Oh the lies we believe.

Satan is the father of lies and he seeks to destroy our lives through deception. This is why it is so important to guard our thoughts through the power of Christ.

As I think back to my highschool and college years, I know there was a lie I believed that had a large impact on how I thought about eating and gaining weight.  I don’t share this for sympathy because I can honestly say that I haven’t thought this for years by God’s grace.

The lie went like this: It doesn’t matter if I’m overweight because no guy will ever want to marry me because of my disabilities.

I know this is a lie Satan had fed to me. No one in my life has ever said or done anything to suggest this but the enemy knows where we are weakest and feeds us lies and doubts accordingly.

I share this because it is so essential we identify the lies we believe and submit them to the truth of God’s Word. The truth sets us free but lies distort reality and have a large impact on our lives. We need to lead our thoughts and feelings, and not allow them to lead us. We don’t have to keep getting tossed around by all the enemy’s schemes.  Rather we can build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Word as we seek to align what we believe with what is true. I love the way Mike Winger says it, “Don’t follow your heart. Make your heart follow Jesus.” Our heart can start to believe lies so quickly but Jesus can protect our mind and heart when we cling to Him.

As I’m learning a healthier lifestyle, it has become evident how much my thoughts influence my daily decisions. To be honest, there are lots of times I think about how I long to be able to eat whatever I feel like at that moment. I have to stop myself from feeling sorry for myself as I think about all the chocolate, ice cream and donuts I would love to indulge in at that moment. There are times I’m afraid this will always be an area of intense temptation for me.

God is teaching me to replace my old thought patterns with new ones, such that my joy and satisfaction does not come because I can eat all the sweets I’m craving. I tried that and it just led to bondage. As cliche it may sound, my joy comes from trusting in and obeying Jesus. I’m most joyful and free when I’m honoring the Lord.

Jesus gives the precious gift of the ability to walk in the newness of life. I find the truth of I don’t have to be the same person I’ve been in the past to be so encouraging. By the grace of God, I don’t have to be stuck in the same patterns of behavior and I don’t have to keep believing the same lies. As Jesus becomes more beautiful to us, the things of this world will continually lose their attractiveness.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)