Do you ever think that there must be something wrong with you because of your failures, sins, or mistakes? This idea can discourage you and keep you from moving past those often deafening voices. This is called shame. In fact, the thought that there is something wrong with you is a lie, a fiery arrow being launched from an outside source…satan, and/or his demon cohorts. Does this ever seem to blur the line between God’s truth about who you are in Christ and satan’s lies? I and my staff see this often in our ministry.
If you struggle to see the difference between satan’s lies and God’s view of you, here’s a helpful exercise. On paper or in a digital document, write the word Lies in one column. Under that word write a list of the lies you believe about who you are.
Next, write the word Truth in a column next to the first one. In that column, write statements and Scripture references about who you are in Christ. Counteract as many lies as you can identify with truth and add to that list as you become aware of more lies.
Here are some personal lies you might believe as opposed to the truth God wants you to believe. Hopefully, this will help get you started.
| Lies | Truth | |
| I am a racist. | I am a grace-ist in Christ. | Galatians 3:28 |
| I am a sexist
I am a classist
I am a greedy person. |
I am an equality advocate in Christ
I am unbiased in Christ I am a giver in Christ. |
Galatians 3:28
Galatians 3:28
2 Corinthians 9:7 |
| I am impatient. | I am patient in Christ. | Galatians 5:22 |
| I am a screwup. | I am perfect in Christ. | Hebrews 10:14 |
| I am a liar. | I am a truth teller in Christ. | Ephesians 4:25 |
| I am a bitter person. | I am a forgiver in Christ. | Ephesians 4:32 |
| I am unloving. | I am loving in Christ. | Galatians 5:22 |
If you struggle to identify the lies, examine your feelings. Feelings always follow thoughts. When you have a negative feeling, pray and say, “Jesus, please help me understand why I feel this way and what belief is behind the feeling.” Then wait and write down what he reveals to you.
For example, if you feel depressed one day, ask Jesus to help identify why. He may show you you’ve been comparing yourself to someone else. That comparison is causing you to believe you are inferior, which is causing you to feel inferior. Jesus may even remind you that comparing yourself to others started in your childhood or at another point in your life. In this case, you could write under the Lies column, “I am inferior.” Then under the Truth column, you could write, “I am complete in Christ—Colossians 2:10.”
Continue these steps for every lie the Lord shows you going forward. Keep this list accessible, such as on your phone or computer, or tuck it in your Bible to review. Then when you experience negative feelings, go to Jesus and talk to him about it. Let him remind you what is true about who you are.
(c) Mark Maulding, God’s Best-Kept Secret: Christianity Is Easier Than You Think, Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2017
