If there is one way the enemy likes to attack us, it is by telling lies about our identity. He likes to put doubt in our minds about who we are, who God is, and who God calls us to be.
If you looked differently, people would like you better.
Jesus doesn’t have a plan for your life.
You have nothing to offer.
If you were smarter, you wouldn’t have to worry about your future.
The enemy’s motive in constantly trying to attack us with lies is to pull us away from God and what God calls us into. He wants to deceive us with untruth. He likes to find our weak spots and attack us where it is easiest. He looks for the areas where we are most vulnerable and then hits…hard.
Since being on the race I have continued to find more and more freedom from strongholds the enemy had on my life. I found freedom from shame and bitterness I didn’t even know I was carrying. I found freedom from my desire for acceptance. I found freedom from always feeling like I wasn’t measuring up or not doing enough.
I used to place my value in how much people liked me, how I looked, or my skills as a musician. But I finally realized that my only eternal identity is in Christ and that all of my other skills and talents were only given to me so that I could glorify God and bring people to know Him. I realized that the desire to do more, be better, and achieve more with never fill my desire for true purpose.
I have been able to find so much freedom because of the people I am surrounded by. I have the honor of doing life with people who are also striving towards a deep and dependent relationship with Jesus. We are always encouraging each other and calling each other into our true identity – which is that we are sons and daughters of God.
The reason I am writing this is because I have realized that everyone struggles with this in one way or another. Attacks from the enemy come with the territory when you are a follower of Christ. I just wanted to share this because I know there are people out there who feel just like I have felt my whole life.
Worthless
Invisible
Stupid
Disappointing
I want to tell you something that no one ever told me – those are lies from the enemy. In Ephesians 1 we, as God’s people, are called blessed, chosen, holy and blameless, redeemed, forgiven, predestined, and Paul writes that we are marked, in Christ, with a seal – which is the promised Holy Spirit. This is just a tiny example of the identity Christ calls us into.
I hope this encourages someone out there to let go of the weight of past sins, to show forgiveness in exchange for bitterness, or to stand up to the enemy’s lies. God poured on Jesus the punishment for all of our past, present, and future sins. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice we have been wiped clean. When God looks at us, all He sees is the perfect, sinless record of His son, Jesus Christ.
So, why do we choose to live in darkness and sin when the jail cell is open?
Our chains are gone, why do we choose the carry the weight anyways?
The enemy convinces us that carrying our own weight is the only option, but the authority of the Holy Spirit was placed in us at the moment of our salvation and we can tell the enemy “no.” In Matthew 16 Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan!” when Peter rebukes Him. We have that same authority to tell the enemy that he is not allowed to be near us. When I feel those lies pouring in and weights being laid back on I actually tell the enemy “no.”
Jesus is calling your name. Step out of the cell, drop the chains. Let go of it all because that is what Jesus wants for us. He wants us to live not only redeemed, but free. He wants us to walk in confidence of our eternal identity in Him. And on those days when it is hard, call on Jesus – for darkness cannot exist where light is.
Thank you for reading! I would love if you would leave a comment down below to let me know what you thought!
My team and I are currently in northern Thailand teaching English! We have been here for two weeks and love it already! I am planning on writing a blog post dedicated to what our life and ministry looks like here, so stay tuned for that!
Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this whole journey! I am fully funded, but I have a couple of teammates who still need some help! Morgan, Allie, and Carina’s blogs are linked on the side of this page and if you are able and willing to help it would mean so much!
Please be praying for our ministry here and for safety and health over our team.
