BY JESSICA LANDMON
As a woman who has been a Christian most of her life and in ministry for nearly half of it, one thing I can be sure of is that Satan is a liar. Scripture clearly says that “there is no truth in him” and that he is “the father of lies.” With that said, we can often fall prey to his lies if we aren’t careful. It is not enough to simply know Satan’s agenda, we must fight him with the truth found only in scripture.
It’s also important to recognize that although he is timely and crafty, Satan is not at all original. The same lies that he is spewing at you, he is also speaking into other women’s lives. So, let’s fight those lies together by disputing his most favorite falsehoods.
1. God can’t use you because of your past!
The enemy would love for you to believe that you are damaged goods – that your past precludes you from being anything of influence in God’s Kingdom. This is such a lie. All your past mistakes and trauma, no matter how shameful, when surrendered into the hands of our Heavenly Father, can be used for His glory! God doesn’t waste anything. He has a purpose and a plan for your life, and it is never too late to return to His perfect path and pursue it.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. – Psalm 107:2
2. You are not enough!
Ladies, none of us are enough. Apart from Jesus, we all fall short. We’re too ordinary, insecure, anxious, emotional, selfish – the list goes on. None of us measure up to the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father. But He equips us for the life He wants us to live. We must rely on Holy Spirit power, wisdom, and faith to become all that He desires. Remember, if God has called you to it, He will equip you!
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
3. The Christian life is paved with comfort.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions that Christians believe. We think that as soon as we become Christians, life is going to become easy. Life gets simpler, but certainly not easier. In fact, we are to expect trials and persecutions. But, by placing our hope and confidence in Jesus Christ, He will get us through any hardship life sends our way.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. – 1 Peter 4:12-13
4. We will no longer struggle with sin once we commit our lives to the Lord.
It takes a moment to become a Christian, but a lifetime to become like Christ. None of us are without sin, but His grace is enough to cover it all. That is why Jesus’s death on the cross is so powerful. It sets us free and gives us the power to overcome the temptation of sin. Being tempted in and of itself is not a sin, but allowing it to manifest in action is. God always gives you a way out. Take it!
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
5. Your sin is too big for God to forgive!
This is the biggest lie of the enemy spoken to both Christians and non-Christians alike. The last thing that Satan wants us to do is submit our lives to the Lord. So, the enemy tells us that we are not worthy or good enough to draw near to God. He spews lies that we’ve passed the threshold of forgiveness, that our deeds are just too despicable, or that God is too angry with us to have a relationship with Him.
If this sounds like something you are struggling with, silence these lies now in the name of Jesus! Jesus longs for a relationship with all of us – no matter what our sin is. His death on the cross covers it all. Come to the Father today and receive His free gift of salvation.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – Romans 10:13