v. 21 – keeping yourselves in the love of God,

Devotional:

God loves you. He really does. All of life’s struggles grow from a disbelief that God loves us and wants more for us than we could ever want for ourselves. It is this disbelief that God’s enemy wants us to fall prey to and like a broken record he is constantly in our ear saying, “Did God actually say that He loves you?”

And when we give his narrative a sympathetic ear, the seeds of condemnation and shame begin to sprout and choke out the joy of our salvation. I call this broken record “the whispers”. Do you ever hear the whispers? I do. I hear them all the time.

This is the not-so-subtle voice of condemnation creeping around in the hallways of your soul like a bloodhound looking for any scent of flesh hiding behind closed doors. You think you are hidden from them, but the whispers are tireless, they are smart, they know you so well, and they know right where to hit you. Their names are shame, fear, and doubt and they are on a mission to take you out. I don’t know exactly what they sound like to you but maybe something like this resonates:

You can’t do it.
You aren’t smart enough.
You are too messed up.
You’re not good enough.
You’ve told too many lies.
You’ve got nothing to offer.
You’re broken.
No one wants you.
You will never be free of the damage done.
You’re bruised.
You can’t heal.
You don’t deserve love.
You need to make yourself matter and if you don’t then you won’t. You aren’t a good friend.
They don’t really like you.
You are a letdown.
You haven’t tried hard enough.
You’re not safe, protect yourself.

You’re what happened to you.
What happened to you is your fault because you weren’t strong enough to stop it.
They left you because you are not worth it.
You don’t have any love to give.
It’s all fake, no one really cares for you, they are all just faking it. They just want something from you, and when they get it you’ll be all alone again.
You’re your divorce.
You’re your past sexual exploits.
You’re addicted because you are an addict.
You better run.
Stay low, hide, and don’t let them know who you really are. You’re going to fail.
You’re a failure.
It’s just a matter of time before it all falls apart.
You’re too messed up to experience blessing.
You’re selfish.
If fixing you was possible, you’d have done it already.
What’s wrong with you?
You can’t lead.
If they knew all the stuff you think about they’d never trust you. You’re not trustworthy.
You don’t have what it takes.
You’re a mess.
You better not tell the whole truth. Tell just enough truth to impress but not enough to be free.
They’re gone because you’re not worth sticking around for.
It’s all your fault.
You’re going to suffer.
You’re screwing your kids up.
Joy is a fine idea; you just can’t have any.
Peace is not attainable in this life.
They are going to find out who you really are and when they do it’s all over.
If you were better at your job more people would be saved. You aren’t saved; you just made a religious decision.
You should worry about that.
You better get control however you can or it’s all going to fall apart.
You’re the worst, why can’t you be more like ______________? You’re hurting everyone.You don’t hug your kids enough.
You don’t love your wife well, try harder. They died because God wants you to suffer. You failed because you’re a failure.
You’re doing it again.
He doesn’t love you.
If you led better, you’d be better.
Be stronger. Why are you so weak?
You aren’t what you once were.
You can’t keep up.
It’s you, you are the problem.
You aren’t a good mom.
You aren’t a good spouse.
You can never live up to your parents’ legacy. You don’t manage money well.
You deserve to be broke.
You’re a disappointment.
You’re trapped.
Give up.
Move on.
Don’t trust them.
Don’t trust him.
You are unhealthy because you are you. You’re lazy.
You’re a liar.
If you loved God, you’d stop that.
You’re small.
You’re insignificant.
You talk too much.
Say something that matters for once.

All the whispers. Do any of those resonate with you? I’d imagine they do. I think of these distracting – if not totally destructive – lies as pawns in Satan’s grand game of shame. All of these whispers are meant to distract you from the most powerful truth in the world – “God loves you.” “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I encourage you today to go back through the list of the whispers and pick 5 of them you have commonly experienced and write them down and then write over the top of them,

“GOD LOVES YOU”. God’s love is stronger than any whisper, lie, deception, or distortion. His love is our anchor, and we remind ourselves we are in His love by proclaiming His love for us!

REFLECTION:

What were your five? How does knowing that God’s love is stronger than any whisper of the enemy help you overcome the lies and live in peace?