3 Lies That Will Hold You Back

Resources from this episode:

  • 1 Samuel 17

  • Romans 8: 37

  • Ephesians 2:10

  • Psalm 37: 23-24

  • Mark 9:23

Show Notes:

Sometimes we overcomplicate our relationship with God. As women, especially, it’s easy to find ourselves overthinking aspects of our lives. God wants us to have a relationship with Him, as we are, where we are. It’s really that simple. Nonetheless, the enemy tries to hold us back from fulfilling the plan and assignment God has called us to. He wants to keep us from God’s best for our lives and he does so with lies!

The enemy is the father of lies, and although he isn’t creative, he is crafty. The enemy has a way of playing to our weaknesses; he moves through those moments of fear, doubt, or in those days that seem like nothing is going right.

“You’re not good enough.”

“You’re approaching God all wrong.”

“That will never happen for you.”

Lie, lie, lie.

If we bite onto these lies, we can actually begin to believe them, affecting how we approach God, and thus, affecting our relationship with Him, too.

In 1 Samuel 17, the enemy tried to get in and sabotage the people of God taking them out of their position of authority. There was no reason why the army of the Lord couldn’t defeat the Philistines but with the help of the enemy instilling lies into them, they retreated back and hid from the Philistine army. For 40 days and 40 nights, they endured Goliath feeding them lies. So much so that they eventually believed them and allowed the lies to become their identity. But God used a shepherd boy, David, to expose the lies that the enemy had been serving up!

Renew your mind with God’s word and it will set you free. Excel in your relationship with God, and when the enemy tries to hold you back with lies, remember what God says in His word. Be like David, and fight the lies of the enemy with God’s truth. Come against the lies of the enemy in the name of the Lord who rules over all (1 Samuel 17:45)!

LIE #1 from the enemy: “You’re not good enough or God is mad at you.”

When the enemy tells you you’re not good enough or God is mad at you, remind him you are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10).

If you’re not careful, the enemy can condition you to think that God is mad at you. How you see God is going to determine how you approach Him. Much like children do in the natural, if you always think He is mad at you, you will stand off and expect Him to punish or correct you. Though God convicts us, He never condemns us.

Conviction- God at work in our lives–pruning or showing us the right way to live that will benefit us. He does so with grace and mercy. Conviction is God working in us so our hearts have a revelation. Conviction draws us to God.

Condemnation- Condemnation is from the enemy and makes us feel like we are never going to measure up, or that we might as well quit. It causes us to push away which will take us away from our relationship with God and out of His authority.

If the enemy tries to tell you you’re not good enough and you feel unworthy, ask God to expose the enemy’s lies. If there’s anything in your heart that needs to be made right, He will reveal to you.

“IF YOU CATCH A PICTURE OF WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, IT’S GAME OVER FOR THE ENEMY.”

LIE #2 from the enemy: “You’re approaching your spiritual life all wrong.”

When the enemy tells you you’re approaching your spiritual life all wrong, remind him that God delights in every detail of our lives; though we may stumble, we will never fall (Psalm 37: 23-24).

The enemy can make you feel like there is a wrong and right way to pray, but at the end of the day, God just wants a relationship with you, so keep growing in it. It’s important to not put God into a box. He is a personal God who speaks to each person individually and uniquely. He equips each of us differently. Don’t buy the lie –if you’re communicating and praying to God He hears and sees you.

Lie #3 from the enemy: “You’re believing too much or having too much faith.”

When the enemy tells you you’re believing too much or having too much faith, remind him that all things are possible for one who believes (Mark 9:23).

When you start praying and believing for more, the enemy will try to get you to dial back. Be encouraged, if God spoke it, it will come to pass! It can be easy to feel that big prayers are insulting to God, but actually, it’s more insulting to ask too little of Him! Grow your faith in your prayer time and speak your prayers out. God wants you to ask Him for it; He wants you to access the promises that He has already paid for. Guard your thoughts, renew your mind, and believe God for the impossible.

Friend, start believing God for more, and debunk the lies of the enemy today. Take the limits off, and don’t let anyone, anything, or any lie from the enemy take you out of what God wants to do in your life.

joie miller