A couple of weeks ago, my family and I were sitting around our living room, about to go to bed. It was pretty late and our yawns were getting bigger, when suddenly, through the porch door (which was slightly open) a bird flew in. That was the end of our restful conversation.
Up we all jumped, and the chase began. Unlike the birds you see calmly chirping from a tree branch, this little guy was frantic. We opened all the doors, leaving plenty of room for him to make his way outside, but he just didn’t seem to get it. Dodging here and there, landing on curtain rods, picture frames, window ledges, dive-bombing, and flitting from place to place, the bird acted confused and lost, searching for a safe place. So many times he was so close to finding the big doors that were opened for him, but he never quite made it.
After the saga was over, I started to think . . .
The lies of the world are easy to get into. Sometimes we fly right into them and boom, we’re caught. But sometimes, it’s a very slow process. It starts with a little thought. A tiny seed planted by Satan. It could be an “if only I . . .” or a “I’ll never be . . .” Slowly, those lies build on top of each other like bricks.
One brick doesn’t seem like a big deal. It’s easy to ignore and light enough to carry around. Two bricks don’t seem that bad, either. But when bricks pile up, they get heavy, just like the lies we believe. And they start to weigh us down, and twist our view of ourselves, others, and most importantly, our Creator.
Finally, we’re so surrounded by lies we’re believing, we begin to live like that little, confused bird. He didn’t know he could get out. He was stuck. He was helpless. While he was stuck in our living room, we get stuck in the lies we tell ourselves. But that’s not the end of the story, because you know what? Although that bird didn’t know it, the doors were wide open. He didn’t have to stay there any longer. He had the opportunity for freedom, but he was so trapped, he didn’t realize it.
All too often, it’s the same with us. God offers freedom. He offers hope. He has come to give us life, and not just life but abundant life (John 10:10). How incredible is that? We don’t have to settle for a soul full of lies. We can have freedom and embrace the truth of God’s redemption.
One lesson that I’ve found very helpful is to write down all the lies you’ve been believing, or tempted to believe, no matter how big or small they may seem. Once you have that big ol’ ugly list, reread them out loud, but after each one, make a contradiction.
If the lie is, “No one could ever love me,” read that out loud, and then smash it by speaking truth such as, “Wait! God says that He has loved me with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). I’m loved and redeemed by the Creator of the universe.”
Speaking truth out loud is powerful. Even if this doesn’t sound like it could be any help, I challenge you to just experiment with it. Speak the truth out loud. Once you’re done with that piece of paper listing those lies, tear it up and throw it away.
To finish the story, when the bird in our living room was finally exhausted, my dad reached up, caught it in his big, gentle hands, and took it outside to let it go.
Getting rid of the lies we’re believing probably isn’t going to happen in a single day. We all fight lies daily. But remember that the truth is always stronger than the lies. We have to choose to tell it to ourselves, to take advantage of this wonderful tool God has given us. And with His help, we can be released from those lies, free to live the abundant life He has given.
What about you? What lies are you tempted to believe? Have you tried speaking the truth out loud to yourself?
