For the past few months I have really been struggling with feeling like I’m forgotten. My name is very hard for people to say correctly in these countries and because of that people don’t remember it (Thanks mom and dad). In Ecuador, Peru and now Cote d’Ivoire I have had this problem. I didn’t really mind it or notice it until our first week in Cote d’Ivoire. I was struck with the fact that I wasn’t memorable. I thought that maybe if I was prettier, or skinnier (or heavier in Africa’s case), or if I had an actual talent people would remember me. The devil was doing some of his finest work on me.
Our first week in Cote d’Ivoire our team went to meet the board of the church. The Pastor was going around introducing us and trying to remember our names. As soon as this happened I instantly knew he wouldn’t remember my name. Why would he remember my name? Right after this thought God spoke some truth over me. Hearing from God is still rather new for me but I have been working on it a lot more this month. God said “Why does it matter if he remembers your name, for your name is written on the palm of my hand.” I kind of sat there in shock over this. No the Pastor did not remember my name but one of the other men did and this act almost brought me to tears. This was a very emotion filled moment for me.
This moment inspired me to make a truth journal. Dear sweet Melanie bought me a little notebook when we went out shopping in Spain and I hadn’t figured out what I wanted to do with it. I have made this little notebook my truth journal and I carry it with me everyday. In order to defeat the devil you must counter act his lies with truth from the Bible. As soon as God spoke to me, referencing the Bible, the devil made me doubt that it was actually from the Bible. Well folks it is. Isaiah 49:15-16 ” I will not forget you, I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands.” Boom. point Jesus.
I wanted to make the truth journal because I know for a fact this isn’t the last attack from the devil to break me down. It is so encouraging to have God’s truth ready for the attack. I try to add a new verse every day and I have been sharing them with my team.
Isaiah 49:15-16 “I will not forget you, I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands.”
Isaiah 62:3 “You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord.”
Isaiah 64:8 “We are the clay and you our potter; and all we are the work of your hand.”
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.”
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace.”
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your beauty be merely outward rather it should be that of your inner self.”
Psalm 139 “How precious are your thoughts to me, oh God, how great is the sum of them. if I should count them, they would be more in number then the sand.” (you should really just go read all of psalm 139 its good)
Isaiah 38:17 “You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption for you have cast all my sins behind your back.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 1:8 “Though your sins are like scarlet they shall become as white as snow.”
(Why yes I did just finish reading Isaiah this week ha)
I just want to challenge everyone to be prepared for when the devil tries to attack. Buy a little journal, you’re in the United States that should be easy, and fill it with truth. Don’t just steal all of my verses because these verses help me fight my battle, your battle may look very different. I struggle with feeling remembered, feeling beautiful and feeling cleansed of my sin. So those are the verses I look for because these are the attacks I get. Also with this challenge you have to read your Bible! Woohooo! Never would have thought this but I crave reading my bible now. If I don’t find a verse I can put in the book I keep on reading until I find something. Your Bible is your sword and you need it for battle. You will look awful funny running into battle without a sword.
