Self-defense

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Whenever any old lies you’ve believed about yourself come back to visit—saying that you’re ugly, stupid, worthless, flawed, incapable, inadequate—you have the power in Christ to take those thoughts captive. You can think new thoughts based on God’s truth. You can talk back to the lies.

So speak truth to yourself. Encourage yourself. Build yourself up. When the past screams, “You are hopeless! You are useless! You aren’t good enough! You’ll never measure up!” tell yourself truths like these:

• I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

• I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

• I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12).

• I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13).

• I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

And the list of biblical truths about you could go on and on. Find these truths and treasure them—they speak of God’s love for you!

I thank You, Lord, for the truths in Your Word. I declare them and make them a permanent part of me so I can use them to defeat untruth whenever it rears its head.