“It didn’t sound like a lie!”

If you knew it was a lie, would you continue to believe it?

We are quick to assume we would never believe a lie.  But sadly, we all fall prey to a few or more lies every day.  The problem is that we don’t see them for what they really are.

 

It Didn’t Sound Like a Lie!

Our enemy, also known as the “Father of Lies,” has spent thousands of years perfecting his craft.  And to make matters worse, he has already dealt with countless versions of people just like you.  He knows exactly what to whisper in your ear at just the right time to throw you off course. His skill isn’t coming up with new lies; but rather fabricating the same old lies in ways that fit perfectly into our circumstances and thoughts.  Or to put it another way, his lies do not sound like lies.

 

What do the lies sound like?

The lies sound like your own thoughts.  They sound like truth weaving its way through the conversations in your mind. They sound like your own reasoning and intellect. Mix one of Satan’s lies with the current events in your life (and sometimes a small percentage of truth), and you have the perfect scenario for the lie to take hold. And once it grows, it can become dangerous enough to erase morals, split relationships, initiate addictions, start wars, and more.

 

It sounds like…

…it’s not that big of a deal.

…she is out to get me.

…I’m not good enough.

…I have a right to.

…he must be thinking.

…I DESERVE this.

…I DON’T deserve this.

 

Chewing on bits of garbage

You will often recognize the lie only after you have begun to chew on it.  Chewing on a lie is similar to when you are chewing a forkful of food and notice something that shouldn’t be there (like a hair, a bone, or a piece of sand).  Your mouth is trained to detect the problem.  You get it out immediately.

 

You detect the lie by examining what is actually true.  But be careful, we are all good at blurring the edges.  Just beyond what is actually true is a foggy land full of assumptions, guesses, prejudices, and excuses.  Once you detect the lie, get rid of it quickly.  Lies can be hard to let go of.

 

An Example

Recently I was able to get a bird’s eye view of my own though process. While driving down the road thinking about a particular situation, I found myself growing frustrated and angry. After a minute or so, I realized that I had concocted a sizable chain of imaginary events which led to becoming angry at someone.  I stopped and realized what I had been doing.  As I followed the chain of thoughts back to what was actually true, there was absolutely nothing to be mad about.  I was able to recognize that I had allowed a small lie into my mind, and that quickly grew into all sorts of assumptions, imaginary scenarios, and pretend conversations.  That little lie quickly got out of control in my mind.

 

Then what?

Once you detect the lie, and get rid of it, go back to what is actually true – and only that.  Everything else has the potential to lead you back into the fog.  Refocus on all of the things that are worth thinking about.  Dwell on truth.  Sing a worship song.  Thank God for everything you can think of.  Memorize scripture. Check out Philippians 4:4-8 for more ideas.

 

Pay close attention the next time your mind wanders – are there any lies taking hold?

 

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Philippians 4:4–8 (NLT)

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.