Truth and Lies

I've been thinking a lot lately about what women say to themselves. My friends are taking a study at church called Me, Myself and Lies. It is about the lies that women tell themselves all the time. Recently I met a guy I thought was really interesting. For whatever reason that exists between him and God, he is not pursuing a relationship with me. In the aftermath of his obvious (initial) interest followed by his sudden departure, I began turning things over in my head, analyzing the situation to death, and blaming myself for what never happened. I was driving home from work one day last week and it hit me: I have been telling myself some lies that appeared to be truth. Satan is sneaky that way.

Lie #1: I have to reach my physical fitness goals before I can meet that person. When I'm satisfied with my body image, I will portray the type of confidence I need to attract the right person to me.
Truth: Get over it. I am beautiful just as I am. I was beautiful before I lost 80 lbs too. I am a Princess, a daughter of the Most High Living God. My Father tells me I'm beautiful every day.

Lie #2: I have to reach my financial fitness goals before I can get into a serious relationship. I am carrying a load of debt racked up while I was married. I am shedding it slowly but surely. I will be free eventually, once I learn to stop trusting in my own wisdom, and rely completely on God. Truth: No man in his right mind is going to condemn me for debt. If he is Godly, he will give me good advice.

Lie #3: I have to be pure enough. Let's be frank here. There is a lot of junk that floods over the radio, tv and internet every day. It is the responsibility of every Christian to take every thought captive. It is only through the same self discipline exercised over money and food that anyone can succeed in being pure. I have taken a vow of abstinence until I am married again. It is because I respect God, myself, and my future mate too much to give something that precious away lightly. I can satisfy my flesh very quickly -- if and when I choose -- but God has a better plan.
Truth: My past is past. I am worthy of the wait, and so is he. There will be men that I am attracted to, but if I take every thought captive, and do not act on the attraction, then I am fulfilling my vow of purity. Taking every thought captive means putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and washing in the Word every day (Ephesians 5:25).

Lie #4: I have to finish school first. I really do want to obtain my Bachelor's degree. Somehow I had become convinced that I could not do that if I was in a serious relationship.
Truth: I will finish school. It's just a matter of time.

God's timing is always perfect. His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. He will send me the right man at the right time, but it will not be my time, it will be His. I trust Him. He is my Daddy, and He really does know best. No more lies: only His sweet, sweet truth.

What lies are YOU telling yourself?

Lesson from the little....

Since I am moving in two weeks, I have had to go carefully through my belongings and decide what is worthy of keeping, storing, and what should be sold or donated. I cannot fit everything I own into one bedroom. While lots of stuff has been a "no brainer", there have been moments where this has become emotionally taxing. I keep going because I keep having this press from God to simplify my life as much as possible. I don't know why, but I think it will be awesome.

During this time I looked at my jewelry box and realized I would have no room for it. That didn't bother me one bit, since it never was on my list of favorite things. I knew I could let it go easily, so I put it in the box for yard sale. I then thought of my friend Danny, and his adorable 8 year old daughter. So I asked Danny if Emily had a jewelry box. He said, "No, but she thinks she needs one." I gave it to him for her.

The next day, I looked expectantly at Danny. Emily is the type of child who goes into raptures over presents. "Her mother wouldn't let me give Emily the jewelry box yesterday," he said. "She was naughty and is being punished." This went on for a couple more days. I thought it was kind of funny, and remembered how I was sassy to my mother at that age too. Danny said his closet shelf is collecting things for Emily that they cannot give to her because she is being so willful. And then the profound truth hit me: How often does God want to give us lovely blessings but cannot because we are too willful? God has called us to obedience, pure and simple. He tells us that He loves us as a father loves his children. Do you hear Him calling your name? Come into obedience with the One who loves you more than you can ever love yourself. Let Him give you the lovely gifts on His closet shelf.