“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)
I’d only made it through my first cup of coffee, and I could feel the headache forming under my right eye. Struggling to focus on my morning Bible reading, I decided to go for a walk to relieve some of the pressure I felt.
I knew before my feet hit the ground, it would be one of those days. You know, the ones where it feels like everything is a struggle. Getting up and getting moving is almost more than you can bear, and all you want to do is pull the covers up and go back to bed.
I’ve always struggled with racing thoughts; I am an over-thinker and have a tendency to let my mind run wild. Over the years, through counseling, countless hours studying Scripture, and a solid support system, I have learned to silence the lies that run through my mind.
But, sometimes, it takes more than a quick prayer, a phone to a friend, or stepping outside to shake the feeling of inadequacy that lingers like an unwelcomed house guest. One of the best pieces of advice I received when I shared that I struggled with recurring thoughts and feelings of not being enough or doing enough was to learn how to stop the lie I was believing and replace it with God’s Truth.
For example, one of the lies I tend to believe is that if I take time to rest, such as a nap, reading a book, or even playing a game with my children, I have wasted an opportunity to get “real work” done. When I go down this trail of self-doubt and shame, I remind myself that God gave rest to His children as a blessing. God, though he didn’t need it, set the example of rest in Genesis 2:2-3. Jesus invites us to rest in His presence; when we are weary, He is there for us, as it says in Matthew 28:11.
There are numerous lies that we believe, and thankfully, Scripture is replete with Truth to refute those lies. While we can certainly address specific thoughts that counter God’s word, we must also understand where these lies come from and their purpose to fight better when attacked.
Jesus tells us in John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Our enemy is the Devil, and just like with Eve in the garden, his purpose remains the same: the harm and destruction of mankind. But there’s good news—Jesus came for a purpose, too! And His purpose is to give us abundant and full life. Jesus is not promising that by believing in Him, your earthly life will be filled with riches and material wealth, instead, He is promising eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Spiritual warfare is certain for those who are children of God, but we don’t fight alone; we have the power of the Holy Spirit. God also gave us the church and the body of believers to come alongside us to pray, offer encouragement, and lift us up when we are struggling.
Might I encourage you today, if you find yourself wrestling with the lies from the enemy, fight with the power of God’s Truth? Share with a friend your burden, shut down the lies, resist the Devil, and he will flee (James 4:7). This side of eternity, we will have difficult days; we are not shielded from the hardships of life as believers. But, we can find peace and hope in knowing we are not alone in our struggle.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. We pray that when we are under spiritual attack, we can stand firm and refute our adversary in Your name. We ask that you help us shut down the lies from our enemy and silence them with the Truth found in Your word. We love you, Lord. Amen.
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Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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