Who Told You?

I wear white after Labor Day.  I think red roses are overrated.  I don't  typically read popular Christian books.  I'm not big into cliches.  A typical cliche for a believer is to start at Bible reading plan on January 1st so that by December 31st, they will have read through the entire Bible.  I started a plan this year.  I wanted to add structure to my quiet time and dig into books I typically don't study.

About two weeks ago I was in the beginning of Genesis.  I was reading about the creation and the fall.  I had gotten to chapter three and I was struck by possibly the most profound verses I have ever read.  It perfectly shows the heart of the Lord and how Satan feeds us lies about who we are. Genesis 3:10-11 says:

     They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  Then the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid; so I hid myself"  And He said,  "Who told you that you were naked?"

Adam and Eve had discovered how deceptive Satan is.  It is one of the first times in Scripture that we see God's heart for His Children.  I think the questions we would be asked now look a little more like this:

Who told you that you weren't beautiful?

Who told you that you need to lose weight?

Who told you that you were going to fail your teaching exams?

Who told you that you weren't good enough?

Who told you that you had no future because of current setback?

Who told you that you weren't going to accomplish your dream?

Who told you that God couldn't use you because of past sin?

Who told you that you were naked?

I have to go back daily.  I have to "let truth scream louder to my soul than the lies that have infected me (Beth Moore)."  I have to dwell on Philippians 4:8-9 

     Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things,  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

We have to remember that in Christ:

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

His own (1 Corinthians 11:3)

God's workmanship and created in God's image (Ephesians 2:10)

Redeemed (Titus 2:14)

Alive (Ephesians 2:5)

Free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)

A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A conqueror (Romans 8:17)

Forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)

Delivered from Darkness (Colossians 1:13)

Complete in Him (Colossians 2:10)

We are chosen (2 Timothy 1:9)

It is no secret that women typically struggle with insecurity and I am right there too.  Satan has a grip of areas in my life that I desperately want to drop the chains of bondage in which he has me in and I'm sure that is true of everyone.  I have sin I am working through right now and having to battle the lies I have fed myself over the years and allowed Satan to deceive me with.  I am having to rewire how I think and talk to myself.  I am taking steps and have accountability because I allowed Satan to tell me I was naked and not focus on what the Lord says of me.

But beautiful thing?

The cross of Calvary can set us free from all bondage.  The cross can wipe away every sin, and break every stronghold that Satan has on us.  The cross has the power to transform even the darkest areas of our hearts.

God is who He says He is.

God can do what He says He can do.

We are who God says we are..