As pointed out previously, it is not what you "know" but how you act on what you know, that indicates what you truly believe.  In the Bible, even demons knew who Jesus Christ was and recognized him, but did they act on that belief?  Of course not.  Satan is very clever and will attack us in the areas where we are weakest.  He will also convince us of Half-Truths, which are just as damaging, and then convince us that we are not blind. 

One of the most dangerous areas he attacks is our belief system about God.  Satan knows that if our thinking about God is skewed, our thinking will be skewed everywhere else.  Bottom line:

What we believe about God determines how we live.

--Nancy Leigh Demoss

 

I also love this quote by Hannah Whithall Smith in the book The Unselfishness of God:

Everything in your spiritual life depends on the sort of God you worship.  Because the character of the worshiper will always be molded by the character of what he worships: If it is a cruel and revengeful God, the worshiper will be the same, but if it is a loving, tender, forgiving, unselfish God, the worshiper will be transformed slowly, wonderfully, into this likeness.

 

I'll be brief in this section, because if you are interested in further study, you will have to buy the book:-)  DeMoss's commentary is great and gave me a new way of thinking and evaluating whether or not I had actually bought in to a particular lie, so if you don't have the book, I would encourage you go get it.  (I have seen it at Mardels right now marked down.)  The following are lies we sometimes believe about God:

1.  God is not really good.  If he were, he would. . .

This a particularly damaging lie because once Satan can get us to doubt God's goodness, we can justify all types of sin.  In essence, it give us license to reject God's will and make our own decisions because we don't believe that God's decisions and plans for our life are "good". 

Truth:  God is good and everything He does is good.  Ps 31:19; Ps 34:8; Ps 100:5; Ps 106:1; Ps 119:68; Ps 136:1; Eph 1:3-14 (also Jer 29:11)

Truth: God never makes mistakes.  Isa 46:10; Rom 8:28-39

2.  God doesn't love me.

This is a lie I have struggled with throughout my life.  I remember thinking how much I would love to have a relationship with God, if only he loved me.  God's love for us is not based on how we feel.  He loves us whether we feel loved or not.  However, if we believe that he loves "others" and not us, it will affect every area of our lives and relationships.  God loves even you.

Truth: God's love for me is infinite and unconditional.  John 15:13; Rom 5:8; Rom 8:32, 38-39; Eph 3:14-19; I John 4:7-10

Truth: I don't have to perform to earn God's love or favor.  Eph 1:4-6

Truth: God always has my best interests at heart.  Psalm 21

3.  God is just like my father.

The wisest kindest earthly father can only be a pale image of what God really is because they are all imperfect.  But in reality, many of us had fathers who were extremely flawed.  Don't let your image of your earthly father distort your perception of your heavenly father.

Truth: God is exactly what He has revealed Himself to be in his Word.  John 1:1; Heb 1:3

Truth: God is infinitely more wise and loving than any earthly father could ever be.  Heb 12:9-10

4.  God is not really enough.

Do we truly believe God is enough, or are we looking to other things or people to fill the void? 

Truth: God is enough.  If I have Him, I have all I need.  Ps 23:1; Ps 73:23-26; Col 2:9-10

5.  God's ways are too restrictive.

We are free to choose our own path, but we are not free to choose the consequences.  Satan would love for us to believe that following God will make us miserable.  In reality, it is the only path to peace and freedom.

Truth: God's ways are best. Deut 6:24-25; Josh 1:8

Truth: God's restrictions are always for my good.  James 1:19-27

Truth: Resisting or rebelling against God's ways brings conflict and heartache.  Ps 68:6; Prov 15:32-33

6.  God should fix my problems. 

This lie is perpetuated by many leaders in the Christian community, and, unfortunately, it causes many women to become bitter and angry.  While some things may be better (i.e., we won't have to continue living in sin, and therefore will avoid many of the consequences of sinful choices--although not the past ones), God has never promised that the path we take when we follow him is easy.  In fact, he states quite the opposite.  God is much more concerned with transforming our character (and the character of others through us) into his likeness, than he is giving us a problem-free life.  It helps to keep your eyes on Jesus and live with an eternal rather than an earthly perspective.

Truth: Life is hard.  Rom 8:21-22

Truth: God is more concerned about glorifying Himself and changing me than about solving all my problems.  2 Cor 4:17

Truth: God has an eternal purpose He is fulfilling in the midst of my problems.   Rom 5:3-4; James 1:2-4

Truth: God wants to use my problems as part of His sanctifying process in my life.  Job 23:10

Truth: No matter what problem I am facing God's grace is sufficient for me.  2 Cor 12:7-10

Before beginning this section, I encourage you to ask God to give you wisdom (James 1:5) and to reveal His Truth to you.  It is a good idea to go through each of these lies, slowly, meditate on the Truths and Scriptures and begin replacing lies with the Truth (Rom 12:2) .  Try it!  It could be life changing.

How do we progress from freedom to deception to bondage?  Generally speaking, its not an overnight process.  I tend to think of it as "crossing bridges".  We cross one bridge that seems relatively harmless (although deep down, we may feel that something isn't quite right), then we cross the next bridge, and the next and the next.  After each bridge we cross, our conscience becomes more and more dull, and it gets darker (Where did the Light go?), and it is harder for us to see the truth.  Why does this happen?  Look below at each of the "bridges" that are crossed as we progress into bondage:

Four Steps into Bondage:

• We Listen to the Lie--Listening alone isn't disobedience.  But, listening to lies puts us on the "slippery slope" to death.  So how can we change this?  We must carefully guard the input we receive into our minds and hearts (and the input that our children receive, as well).  "We cannot expose ourselves to the world's false, deceptive way of thinking and come out unscathed."  Think about: reading material, friends we choose, church we attend, TV, movies, etc.  Are the messages you are receiving from these sources consistent with the Truth? (Phil 4:8)
• We Dwell on the Lie--here we mull it over in our minds and begin conversing with the Enemy.  Could he be right?  This is a very dangerous place to be.
• We Believe the Lie--Here is where, I believe, we as women tend to go wrong.  Instead of going immediately to God's Word, we fall back on what our "common sense", "intuition", "reasoning skills", and "emotions" or "feelings" tell us to be true.  Satan can many times win us over when we use these to evaluate what we are hearing.  This is why it is so important to be grounded in God's Word.  God's Word ALONE is the only consistent tool we can use to evaluate the input we receive.
• We Act on the Lie--Now we produce the fruit of deception.  Believing things that aren't true results in sinful behavior (Prov 23:7).  When we reject the Truth in one area, it becomes easier and easier to sin until we've worn a "groove" in our hearts and have developed a pattern of sinful behavior, and Satan has established a stronghold in our lives.  Now we find ourselves in bondage and we can't even figure out how we got there.

Every area of bondage in our lives can be traced back to a lie.

--Nancy Leigh Demoss

What an overwhelming and devestating place to find ourselves!  However, we've all been there, and fortunately, we have a God who loves us and has given us a plan to regain our freedom.  Assuming you have given your life to Christ (if you haven't-- you must begin here because trying to do this in your own strength will be insufficient), here are three steps you can take:

• In what areas am I in bondage or engaging in sinful behavior?--Ask God to show you specific areas where you are not free (2 Peter 2:19).  I've also found it helpful to ask my husband--as your spiritual head, he could have some amazing insight here.  At this point, many women make the mistake of simply trying to eliminate these areas on their own.  But, this generally doesn't work because you must get at the problem from the root--which began with the LIE.
• What lies are at the root of my areas of bondage or behavior?  Again, ask God to show you.  He wants you to know the Truth.  And he will be gracious to reveal these lies to you if you ask Him.  Once we have identified these lies, we must confess them to God and repent of them.  This step has taken a lot of time and deep soul searching for me.  I am still processing many of the things I've believed over the years and asking God to enlighten me.  I'm finding it life-changing and well worth the time. 
• You must REPLACE the lies with THE TRUTH.  If we do not replace the lies with Truth, we will fall back into bondage.  We must study God's Word, meditate on it, memorize it, engraft it into our hearts, minds and spirits.  As we begin to experience Truth (John 8:32), we will find ourselves walking in freedom and our actions will correspond with the Truth that we now believe.

One of Satan's first strategies against mankind was and still is to change our thinking about God.  If he can change how we think about God, it skews our perception of everything.  Most of us are too wise to fall for an all-out attack on God, so Satan subtly tricks us, deceives us, and seduces us by making us an offer that seems reasonable, desirable, and not entirely "anti-God."  This was his strategy back in Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), and it is the strategy he still employs today.  Regardless, if what we are receiving is contrary to God's word, it is WRONG.

• Satan uses a clever combination of outright lies, half-truths and falsehood disguised as truth.  He tempts us to be careless with God's Word (Did God really say. . .) (Gen.3:1; John 8:44). 
• Satan also causes us to question God's character and His love for us (Gen. 3:3). 
• Satan will lie to us about the consequences of our sin (Gen 3:4; Prov 14:12), and
• Satan promises us benefits for going against God's word (Gen. 3:5). 
• Just as he did with Eve, Satan deceives us and causes us to make decisions based on what we can see, and on what our emotions/reason tell us is right, regardless of what God says about it (Gen 3:6).

Women are particularly vulnerable to Satan's deception (2 Cor 11:3; I Tim 2:14).  He knows that if we buy into his deception, we will influence the men around us (and our children!) to sin (Eze 13:22).

With lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad. . . and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.  Ezekiel 13:22

Think about the following sins you may have justified by believing Satan's lies.  Have you allowed yourself to feel good about your sins (or others to feel good about theirs)?  Have you strengthened the hands of the wicked?

• Anger ("It's healthy expression")
• Selfishness ("Set healthy boundaries")
• Irresponsibility ("It's not your fault.  You're that way because others have hurt you.")
• Infidelity ("God is the God of second chances.  You can divorce & remarry.")

Have you ever felt sad or guilty for righteous choices:

• Taking responsiblity ("Co-dependence")
• Having a servant's heart ("You're letting others take advantage of you.")
• Being faithful to marriage vows ("God wouldn't expect me to stay in this marriage.")

When we encounter something (in movies, TV, advertisements, books, advice of family or friends, or sometimes even through our churches), we must ask ourselves these important questions:

• What is the message here?
• Is it really true?
• Am I being deceived by a way of thinking that is contrary to the Truth?

What lies have YOU been believing about God, about your marriage, about yourself, about your children, etc.?  What things is He asking you to change in your life?  What areas do you need to surrender to Him?  What are the Truths you need to meditate on to replace the lies?  For the past few months, I have been doing a new personal Bible study that has been incredibly life-changing.  I am going back a couple of months and journaling some of the main points and insights I have gained from this study because they have changed my life, and I hope they will help others, as well.  This book (Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free) is written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss who is a Christian radio show host, teacher & counselor.  When I first looked at this book, and many of the lies it reveals, my initial reaction was, "I don't believe those things!"  However, as the author points out, it is our actions, rather than our words, that indicate what we truly believe.  Do your actions tell a different story about your beliefs?  To be honest, I'm still not sure I agree 100% with several points in this book, but I think the points are valid enough to warrant serious consideration, prayerful reflection, and discussion with our husbands. 

"The essence of true salvation is not a matter of profession or performance; rather it is a transformation: 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!'--Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Introduction

Scripture references: John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:14; James 5:19-20; Philippians 2:13; Galatians 5:1; Matthew 11:28-30

• We have been lied to and deceived by Satan (and the world).  These lies can seem very atractive to us, and many are very believable (they seem like common sense).  (2 Corinthians 11:14)
• Lies result in bondage.  We are not free to enjoy the love and grace of God.  Some are in bondage to their past, others to the "fear of man" (worried about what others think of them, and longing for approval--does anyone relate to this as a homeschooling mother?), worry, fear, depression, anger & self-pity.  But this is not God's plan for our lives.  (John 10:10)
• Replacing lies with the truth AND acting on the Truth results in true, glorious freedom and joy--even in the midst of this fallen and corrupt world. (James 5:19-20)
• "As lies have a way of doing, that first lie (to Eve in the garden) grew and spun off more lies.  Eve believed the lie, and we, the daughters of Eve, have followed in her steps--listening to, believing and acting on one lie after another."
• As you take one difficult step after another, the grace of God will enable you to move past the lies (Philippians 2:13), old habits and old patterns of thinking, and you will begin to walk in the Light--which is the pathway to freedom and blessing (Galatians 5:1; Matthew 11:28-30).