As a man thinks within himself, so he is." Proverbs 23:7

I get lost, my thoughts consume me and I get stuck there, sometimes for hours... sometimes for days. The mind is a world of its own and it can so easily be convinced of things that were never true to begin with. About a month ago I was struggling with a part of my past. I found myself thinking things that I hadn't thought in so long and even doing things that are not a part of my life anymore. I was laying in bed and I began talking to God. Asking Him what the deal was, why this was coming up again so suddenly when I felt I had made so much progress to move past it. Then, with such clarity I heard Him say, what have you fixed your thoughts on? As I considered what my mind had been consumed by I realized that I had allowed what I knew to be true about my life and future to become foggy. As He does so well, God gently remained me that I had already been given the tools to fight this battle within.

What you believe in your mind to be true will, without question, play out in your natural life. That is why the enemy loves to attack our thoughts. He is a liar and will feed you little things here and there to make you believe that you are not capable, not good enough, and not designed to live the life you were created for.

He comes in and says things like, "you have a thing for bad-boys because that's all you'll ever be good enough for". Or, "your parents didn't want you, what makes you think anyone else will". And, "you don't have anything to offer this world your life is insignificant".

It happens so gradually that most of the time we don't even realize it until we find ourselves making decisions based on the lies of the enemy. Then, in a moment of despair we ask ourselves how we ever got here. How we ended up in the bed of a man who we never thought we'd fall for. Or trapped in a mindset that has us convinced that no one will love us so what's the point? The enemy is a thief, he wants to take everything from you and if he can't steal it he try to convince you to give it away. The battle starts in your mind and if you do not fight him there he will win and you will find yourself making excuses and exceptions for things you never thought you would.

But, let me tell you something, the devil isn't as smart as he thinks he is and he cannot read your mind. You have the upper hand, don't let him convince you of these lies. Maybe, like myself some of the things he is whispering to you have been true of your past. Perhaps you do always go for the bad boy, maybe you really don't have any special talents, and your parents did walked out on you. Those things may be true but, when God found you, you were given a new identity and a new name. You are not defined any longer by the things that you did or that were done to you. So while those things happened, maybe they're even happening now, they are not who you are. You were made for more than this and you have been given everything you need to fight the lies that are holding you down.

So, how do we fight it? This is where we have to go to work a bit. You are in control of your thoughts, as soon as that lie creeps into your head you fight him with what God says. Make no mistake, the enemy knows exactly who you are and what you are capable of and he is going to do everything in his power to ensure that you stay in the dark. Because he knows that there is no bigger threat to him than a person who knows the truth of their identity and that is how we become dangerous. When you hear that familiar voice spewing lies, you come back with some of this:

Excuse me no,

Anyone united with Jesus gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone, a new life has come (2 Corinthians 5:17) I have been made pure in His sight

While we're at it,

I am a daughter; and since I am a daughter, God has also made me an heir. (Galatians 4:6-7) Which means I am not settling for anything less than royalty. 

By the way,

I was chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined me to be adopted... that He favored me within the beloved. (Ephesians 1:4) I belong to Him and He alone has the authority to tell me who I am and what I am worth. 

Maybe you have believed the lies of the enemy and you are realizing now the cost of what he has convinced you to give away. If you find yourself riding out a situation that has come about from listening to lies you have the authority to change the outcome. I know from experience that waiting for bad choices to work themselves out rarely happens. You end up digging a much deeper hole all the while asking God to come and rescue you. You will never be able to accept His helping hand if you are too busy shoveling dirt.

How often do we ask God to help us and when He reaches out we turn away because we have bought the lie that what we have to let go of is greater than what He is offering? He isn't a mean God in the sky waiting to rip away everything that you love, He's your dad and He wants to give you everything. But, he can't fill up your hands if they are already clenched around a faulty promise that the world has something better.

I have lived both lives and I have seen what the world has to give. Not once has it given me anything worth value, not once has it eased my pain... I gave the enemy everything I had and it left me empty and broken. I have never regretted putting my life in the hands of the one who created it. He has never left me empty handed, lonely or afraid. Everything I have given Him He has either multiplied or traded for something so much sweeter. He will never disappoint you and His way is always the best way. Stop believing the lies, the choices you are making right now do matter and you are worth so much more. Beautiful, you were made to be His and His alone. Oh the things He wants to show you if you would just trust His truth... it will transform your mind and in turn your life.