Walking In The Truth

 

This week I am continuing "Truth for Thursdays" on Being Refined As Silver.   We have been going through the book “Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

We have reviewed the lies women believe about God, about themselves, about sin, about priorities, about marriage, about children, about emotions and about circumstances.  In Section Three, Nancy Leigh DeMoss gives us helpful hints on how to walk in the Truth.  The two major points of her book are:

1. Believing lies places us in bondage.

2. The Truth has the power to set us free.

It all starts with listening to Satan’s lies.  How?  By allowing things such as music, TV, magazines, and people to expose us to ungodly ways of thinking.  I personally am amazed at the things that some Christians partake in.  I know we have freedom in Christ, although I think this is often misapplied.  Rock music with lyrics that are full of sin, movies that are full of foul language and ungodly behavior, fashion magazines that promote women being way too skinny, half dressed and having the appearance of a harlot are just a few.  The argument sometimes goes like this…I can watch those things, I am not doing it.  My question would be …what is the benefit to being exposed to those things?  Is it building up your faith?  Helping you to be a better Christian?  Loving others?  Aren’t there better alternatives to these things? 

Once we allow Satan’s lies into our minds, the progression continues if we dwell on those lies.  If we do not immediately reject those lies we will start to believe them.  What we believe we will act on.  After we act on them, we set up patterns that put us in bondage. 

I can’t help but think of the way some girls dress.  Now let me say that I do not believe females should dress so frumpy that it is difficult to tell if they are a male or female..  There is a way to dress that is both pretty and feminine without exposing every body part possible.  How do these girls end up dressing like this?  I believe it is because they were exposed to this type of dress by shopping in certain stores, watching certain celebrities, and following the world’s standards.  By not  being told the Truth,  they have allowed the lie to take hold of them.  Before long they are dressing in ways that could cause a brother to stumble and make some women uncomfortable around them.  They wear skirts so short that you can see everything when they sit down (they don’t even sit with their legs crossed), they have their bra straps hanging out because this is the current fashion trend, and they wear skulls and crossbones but it doesn’t mean anything.  Really?  I don’t think so.  These girls are in bondage.  They believe they have to dress this way, that it is their right and that they have liberty in these areas.  And their parents have a responsibility in all this.  They did not present the Truth and by not saying anything they allowed this to happen.  We need to fear God and His Word more than hurting our children’s feelings because they do not get their own way. 

So what areas are you in bondage?  What lies have you believed and allowed to take hold of you?  Maybe they are deep rooted issues that you have struggled with for years.  Or maybe they are matters that seem relatively insignificant that you are just recognizing now.  Whatever they are, there is hope.  The pathway from bondage to freedom involves at least three steps:

1. Identify the area (s) of bondage or sinful behavior.

2. Identify the lie (s) at the root of that bondage or behavior.

3. Replace the lie (s) with the Truth. 

The Truth has the power to overcome every lie.  Once you know the Truth and start believing and acting on it, you will be set free. 

The Truth has the power to set you free.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

The Truth has the power to sanctify us- to purify our minds, our hearts and our spirits. 

“Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.” John 17:17

Each time the Enemy bombards our minds with lies, we must learn to counsel our hearts according to the Truth and act on the Truth, regardless of what our feelings tell us.  Our feelings can change minute by minute but the Word of God is unchanging.  Sometimes we must say God’s Word over and over again.  We must not allow those lies to send us in a downward spiral.  We can ask God for His grace to help us to act on His truths.  We can’t wait until we feel like doing the right thing, we must obey and our feelings will follow sooner or later.   We can do the right thing, regardless of how we feel!