Lies, Truth and Holding Onto our JOY

The other morning one of my boys was completely gripped with fear.  

He was convinced of certain bugs and large living things in our basement.  I tried the super compassionate response of “Seriously, son?”, but messing with him wasn’t going to help.  We talked for a while, trying to figure out the why’s of it all, but it really came down to one thing:  choosing to believe a lie over the truth.  

I do that.  

My thoughts might not be about bugs, but they might be about future fears.  I might not be worried about what’s in my basement, but I can be consumed by the “what if’s”.  The lies, they work themselves in, and they begin to appear as truth, don’t they?  And the longer I sit in them, the more real they become.  I believe them.  I believe them over the truth and the lies slowly steal away my joy.

Earlier this week, I challenged us to examine our thought patterns, to really think about what we think about.  What spills out when we’re shaken?  What are you finding?  

  • Do you go negative quickly?
  • Are you overwhelmed with fear?
  • Does uncertainty cover you like a blanket?
  • Do frustrations easily arise?
  • Do you complain a lot?

Wouldn’t JOY be so much better?

What if we really believed God?  What would happen if we replaced the lies with the Truth of His Word?  

path-way-leaves-girl-back

This month for our November Joy Series, I want to take in verses on JOY.  I’m grabbing notecards and writing them out.  There’s something about writing out a verse that absorbs it into my soul.  I want God’s Word to transform me from the inside out.

Read this verse from Psalm 28.  Read it slowly, with intentionality.  Soak in it for a minute.

The LORD is my strength and shield.  I trust Him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.  Psalm 28:7

Then re-read those seven words right in the middle: I trust Him with all my heart.  Those words bottom line everything.  I trust Him.  The rest of the verse spills over with the results…help, joy, song, thanksgiving…when I trust Him.

Lord, when I trust You, my fears settle.  

When I trust You, my uncertainties begin to ease. 

When I trust You, my heart becomes thankful.

When I trust You, the lies are replaced with Truth.

When I trust You, my heart is filled with joy.

JOY.

O Lord, let me live there.

_______________________

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3 Comments

  1. Tammy Newill on November 6, 2014 at 10:39 am

    I am so grateful to have women who believe in my life.
    Thank you

  2. Daphne on November 6, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    I’m so RIGHT there. I have been gripped with fear and anxiety over uncertainties and so much more. I need this right now. I can’t wait to see what’s next. Thank you for writing.

    • womenwhobelieve on November 6, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      thanks Daphne for your heart to seek His face, we are in this thing together!

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