Here's my heart, Lord
speak what is true.
When life gets crazy, I find myself praying [and even begging] for this. Yes, technically I know truth already. I know ultimate truth because I know Christ, but this is where that whole "personal relationship" idea comes in. In order to defeat the lies constantly fed to us by the enemy, we can't just know of Christ, we must reflect on His promises, His character revealed to us through scripture, and most importantly, how He looks upon us as children of God.
It's really easy to let your mind get the best of you, especially when things seem to start spiraling, and especially when even I consider myself "Miss Overanalyze". Now, I don't want you to think as you read this that I am some girl who is in constant torment within my mind and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Sometimes, I think these entries come across a lot sadder than I am. I am a girl with a lot of joy, a lot of laughter, and a smile at even my weakest moments [something that is not of myself, but because I know a Hope bigger than my struggles.]
But don't let my quirkiness and occasional snort when I laugh fool you. I believe the lies of the enemy constantly. They find their way in even the smallest of holes. When it comes to Satan, you gotta give it to the guy, he's an opportunist...and a really good one at that.
When it comes to the lies I believe, there seemed to be a fairly long list. But one night a few months ago, my best friend, Angela, and I realized wherein these fallacies lie. It wasn't all these little lies that were the problem; it was one huge lie that all the little ones fit into:
YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.
I'm NOT skinny ENOUGH.
I'm NOT pretty ENOUGH.
I'm NOT trendy ENOUGH.
I'm NOT funny ENOUGH.
I'm NOT smart ENOUGH.
...and the list goes on.
I must be more of these things in order for people to love me, right?
I'll make it easy for you...NO. The answer is a big, fat NO.
Even if you got better at any of the above things, there will always be someone a step [or maybe 10 steps] ahead of you.
So, here's the part where I give you the "you're perfect just the way you are" pep talk...except, I'm not going to do that because all that does is give you a false hope and security in yourself. Instead, I give you truth:
YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.
"Wait, what? But I thought you said that was a lie...?"
Yeah, well it is...but it also isn't.
You see, our strivings will never be enough. Our flesh will never be enough. Our work will never be enough.
So how do we keep ourselves from feeling completely worthless and inadequate? We chase after and surrender ourselves to the One who is always enough.
One who looks on us with love:
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are..." -I John 3:1
One who knows us intimately:
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." -Psalm 139:1-4
One who is our constant friend:
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15
One who chose us and views us as holy and blameless through Christ's sacrifice:
"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will" -Ephesians 1:4-5
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." -1 Peter 2:9
One who has makes us new:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." -2 Corinthians 5:17
" And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." -Colossians 2:13-14
One who is completely sufficient in our inadequacy:
"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" -2 Corinthians 3:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5
" But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -2 Corinthians 12:9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." -Ephesians 2:8
I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I'm made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
Here's my heart, Lord
Speak what is true.
‘Cause You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through
You are more than enough
You are here, You are love
You are hope, You are grace
You're all I have, You're everything
The enemy and his lies have been defeated. Our hope and worth are secure. We have an advocate even in our failures and shortcomings and we can find rest in His sufficiency. Praise God for that.
