Pants on Fire

How ironic that my last blog was titled “She Did the Best She Could.” It has been a hot minute since I have sat down to blog. I am doing the best I can. Truthfully, I have some other pressing things I should be doing right now, but I couldn't resist. I am just finishing a two-part sermon series called “Pants on Fire,” designed to destroy the lies that we believe about God and ourselves. My intention is to start blogging again in January, but I couldn't help but think that if just one small lie were extinguished by God revealing His truth through this blog, it would be worth it. I refuse to give the enemy any more airtime without a kick in the pants, or a good left hook might be the better analogy from my message.

Here is the deal. As I prepared my sermon, I reached out to about 20 friends and asked them to send me a list of lies that the enemy whispers to them or those they love. The list was not shocking, but the repetition was. The enemy is not very creative. He has just figured out that if he can isolate each of us in our thoughts, he can use one of his favorite lies to hinder us from being the powerful person God created us to be.

How many people think that they are not good enough? (We all want to be smarter, richer, more attractive, a better mother, father, etc.) How many people think that their past defines them or that if they could just be a little bit better, everything would be better and, more importantly, feel better? 

Almost all of humanity can easily fall for one of those lies. Let’s just take physical appearance. How many people look in the mirror and love the way they look? Tall people want to be short. Short people want to be tall. You even see in eating disorders that someone already thin doesn’t think they are thin enough. Lies and the liar are not respectors of people. If enough money, cosmetic surgery, or education were the answer, we would see joy among the rich and famous. Instead, apart from the peace of Christ, those who have what the world marks as “it” are some of the most tormented and unhappy. 

So back down here where most of us live, what practical steps can we take to destroy the lies that the enemy whispers? You can check out my two-part sermon for specific strategies, but I also wanted to leave you with another tool. In this series, I referenced “Recognize the Lie, Renounce the Lie, and Replace the Lie.” (One day soon, Chris will teach a powerful series where these truths were born.) One of the ways that we can replace lies with truth is by renewing our minds. I know you are shocked by that answer. But, in addition to your priority time, one powerful weapon is songs that remind us of who we are. 

Our identity is secure. If you have surrendered your life to the Lord and decided you are tired of being your own boss, you have complete, unshakeable security in Christ. We just need to keep that front and center so we are prepared to send the enemy packing when he whispers. 

Check out two amazing songs I hope you sing from the top of your lungs and hold deep in your heart. Have another one that you love that speaks to our identity? I would love to know! Please leave it in the comments. 

Megan Woods - The Truth (Official Lyric Video)

Lauren Daigle - You Say (Official Music Video)