I believe – do you believe?
For many years I carried the burden of self-doubt and I will admit there are still moments when it tries to sneak back in. I have focused on what the world believes about me instead of what God believes about me. I have compared my worth to what I perceive others have and have found that I do not measure up. I have spent countless hours wishing my life away because I am not good enough; I am not pretty enough; I am not skinny enough… you get the idea – the list could go on forever!
STOP! Â FREEZE! Â FAST FORWARD!
I am a child of God – I am a believer and His Word is truth! My favorite verse Psalm 139:13-14 hung on my bathroom mirror for over a year. The words became a mantra for me. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and I truly believe the truth of these words. Here is the context for the words – read them, let them cover you with truth, believe them!
13Â For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
Renee Swope, author of A Confident Heart, says “When we pray God’s words out loud and hear them, the Holy Spirit engraves them on our hearts and writes them in our thoughts. We internalize God’s truth as our faith grows and we are transformed from the inside out!”
I have been transformed because the spirit of truth – God’s word – has become my armor. God’s word has the power to break down the barriers of self-doubt and build stronger walls of truth.
Today I believe – do you?
Arm yourself with God’s word!
When fearful, know… Perfect love casts out all fear! 1 John 4:18
When you are unsure of who you are, know… You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
When you do not feel loved, know …
5Â this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6Â When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 5:5-6
When you are struggling with everyday life, know you can turn to these words for comfort…
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
God’s word is the armor of truth needed to guard against the uncertainties and insincerities of this world. God’s Word will change us from the inside out!
I believe! Do you?
Spending time today and linking up with the following blogs:
         
      
      
      
Beautiful truth. Keep blogging my friend. I love coming to your table.
Thanks for the encouragement! Blessings to you for a beautiful weekend!
I do believe, and like you I had to stop and write about it today. But first I thought are you sure you believe? Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings sweet one. Debbie W. (OBS Facebook Group Leader)
Believing comes because we are strengthened by God through His word! Thank you for stopping by!
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
This was part of our family devotion last night! It filled me up yet once again. 🙂 I love how God’s word will do that.
Thank you for sharing. Your post was a blessing to me.
I love the affirmation and confirmation we receive by spending time with God and listening to His truths. Thank you for stopping by!
A very encouraging post. coming over from SDG and glad I did!
Thank you for stopping by. I look forward to involving myself more with SDG in the future!
Hi, Mary!
I’m visiting you from Soli Deo Gloria. I noticed in your comment that you are *new* this week, and so I wanted to make sure I paid you a visit. And I’m so glad I did, because the “Grace journey” is where my heart is, too!
I love your post and the image you share of God’s Word being “engraved” on our hearts. It reminded me of another verse I love, which kind of works the other direction: God says, “Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands…” (Isaiah 49:16, AMP). Wow! We must truly be “fearfully and wonderfully made,” for He carries us around with Him every day, within the very hands that took the nails for us!
“Perfect love casts out fear”: oh, that is such a comforting verse for me, too, especially when I question the surety of my faith. Then I’m reminded, don’t worry, love is being perfected in me, and besides: His Grace is the only surety I need!
Speaking of Grace, I’ve been writing a series this month called “Where Depression Meets Grace” (part of the “31 Days” writing challenge hosted by The Nester): http://inthehandsofthehealer.blogspot.com/2013/09/where-depression-meets-grace-31-days-in.html.
I’ve posted a couple pieces via SDG, “Wounded” (this week) and “WHITEflag” (last week — when I, too, was *new* to the sisterhood!). Very encouraging folks here, I’m finding.
God bless you in your Grace journey, friend,
“Healed”… by His wounds! (Isa. 53:5; I Pet. 2:24)
Thank you so much for the encouragement! What a blessing this group-SDG-is already turning out to be. Loved your reference to Isaiah 49:16! That verse provides comfort to me and reassures me to know that God loves me so much that my image is imprinted on the palm of His hands. Blessings to you my friend!
I so agree — praying God’s word about us is so powerful. I had this revelation in my quiet time today: It is easy to forget who I am in Christ when I don’t realize how He is at work within me.
Thank you for stopping by and for confirming what I know to be true. Our strength rests in God and His Word provides the energy to keep going! Blessings to you my friend!
I do believe, Mary, but I’m soaking up your words here like a dry sponge … so I’m sure there’s some unbelief in my heart as well. 🙂 This reminds me that I need to spend more time meditating on God’s Word and allowing Him to speak to me through that avenue. I love that quote from Renee and wholeheartedly agree that speaking God’s Word really transforms our minds in ways we can’t fully understand. Thanks for this insightful and powerful challenge, my friend!
There are days that I too am dry to the bone and it is only my quiet time with God that can quench the thirst! Blessings today and for the rest of the week.