“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11a
I’ll never forget the first time a girl in elementary school told me I was ugly.
I remember it felt like the world stopped spinning and suddenly everyone was looking in my direction nodding in agreement. Red-hot shame filled my cheeks. I ran to the bath- room. I stared at my face in the mirror. I didn’t bother to wipe away the tears and snot. I just stood there wishing I could cover up whatever it was that made that girl determine I wasn’t acceptable.
But I realized, it wasn’t just a part of me that she thought was ugly. It was the sum total of me. In her estimation, I was ugly. Not just my hair or my nose or my body . . . it was all of me. And the saddest part of all . . . I agreed with her.
It’s been decades since that unfortunate incident that said way more about that other little girl’s issues than mine. But I can still find myself staring into the mirror agreeing with statements that are so opposite of God’s truth. We know the enemy is the father of lies (John 8:44). But where I get tripped up is when my insecurities make his lies feel like the loudest truth in my head.
That’s why we have to set our minds and our hearts on the absolute truth of God’s Word. When our insecurities beg us to believe “we aren’t beautifully and wonderfully made,” we must look to the hope-filled pages of Scripture to remind us of the difference between lies and truth.
The enemy wants you to stare and compare in all the ways you already feel inadequate. He wants you to doubt God’s goodness in how He made you. So, if you start hearing the enemy’s script, recognize it for what it is: false accusations.
Here’s a cheat sheet to remind you how he whispers in your ear:
“If only you were . . .”
“You aren’t enough . . .”
“You are too much . . .”
“If God really loved you . . .”
“People think you’re so . . .”
“Why can’t you just . . .”
“Why does she always get . . .”
“Why can’t you ever . . .”
Sweet friend, don’t help the enemy get you into a state of defeat by believing and repeating his scripts. God will lead you with love and conviction but never accusation or condemnation. He isn’t measuring you by what you are or aren’t accomplishing or what size your jeans are or how your kids are behaving today or how much money you have in your bank account. He loves your heart. He wants your heart. Reject the lies and start listening to the One who knows you completely and loves you fully.
Let’s start preaching God’s truth to our hearts in the midst of whatever insecurities are taunting us today. It is the most powerful way to help us fight the lies and accusations of the enemy. We will defeat him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11, paraphrase).
Oh, how I love that last verse.
God’s message of hell-defeating hope is often most powerfully preached from the lips of those whose pain has been turned into the purpose of telling people about what God has done in their lives.
Jesus has brought the blood. We can bring the words of our testimony.
Also, never forget who is the “accuser of our brothers and sisters” (Revelation 12:10) and that his vicious lies will always go after your most vulnerable insecurities and doubts.
We must let God’s words become the words we live by. Let’s change the scripts begging us to believe anything opposite of God’s truth.
He is with you, He will not leave you, and He absolutely will see you all the way through this.
God, help me seek You alone to tell me who I am when I am tempted to believe lies about myself. Today I am choosing to flip the script and preach truth to myself. I know You love me, You won’t leave me, and You will absolutely see me through whatever I am facing right now. In Jesus’ name, amen.
