Genesis 3:11: "Who told you that you were naked?"

About a year and three months ago I was at YWAM Orlando completing a DTS. During this time in my life I was completely overwhelmed about how many things I had to fix about my things. I was trying really hard to stop having sex, I had a very bad pride issue, I was addicted to porn, I HATED my father, and I felt like I was trying to fix all these things at once. One morning Jessie Anderson, one of my DTS leaders told me he had a vision of me the night before at a bench press trying to lift weights that were obviously too heavy for me. I was desperately trying to lift the weights and kept saying, "I can't do this!", "This is too heavy!", only God was standing there and asked , "Who told you that?", "Who told you that you can't do this, or lift this weight?", "Did I say that it was too heavy?" I was consciously choosing to believe that I couldn't overcome all the issues in my life, when God was clearly saying that I could.

You may be in a similar circumstance, making reason as to why you think you can't
...accomplish
...overcome
...succeed
...believe
...forgive
...trust

And maybe God is asking you the same question, "Who told you that?"

Who told you that you're not beautiful?
Who told you that you have to be afraid?
Who told you that you can't trust me?
Who told you that you can't overcome this obstacle in your life?

Who told you that? Certainly not me.

Why is it so difficult to believe what God says about us? Why is it so hard to believe what his Word says about the power and authority and victory we have over sin and Satan? Maybe we need to ask ourselves why we believe certain things about ourselves and where is the source of the information we have. So, today you have the option of believing and listening to what Satan and maybe other people have said about you, your self worth, your potential, your future, or you can believe what God thinks of you. You can find reasons to doubt, to not forgive, to be overwhelmed, to fear, and not believe in God or yourself. But you can also find reasons to believe God wants to use your life to change the world, that your problems are not to difficult to bear. You can always find reasons to have faith and hope when you are listening to what God has said about you and your life.

John 8:32 says, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free"
John 8:44 says, "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Ask yourself this question, "What are the lies that I believe about myself?" Do you have low-self esteem? It's because you believe something about yourself that you didn't hear from God. If you can prove to me that God said you're ugly than I guess you can prove me wrong. The number one thing the enemy has always used to defeat people are lies. He lied to Adam and Eve and he lies to us. You have the CHOICE to believe him or believe God. The sad reality is that it's easier for some reason to believe Satan. You can receive freedom by accepting the TRUTH.

Jesus often said in the four Gospels, "You have heard it said... But I tell you the truth..."

This is maybe a template for freedom and healing. So fill in the blank. "I have heard it said that I can never be used by God because the sins I've committed are so bad. But Jesus tells me the truth that as long as I confess my sins he is faithful and doesn't even remember them."

Your lies probably aren't the same as mine so please fill in your blank and come back Saturday for a sweet video.

Manny