Today I'm studying Eve. Things seemed so great when she started out. I mean, she was the "first first lady!" She was made and created to be Adam's helper. Genesis 2:23 has Adam praising God for making Eve because "At last! This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh!" She lived in the Garden of Eden, a beautiful wonderful home, and she was not ashamed. But then something happened. A serpent enters the story. He convinces her of all of these lies. She sees the fruit that she is offered and she thinks that it is good. So, she eats of it. And with that- sin enters the world. As punishment, her and all women throughout history will have pain during childbearing and they shall be ruled over by their husband. How did things go from so good to so bad so quick?
Here's the thing: We KNOW truth and we live it but the lies get so loud. We know what is good and pure and right and God-loving and obedient. We know it. It's in our hearts. It's in the Bible. But somehow we get tired. We get weary. We get confused. We get angry. Then we bite and we take the bait- just like Eve. I know that when I'm tired, I don't make very good decisions. It's easier to give in. It's easier to believe the lie. The lie seems so loud and we feel so powerless.
- What are some lies that you are hearing?
- How are you responding?
I like to fire back to these lies with scripture. I am far from powerful on my own, but with the sword of truth- I can fight a battle like a mighty warrior! For example, when I'm feeling down on myself- like I'm worthless, or not pretty enough, or not good enough, here's some verses I look at so that I can fight Satan with them:
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV- But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
2. My body is a temple of God and I should respect it.
1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
3. I was dreamed up in the mind of God long before the day of my birth. He formed me and calls me wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:13-16 ESV- For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
4. I am created in the image of God and he calls me good.
Genesis 1:27 ESV- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
5. God desires me. He is enthralled by my beauty!
Psalm 45:11 ESV- And the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
6. I am enough.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV- But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
7. I am a glorious princess.
Psalm 45:13 ESV- All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
7. I am a glorious princess.
Psalm 45:13 ESV- All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
So, what can you do to "fire back"? What can you do to combat the lies that are thrown at you daily, hourly? One of the things that I've learned in recovery is to take everything one day at a time. Sometimes it's more like one hour at a time, one minute at a time, one meal at a time. But I can do it, even if it's "just for today". Just for today, I'm going to fire back with scripture. Just for today, I can do this one more time. Just for today, I can drown out the lies. Just for today.
