Using Scripture to Overcome Lies

Not too long ago, I published a post titled “Christianity is My Crutch,” in which I talked about how I struggle to overcome lies and feeling weak. I explained how, even though some people may mock Christianity for being a crutch, Christians should actually embrace this idea since, without Jesus to support us, we would fall. If you missed the first post, I encourage you to go back and read it HERE before continuing to read this post.

In this post, I would like to talk about ways I’ve practically used Christianity as my crutch. Basically, I noticed sinful behavior patterns and attitudes and asked myself where they were coming from. I then tried to map out my different feelings and trace them to the ungodly perspectives in order to arrive at a solution- a truth from Scripture to combat every lie that was influencing the way I saw my life and myself. If this sounds like it would be helpful to you, keep reading for a breakdown of what I did.

If you want to try this, you will need:

your Bible with an index

your prayer journal/notebook

blank notecards

pens

highlighters

colored Sharpies or markers

1. Choose a time when you know you will be completely alone and not distracted or pressured to get things done. Pray and open your heart to God, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you.

2. This may be different for each person, but I just did what I felt like God wanted me to do, which is this:

I wrote out different feelings across the pages in my journal, making categories.

Loneliness

Bitterness-Jealousy

Anger-Frustration

Perfection-Unrealistic Expectations

Then, I wrote ways that I saw these emotions manifest themselves in my thoughts and actions.

Loneliness- wanting a boyfriend/husband, missing friends, feeling misunderstood

Anger- being annoyed with people at work

Bitterness- comparing myself to other people’s success

3. For the next step (pictured below), I took an index card for each category and wrote the solution to the lie. For example, for loneliness, the resolution was to realized God can fulfill the needs of my heart, meaning He is sufficient (all I need) to understand me completely and fulfill me. In other words, He is the perfect companion.

4. Next, I looked up verses in the Bible to support the statements on my cards, using the index in the back of my Bible.

5. Once I found the verses I felt were most applicable to the specific situation, I wrote them on the card.

For example, for “I am where God wants me” (pictured above), the statement on the card was a response to discontentment with my circumstances and comparing myself to others, and the verses I chose were Ecclesiastes 3:1 (“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”) and Psalm 34:1 (“I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth”).

Here are my other cards:

God knows me intimately

Response to Loneliness

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” (Psalm 139)

God can fulfill the needs of my heart

Response to Loneliness/Wanting a spouse

“For He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” (Psalm 107:9)

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

I can be thankful in every circumstance

Response to Discontentment

“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18)

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” (Psalm 50:14)

Seeking the Kingdom is true success

Response to feeling behind in life/not as accomplished as other people

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

I need God’s grace, not the ability to accomplish everything or be perfect

Response to idol of perfectionism

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

6. Finally, I reviewed the cards and verses each day!

This may seem like something I just did to make myself feel better (or a crutch), but it’s really not.

God’s Word is life and power– a gift to humans to provide them with truth and a way to fight the lies and evil in the world.

We can all choose what to turn to when we are upset, confused, or in need of comfort. It’s usually sin, but sometimes, it’s just doing fun things to avoid talking to God about what’s bothering us. I’m so guilty of this, but in the end, even the innocent and fun things (or venting to other people and asking them for advice) is really just a substitute for the real solution. Seeking life from something other than God (the source of life) will leave us feeling emptier and more lost.

So if you are lost and overwhelmed by emotional drama and sin, open your Bible and your heart to receive the sweetness of God’s truth and love.

Have a blessed day.

Is. 41:10