Take a few moments and think or jot down ways that you've failed this week.
One example that I came up with as I was reflecting on the past week was that I yelled at my kids a lot and pretty much rode the emotional rollercoaster in an endless circle. It took Mia calling out my bad attitude and sour heart for a shift to occur on Wednesday. I apologized and asked for forgiveness, because based on my own mood and conviction, I felt that was the right thing to do.
I fail my people every single day. Maybe you can relate? Maybe you can't? We know that we all fall short, and we all fail in various forms. 1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” HCSB. It doesn't get more clearer than that on how we should approach our failure with God and one another.
Forgiveness is freely given because it is finished (John 19:30).
Yet satan uses these failures to fuel the lies we believe about ourselves. So, look at your list of failures from the week and translate them into the lies we carry.
Here's my example:
Failure: Yelled too much this week.
Lie: I'm a bad mom.
Your turn! Go!
We've acknowledged that we all fail and that we're forgiven. Now, we're going to FIGHT these lies with Truth. We have been given the manual of Truth through the Bible to do so. It's God's living, breathing Word, and it's the number one way that we can connect with Him and learn more about Him. Now more than ever, with information available at our finger tips, we can access His Word from pretty much anywhere, whether you have a physical Bible on you or not. So if your lie can't fall into one of these categories, download/open up the Bible app, and search for Scripture on that specific topic. If you need help, message me.
I can't.
"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 HCSB
"I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, Yahweh do all these things." Isaiah 45:7 HSCB
"I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 5:30 HCSB
God won't.
“Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:10 HCSB
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11 HCSB
“You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 HCSB
Nobody cares.
“Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 HCSB
“LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.” Psalm 10:17-18 HCSB
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6 HCSB
“For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 HCSB
I'm unworthy.
"He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind and now I see!” John 9:25 HCSB
“She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her.” Proverbs 3:15 HCSB
“For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:19-20 HCSB
I'm not loved.
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10 HCSB
“Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37-39
“May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 HCSB
I don't matter. I'm not important.
“For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 HCSB
“God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.”
Psalms 46:5 HCSB
“Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.” Isaiah 49:16 HSCB
It's too late.
"But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 HCSB
“For I know the plans I have for you” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 HCSB
These are lies that may have deep roots in our lives. It may be years and years of believing this about yourself. Satan wants you down and out, BUT God calls to more. Your failure, your lie, your past does not define you. Jesus does. Lean into that and fight your battle.
“But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.” Psalm 73:28 HCSB
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