Are You Lying to Yourself about Yourself?

Sharon JaynesEnough 78 Comments

For forty years, every weekday morning, my husband’s alarm clock went off at 5:30. He got up, showered, shaved, brushed his teeth, got dressed, and placed his jingling keys in his pocket. He cleared his throat, blew his nose, and, well, did other noisy things. When he opened and closed the door leading to the garage, the alarm in the bedroom beeped three times…loudly.

This happened every weekday, and I didn’t hear a thing. I slept right through it. My body had grown so accustomed to his routine that I didn’t even hear the noise. I didn’t hear anything until my alarm went off an hour or so later. And yes, we’re in the same bed.

Just like we can get so accustomed to the noises around us, so much so that we don’t even notice them, we can grow accustomed to the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, and our circumstances.

The alarm may beep, but we ignore the alarm. Our senses grow dim.

“I’m not good enough.” Lie alarm!

“I’m worthless!” Lie alarm!

“I can’t do anything right.” Lie alarm!

David talked to himself regularly. In one psalm he wrote, “Awake, my soul!” (Psalm 57:8). The Hebrew word translated “awake” could be translated, “Pay attention! Open your eyes!”

We can get used to the lies and not even realize they are there. So now it’s time to wake up. Pay attention! Be on the alert! Watch out!

Don’t be lulled into the hum of Satan’s lies about who you are, what you have, and where you are.

Paul gave us an effective lie detector to filter our thoughts through in Philippians 4:8-9.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you

Now that is a lot to think about, but if we just did the first one in the list we’d be ahead of the game. “Whatever is true…think about such things.”

Let me go one step further. Whatever God says is true about you…think about such things.

Paul doesn’t just leave us with the qualifying list; he gives us the means by which to implement it. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.”

It takes practice. Practice, practice, practice to detect the lies we believe and replace them with truth.

And look at the result: “And the God of peace will be with you.” That’s so worth it!

Pay attention to what you are thinking about.

Practice thinking on the truth.

And the peace of God will be with you.

Father, so much of what I think about is useless gibberish. I tell myself things about myself that don’t line up with who You say I am. I’m sorry. Please forgive me for talking so poorly about your creation…me. And not only that. I worry about the future and carry around regrets about the past. What a waste. I’m giving both to you right now. I choose to think only on what is true. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bonus Exercise:

Let me take this one step further. If any thought begins with “what if,” it is not truth. It is worrying about something that has not happened. It is not reality.

If any thought begins with “if only,” it is not truth. It is regret about something that has already happened which you can do nothing about.

Today, pay attention to your thoughts and words. Sift them through the filter of the truth. That includes your regrets and worries. Let’s memorize this together. Come on…it’s easy. What ever is true…think on these things. Philippians 4:8 and 9.

If you’ll join me, click on comment and say, “I’m thinking on what is true.”

Digging Deeper

You’ve heard the lies before. Maybe even whispered one or two to yourself from time to time. Maybe repeated them so often you’ve started to believe them.

“Nobody loves me. I’m worthless. I would be happier married to someone else. I’m just not good enough.”

The list goes on. It’s time to recognize the enemy’s lies and to replace those lies with the Bible’s liberating truth. It’s time to renew your mind and think God’s thought rather than be held in bondage by the enemy’s deceptions. It’s time to be set free to see yourself as God see you: His holy, chosen, cleansed, forgiven and dearly loved child. Now that’s a truth worth repeating. To learn more, check out my book, Enough: Silencing the Lies that Steal Your Confidence. It’s a game changer!

Did you know I have The Praying Wives Club over on Facebook? Come by for a visit for a prayer each day!

And debuting July 1 is The Praying Moms Club! This is for moms and grandmoms!




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Comments 78

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      2. Thank you for reminding us that we need to think about what is true. I really had never thought about the devil as only having lies as his tools to deceive us. My prayer is that everyone who reads this will receive discernment and be able to reject Satan’s lies.

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    2. I will Marge. Early this morning I too started to backslide in “if only’s”. Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorites! 🙏🙏praying for you….Barbara B

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  11. Thank you Sharon for all of your wonderful emails each week! I thoroughly love getting them and reading them! I love your heart for Jesus! Thank you for sharing it!

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  14. Beautiful devotion today ….
    What ever is true…think on these things. Philippians 4:8 and 9. “I’m thinking on what is true.” “I believe who God says I am” in Jesus name !! Amen ✨

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  15. I never thought of being so aware of “what if.” Or If only. Thank you for calling me out. Thank you for being there for me so many times.Sharon!

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  18. I’m thinking about what is true!!!! Thank you Sharon! My friend sent me this devotion today! I so needed it! I’ve been worrying alot about the future, of relationships that have gone astray, of thinking about the what is. My anxiousness gets the best of me sometimes
    Thank you for reminding me of all the good he has placed in my life…I need to keep focusing on that! Have a blessed day and thank you! Your writing spoke to my heart today!!!!

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  24. Thank you for this devotion. Very useful. I have often thought of regrets even recently of years ago. I know I am forgiven but now I realize God doesn’t want me held back because of them. Love what Romans 8 says There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. God knows me well and does not remember my past sins. Have given my regrets to God.

    I am thinking on what is true.

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  25. I’m thinking on what is true! Thank you for this reading this morning! It brought tears to my eyes and truth to my heart! I’ve listened to the lies for so long that I’ve really started to believe them. All the lies about who I am and my past regrets. I pray that God helps me to replace each and every one of those lies with His truth.

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  29. I’m thinking on what is true!!!

    I’ve been struggling with fear and anxiety, and really needed to hear this today.

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  33. Holy Spirit brought this to my mind yesterday when I was really hurting. And now I’m reading it today. Thank you.
    I’m thinking on what is true.

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  35. Sharon, you have no idea how much I would like to believe this. I am a Christian. I totally believe God is real as well as his son and spirit, but I don’t believe he believes in me. I have had so much grief and disappointment in my life. It doesn’t seem to get better and it doesn’t seem to change. I don’t believe that my Lord and Savior would truly allow so much sadness, disappointment, and rejection to be in my life for the last 65 years if he truly knew I existed. I pray every day that God would bring me home so I could feel peace and joy for the first time in my life, now that’s a day that’s worth celebrating; from having five miscarriages before I finally had a daughter who has disrespected me and treated me horribly her whole life to a husband that I never should’ve married 45 years ago that has also put everyone and everything before me to living in an area where my neighbors are horribly rude and critical of me, to actually trying to be kind and show Joy to people encounter, even though I am probably just dying inside, I just don’t seem to catch a break.

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      I’m so sorry Rett. Life on this side of heaven can be so hard. Here’s an idea. Get a notebook and call it your gratitude journal. Then make a commitment to write down one thing you are thankful for each day. It could be as simple as eyes that see. Want to give it a try?

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  46. I am thinking on what is true. Also, thanks for the rest of this too! Memorized verses 6-9 years ago – pledging to write it out and we are camping soon so a long drive ahead with my husband’s music. 🤗

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  48. I have read your book, Enough – Silencing the Lies. I am currently leading a group of ladies in a Bible study and we are using Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s book. Lies Women Believe. I often incorporate excerpts from your book into our study. It’s very helpful in our study.

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  55. I’m trying to practice thinking on what is true and Sharon’s email came at just the right time and got me. Now I’m practicing on thinking and praying

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  58. This book CHANGED my life!!
    I recommend it to every girl and woman I know! Thank you, Sharon for reminding us of these truths!

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  60. Im thinking on what is true, and May the devil be notified that he is the liar and the father of lies, When the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future! I am a child of God. He knows my name.

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  61. Dear Lord, I am thinking on what is true about me and others, which is what you have taught me. Thank you. Jesus. Help me not forget what you are taught me. I love you and amen.

    Reply

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