This topic is based off of an experience I had early this morning just after midnight. I have been in the habit of writing down one thing I am grateful for each day before I head to bed. Well last night (or this morning I should say), my first line in my book was: "Today I find it extremely hard to be thankful." Following that sentence, I poured out my frustrations, disappointments, and struggles that made it difficult for me to have a grateful heart. I started to pray these frustrations to God. I began to cry and pour out my heart to the Lord. In that moment I found the beauty of God's truth. I began to pray back God's truth to him. It was then when I felt truly at peace.
What does this mean to you? Well, through some conversations I have had in the past couple of weeks as well as in my own experience, I want to emphasize today the importance of speaking God's truth. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, temptations that you always give into, hardships that you feel are weighing you down, etc., then you need to know how to use God's truth as a weapon in your life. 
Since we are going to be talking in terms of weapons, I want you to turn to the book of Ephesians in your Bible. Ephesians 6:10-20 talks about the armor of God and how it is necessary in all of life.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."(Ephesians 6:10-11)

We are in spiritual warfare every single day. The devil uses all sorts of schemes (trials, temptations, lies, hardships, etc.) to weaken our faith in God and to lose hope that is promised to us as Children of God. This is why we cannot give in to our frustrations. Why we cannot lose hope and let ourselves believe the lies that Satan tells us. Why we cannot succumb to every temptation that comes our way. We are called to be warriors in this world. We are called to put on the strength of the Lord.
I just want to highlight the first part of verse 14:

"Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth..." (Ephesians 6:14a)

Truth is the first item listed. That has to mean that it is the most foundational element in our lives. We need to have truth with us at all times. We need to know what God says and believe it wholeheartedly. You cannot have truth without learning truth though. Spend time in the word of God. Make Bible reading, meditation, and prayer on the top of your priority list. Once you have this truth-it should set you free.

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

The truth will set you free. You will be free from lies, from temptations, from the frustration of hardships. Your life will not necessarily be perfect, but you will be free from the trap of depression and the feeling of defeat. With God's truth, we have hope, we have courage, we have the authority to say no to the powers of darkness. 
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you know God's truth and use it accordingly. Yesterday this came in affect for me. I prayed God's truth back to him and reminded myself in the process that I do not have to live my life in ungratefulness. I don't have to live my life feeling worthless, I am complete in him. Although I began my journal entry yesterday with the sentence: "Today, I find it extremely hard to be thankful." I ended my journal entry that day with: "I am thankful for being made whole in God alone." God enabled me to turn my tears into peace and this was by using his truth to speak into my current situation.
Realize that this is a mental battle as well as a spiritual battle. Training your mind to always dwell on God's truth takes time, practice, and much of trial and error. Turn your negative thinking into positive, truthful thinking. This involves actively saying "no" to your thoughts and determining to think through what is true. Memorizing scripture is another technique that is helpful in changing thought patterns. Prayer and accountability are probably just as important. God gives us so many resources, but we have to be wise and diligent with how we use them. He gave us the brain capacity to change our thoughts, he gave us scripture to fight off lies, and he gave us others to help us stay on track. 
I hope you find freedom in God's truth today. I hope you decide to dwell on his promises this week. 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)

 Posted by Leah Holmquist  at 4:28 AM