Saturday, March 26, 2011

replacing lies with truth

I made this for my oasis group, to "get the ball rolling" as we have been challenged to identify the lies that keep us bound *because* we make agreements with them. freedom lies is repenting of those agreements, standing up in our own minds... also I know that there are bible promise books and such, and that is a fine place to start, but frankly I have learned over the years that gems are much more precious when you've dug them up yourself. trying to model that.


no one sees me, notices me, knows me, understands me - no one knows what I'm really like


Psalm 139

no one really loves me/will ever love me back

Jer 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

I am alone

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (*commanded* to be courageous, something we choose to think/do rather than wait to feel)

I am helpless

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

I will be consumed by this, I'm overwhelmed

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43

I can only see darkness, there is no hope

Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.

Isaiah 60

I am ashamed

I John 1:9 if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.

I am doomed to be this way forever

Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Romans 8

I can't do this anymore

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3

I am worthy because of what I do for others, I can never slow down

Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Mark 10:41

I have to please people

John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? Luke 7:31

I am too old

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I won't know the right thing to do, I'll make a mistake

Psalm 37:23 Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.

  • (shift gears to other kinds of defeating lies)

my criticism is justified

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s j udgment against those who do such things is pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? romans 2:1

my unforgiveness is justified

15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15

they deserve it

For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. James 2:13

how I treat this person doesn't matter to God

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God- acts is outrageous nonsense?

my words are not that big a deal to God

Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp- tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. I Peter 3:8

I can't change the way I feel about them until they change

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the l ine for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Romans 5:6-8

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