Truth and Lies

God has been speaking to me recently about what I believe about Him and about myself.  I have so many blessings in my life, but the one source of contention that has always been difficult for me is my career.  I am an entrepreneur and an attorney.  This path, while an absolute expression of who I am, is often a devastating part of my life experience as well.  The phrase "one step forward, two steps back" comes to mind.  I think one of the reasons it is devastating is that I often look around and just cannot find a resource that tells me what I am experiencing is normal -- few mentors that I would follow or seek advice on, so to speak.  So, I can start to feel crazy sometimes and as if perhaps the "results" I think I am not seeing means that I am not in God's will.  

God has been faithful to speak into my spirit - a good deal in the last week, reminding me of all the whispers, the nuggets, the resources He has shown me over the years, to encourage and strengthen me.  This IS my path - and that the difficulty itself has been preparing me for the endurance, strength and confidence to live this life, to walk the very path before me.

Isaiah 41: 14-16 (MSG)

Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
   Don't be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
   I'll help you.
I, God, want to reassure you.
   The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
I'm transforming you from worm to harrow,
   from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow you'll smooth out the mountains,
   turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
You'll open the rough ground to the weather,
   to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But you'll be confident and exuberant,
   expansive in The Holy of Israel!

In reminding me of some of these things, I felt prompted to make a list.  A list of "truth" and "lies" if you will - the truth of who I am because of my identity in Christ and the lies that the accuser would have me believe and live from instead.  When I am in "truth" camp, all is right with the world -- I experience myself as ALIVE -- as all of the things in that side of the list.  When I am in "lies" camp, I am anxious, afraid, condemned - death camp.  I wanted to share this and encourage you to do a similar exercise.  At this juncture of my life, I need a constant reminder of the TRUTH so that I can wake up to what I am thinking in any given moment and choose to believe the truth and live from it.  

John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Truth                                                                                     Lies

I am GRACE AND GLORY                                                      I am Much-Afraid

I have the spiritual gift of FAITH                                                I fail to be faithful enough/unbelief


I am strong and beautiful                                                         I am weak and undeserving

I am a beloved daughter – I have captivated the King’s heart       I am an orphan

I am a beloved bride – I have captured the Prince’s heart            I am unwanted/a disappointment

I am fought for                                                                        I am on my own

I am provided for                                                                     I have to [work hard to] provide for myself

I have an eternal inheritance, overflowing abundance                  I will always experience lack

I am a pioneer (courageous, new ground, perseverant)               I am a failure (rebel, irresponsible, alone)

I am victorious – a fighter                                                         I am a loser – unequipped to succeed

I find it intriguing (and far beyond coincidence) that the lie is an exact opposite reflection of the truth.  The enemy knows how much easier it is for me to believe the lie and, as we know, he comes to steal, kill and destroy our "life"  (john 10:10).

Standing free in the truth, from the slavery of the lies, and praying the same for you!