Man was created in the image of God. Because your identity is so closely linked to God’s identity, when you can’t see yourself clearly for who you are in Jesus Christ, you cannot see God clearly for Who He really is. Also, when you cannot see God clearly for Who He is, you cannot see yourself clearly for who you are in Jesus Christ.

Because satan opposes you and your growth as a Christian, his desire is to disarm you and separate you from Jesus Christ by enticing you into sin. He is definitely your adversary.

Adversary = a person or force that opposes or attacks; enemy; foe

Today we will examine identity lie #2 and what God provides for you to refute that lie

Your hopes and dreams do not matter to God

When you believe that lie, you are believing this lie about God:

God’s loving care for mankind does not mean you specifically

Jesus provides your answer in Matthew 10:²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

³¹ Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Notice, He did not refer to any of the pretty birds, nor to the giant birds, nor to the majestic birds. He referred to the small, brown sparrow to illustrate His love for all His creation.

Do you know the number of hairs on your head? Do you realize the number changes multiple times during each day? How familiar with you must He be to know at any moment more about you than you know?

So put God’s Word in your arsenal of God’s truths to counter the identity lies your enemy throws at you, by writing them on an index card; keeping them at your fingertips; reciting them aloud; committing them to memory; meditating on them. Trust Jesus Christ. He never fails and certainly will not fail you! He is our Immanuel, God with us.

These seven examples are given and refuted with the Word of Jesus Christ. They are just examples. Perhaps there is another lie about your identity that satan uses to discourage and attempt to defeat you. I find no Bible reference indicating the enemy can read your thoughts but certainly he has all of history to observe the human condition and test his various lies. He knows your history. Although the enemy is not present everywhere he has emissaries who spy for him.

Is there a lie about your identity that you are believing?

Why do you believe it?

Did someone in authority or important to you, tell you that lie?

Are you willing to use God’s Word to refute that lie?

Remember God’s promise in Isaiah 55:⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Use His Word to refute your enemy’s lie!

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through   you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti