NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE SUBTLE AND CRAFTY THAN ANY LIVING CREATURE OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE
(Genesis 3:1).

I have come to experience that the enemy, the father-of-lies, is indeed very crafty.  Many different things happened to me throughout my life, but what shaped my mind the most was not what people said and did to me, but what I came to believe about myself in response to what the CRAFTY ONE said to me.

STAND FIRM THEN, WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH BUCKLED AROUND YOUR WAIST
(Ephesians 6:14).

I have learned that the Truth of Jesus is one of the most valuable assets in our lives.  I have noticed that the truth that people give us is not nearly as powerful as the Truth that Jesus discloses.  People can guess what you need to hear and believe about yourself; however, it is only the Lord Jesus who knows exactly what you need to hear and believe about yourself, because He knows what the CRAFTY ONE told you.

Buckle the Belt of Truth around your waist.  Know that as you clasp on the Truth, you are not putting on a thing, but a Person—the Person of Jesus Christ.  Understand that when people tell you the truth, the lie in your mind might continue to exist, but when Jesus tells you the Truth, you will be released from what you came to believe about yourself: that you are an alien…that you are deformed…that you are an outcast. The Truth that Jesus Christ speaks to you will set you free, because He IS the Truth.

JESUS ANSWERED, ‘I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE’
(John 14:6).

Think about it. What shaped YOUR life the most: what people did or said to you, or what you came to believe about yourself and those around you? What are you going to do about this?

Stop running to people for advice when you feel abandoned, shamed, rejected, and condemned. What they can give you is advice…only. Bring your beliefs of shame, condemnation, abandonment, and rejection to the Lord Jesus, instead. Tell Him how you feel. Tell Him what you believe about yourself. Ask Him to meet you at the place where this belief was planted in your mind and heart, for the first time. Receive the Truth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how I value Your Truth! I praise You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thank you for making Yourself available to me, so I may be set free from what the CRAFTY ONE told me about myself.