Before we dive into the role of lies, half-truths, and agreements with the enemy, there’s something I must point out to you. If you are a believer battling fear, you fight differently than your non-believing friends. As a follower of Jesus Christ, to battle fear outside of our relationship with God is to live as if God does not exist. We must fully embrace what we believe. Our relationship with God is not confined to Sunday morning worship services. Our relationship with God uniquely equips us to boldly fight our fear. Case in point, read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
‘We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ‘ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
If we truly seek to embrace the full life God has created for us, we cannot continue to believe lies or half-truths that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. These lies lead to agreements that prevent us from living the full life that God created for us. Let us all agree that there is work to be done. We must expose the lies, name them, and understand the lies before we go to battle against them. We want to destroy them, and rightfully so because of all the hurt they have caused us, but not properly understanding them continues to make us vulnerable to their attacks.
If you want to find true freedom, you will need the help of the Holy Spirit. Take a moment really quick to pray. This is no joke. Ask God for clarity, His protection, and His blessing as you begin to seek the truth from God.
“…to battle fear outside of our relationship with God is to live as if God does not exist.” -Craig Booker
Expose the Lies
The first part of finding freedom from the lies that prop up your fears is to properly expose them. This is not the time to play nice or candy-coat things. Really expose the lies for what they are…lies. They’ve been the foundation of the fear that has cost you and me any sense of normalcy in our lives. I don’t know about you, but I’m done being nice to them.
Push them out into the open, shine a bright light on them, and expose them for the joke they are. If you’re not sure what “they” are just yet, buckle up. It’s time to tap into the tools God has gifted you. First up is asking God to clarify what “they” are. The beliefs in your life which set themselves up against the knowledge of God. Lean into this one. Really go after what God has to tell you here. God doesn’t want you to be captive to lies either, so dig in. Pray. Seek Him.
Name the Lies
Naming the Lies is a crucial piece to finding victory over the lies you have been shackled to for the last few or fifteen years, in my case. This is not an honorable thing for them, so don’t think that you are giving them a special place by naming them. This step will set you up to pulverize the scum which you have become so well acquainted with. Spend the proper time here, it’s important to give them a name so you can call them out.
These names will allow you to battle them in prayer. It will allow you to expose them without having to feel their sting every time you mention their name. The best place to cut through the lies is found in God’s Word. If you are having trouble identifying the lies in your life, regular time seeking God in his Word is where you will find clarity. Start by asking God to show you scripture that speaks to the lies in your life. Ask God to make these lies plain to you. Spend time reading God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit will bring them to the forefront.
Understand the Lies
One of my least favorite parts of my process was to try and understand the lies. Understanding the lies just seems wrong. It made me believe I was somehow trying to bring attention to myself or make my lies into something bigger than they were. In a very real sense, I felt shame for this process.
Do not give the lies the satisfaction of holding shame over you for the lies in your life or wanting to find freedom from them. Once you have exposed the lies and given them a name, the last step in the process is to understand them. Most likely, your lies will try to fight back here but do not give in. Understanding the lies will give you ammunition when battling them each day.
You Made It!
You Made it! If you have completed the process of exposing, naming, and understanding the lies, half-truths, and agreements, then give yourself a round of applause or a hearty pat on the back. This is a rough process and takes a lot of work. Equipped with this knowledge, you are ready to engage in battle! You are not home free, but take courage in the fact that you have everything you need to find freedom.
Pray: God, we thank you for bringing light to the lies that have held back so many people. We pray that you will empower us to destroy the strongholds these lies have held for so long. Give my friends the courage to keep battling. Encourage them through the victory you have already won on their behalf. -Amen.
*Original photo by Savvas Stavrinos from Pexels
