At some time or another each of us will experience the difficulty and challenges that this life has to offer. You could be just coming out of that season, just entering that season, or right in the middle. Difficult times are for everyone, Matthew 5:45 tells us that both good and bad people experience difficult times throughout life. [“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”] It is not the difficult time that we should be concerned with, but what we believe during those difficult times that have the most impact on us. It is easy for us to validate the lies of the enemy especially in some of life’s most difficult moments. Oxford dictionary defines validation as the ACTION of checking or proving the accuracy of something. When we validate the lies of the enemy, we give access to how we think, feel, and act to situations, circumstances, people, and even God. John 10:10 says “the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” Key word being ONLY. The enemy is not looking out for us and our best interest, instead he wants to use this challenging season to pull you further from the promises of God. The intentions of the enemy are to keep you from God’s promises and the calling that God has on your life. Through validation we give in and believe those lies –
The rest of John 10:10 says “I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” While the enemy’s goal is to take us down, God’s plan is lift us up. It is not just life that Jesus is giving us but ABUNDANT life! It can be hard to believe that when everything we are validating is contradicting the promises of God.
Stop validating the lies of the enemy and start declaring the promises of God today!
Common lies that the enemy wants us to believe:
1. You are not good enough
2. You cannot overcome what you held captive by
3. Your life will always be like this
4. You are not valuable
5. God cannot use you
God’s Truths
1. You are enough!
a. “For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13 – 14
b. “God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8
2. You can overcome everything that has you held captive – there is not an addiction, disease, or problem God cannot fix
a. “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” 2 Corinthians 3:17
b. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17
c. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us FREE, stand firm, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
3. God has plans for your life – just because it is difficult now does not mean it will always be difficult
a. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to vie you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
b. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
4. You are valuable, and YOU MATTER!
a. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son that no one should perish but everyone should have everlasting life.” John 3:16
b. “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they do not have a storehouse or a barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! Luke 2:24
c. “Even the hairs on your head are all numbers. Fear not, you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Luke 2:7
5. God can and will use you for his kingdom and his Glory!
a. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
b. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2: Timothy 2:21
c. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Our team is always here to help you overcome life’s challenging moments. All our services are provided at no cost to make sure all individuals have access to the help they need. God has a plan and a purpose for your life, even it the challenging moments. You do not have to go through it alone. Please reach out today if you need assistance, support, or encouragement.
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