Breakthrough! Live No Lies
This week, we will delve into the ideas that we have about God. The face word for a set of interrelated ideas is called a mental map. See what pastor-author John Mark Comer has to say about mental maps.
“…in the same way that we have mental maps for how to get to work or school or our favorite coffee shops, we have mental maps for all of life. Maps for our money. Our sexuality. Our relationships. Our mental maps are made up of a collection of ideas…
… the philosopher Dallas Willard defined ideas as “assumptions about reality.” They are working theories, usually based on some kind of evidence or experience, about how life actually works. Or in (North) American lingo, what will make us happy…We live in a world of ideas, and every day we navigate this world by faith (our assumptions about reality).
Happiness is an idea. So is democracy, human rights, equality, freedom. Even theology…is a collection of ideas about God and their far-reaching ramifications on us as human beings. And our ideas coalesce to form a mental map by which we navigate reality.”
– John Mark Comer, Live no Lies
So we have a web of ideas about everything we come across. Do you wonder about mental maps you have about God? Who he is? What is he like? His personality and character and such. Now this is not the time to dish out the model answers we have in our heads because model answers often are disconnected from our behaviour and our hearts. What we’d like to do this week is to expose the faulty ideas, the half truths, the lies about God that we live upon.
Here are some example of the lies we may believe about God:
- God is not loving
- God is disappointed in me
- God is angry with me
- God cannot help me
By God’s grace, we will identify and dislodge them with the all-embracing love of God.
You’ll need a timer, a pen and a notepad.
Day 1
Sit in silence for 2 minutes
Pray: “Jesus, I open myself to you, speak truth into my life I ask.”
Read Psalm 103:8-14 slowly a couple of times
To summarize, God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, will not be angry forever, his love is deep and wide, he remembers our frailty.
What are some of the words used to describe God? Identify a couple of words that resonate with you.
How is this description of God different from what you believe about God?
Remember, the assumption is that it is much easier to nod our heads and affirm what the passage is saying about God. This is especially true if you have been a Christian for a long time, the true impact of the Scripture may have become blunt. It requires more work to detect the inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we live our lives.
For example, you might say that God is compassionate toward you, but you might beat yourself up when things in life aren’t going as well as you’d like it to be. Take time with this question and ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see
When you have identified the lie, ask Jesus where the lie came from. It may be from a person who said something hurtful to you, or from a book you read, a movie you watched, or an incident that happened. To some of us it may be an experience you’ve had in the past.
Pause now and ask Jesus to reveal to you where the lie came from.
As contrasted by the truth from the passage, you can now renounce and reject the lie, and sever the ties with the lie and its influence over you. When we unknowingly allow the lie to stay with us, over time it exerts authority over us, that’s when it becomes a pronouncement over us.
Use the following prayer to reject the lie and pronouncement that you have identified.
Renouncing lies and pronouncements:
Pray: “I reject the lie (pronouncement) that … (repeat for each lie).
I now repent of these sins and declare them null and void, no longer able to influence or affect me in any way.”
Replacing with truth:
Pray: “Jesus, please reveal to me your truth to replace all the lies I have believed and lived.”
Pause to listen to Jesus.
To conclude, write out a simple prayer to God that expresses your thoughts to him.
Day 2
Sit in silence for 2 minutes
Pray: “Jesus, I open myself to you, speak truth into my life I ask.”
Read Zephaniah 3:17 slowly a couple of times
What are some of the words used to describe God? Identify a couple of words that resonate with you.
How is this description of God different from what you believe about God?
Remember, the assumption is that it is much easier to nod our heads and affirm what the passage is saying about God. This is especially true if you have been a Christian for a long time, the true impact of the Scripture may have become blunt. It requires more work to detect the inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we live our lives.
For example, you might say that God is your saviour, but you work as if you need to ensure your future is fail proof.
Take time with this question and ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see
When you have identified the lie, ask Jesus where the lie came from. It may be from a person who said something hurtful to you, or from a book you read, a movie you watched, or an incident that happened. To some of us it may be an experience you’ve had in the past.
Pause now and ask Jesus to reveal to you where the lie came from.
As contrasted by the truth from the passage, you can now renounce and reject the lie, and sever the ties with the lie and its influence over you. When we unknowingly allow the lie to stay with us, over time it exerts authority over us, that’s when it becomes a pronouncement over us.
Use the following prayer to reject the lie and pronouncement that you have identified.
Renouncing lies and pronouncements:
Pray: “I reject the lie (pronouncement) that … (repeat for each lie).
I now repent of these sins and declare them null and void, no longer able to influence or affect me in any way.”
Replacing with truth:
Pray: “Jesus, please reveal to me your truth to replace all the lies I have believed and lived.”
Pause to listen to Jesus.
There was an account of an old man who wanted to take his own life. As he recalled, moments before acting on his suicide, life-giving words come to him from God. That was all that was needed to pull him back from the metaphorical “edge of the cliff”. The words turned his life around. He later realized that those very words were sung to him by his nanny when he was a small child.
Have you ever had someone sing you to sleep? I searched my memory and for me, it’s a no. Maybe you had that experience of someone you love singing and rejoicing over you. What were those words like? If you are like me without such memories, the truth that comes to today is the invitation to receive that God is rejoicing over you with singing, that he takes great delight in you.
Take a moment to receive that truth in your life.
Day 3
Sit in silence for 2 minutes
Pray: “Jesus, I open myself to you, speak truth into my life I ask.”
Read Ezekiel 34:11-16 slowly a couple of times
How does this passage describe God? How is this description of God different from what you believe about God?
Remember, the assumption is that it is much easier to nod our heads and affirm what the passage is saying about God. This is especially true if you have been a Christian for a long time, the true impact of the Scripture may have become blunt. It requires more work to detect the inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we live our lives.
For example, you might say that God is the shepherd, but you rarely create opportunities in your schedule to be fed by him.
Take time with this question and ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see.
When you have identified the lie, ask Jesus where the lie came from. It may be from a person who said something hurtful to you, or from a book you read, a movie you watched, or an incident that happened. To some of us it may be an experience you’ve had in the past.
Pause now and ask Jesus to reveal to you where the lie came from.
As contrasted by the truth from the passage, you can now renounce and reject the lie, and sever the ties with the lie and its influence over you. When we unknowingly allow the lie to stay with us, over time it exerts authority over us, that’s when it becomes a pronouncement over us.
Use the following prayer to reject the lie and pronouncement that you have identified.
Renouncing lies and pronouncements:
Pray: “I reject the lie (pronouncement) that … (repeat for each lie).
I now repent of these sins and declare them null and void, no longer able to influence or affect me in any way.”
Replacing with truth:
Pray: “Jesus, please reveal to me your truth to replace all the lies I have believed and lived.”
Pause to listen to Jesus.
The Lord will tend his people in a good pasture, the flock will lie down in good grazing land. The word good is the key here. What the Lord has in store for you is good. Remember what Jesus said he is? He said “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
May the Good Shepherd, our Lord Christ Jesus, show you all the ways in which he takes care of you.
Day 4
Sit in silence for 2 minutes
Pray: “Jesus, I open myself to you, speak truth into my life I ask.”
Read Psalm 18:2 slowly a couple of times
How does this passage describe God? How is this description of God different from what you believe about God?
Remember, the assumption is that it is much easier to nod our heads and affirm what the passage is saying about God. This is especially true if you have been a Christian for a long time, the true impact of the Scripture may have become blunt. It requires more work to detect the inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we live our lives.
For example, you might say that God is your strength, your foundation, but when hard times come you feel as shaky and anxious as your friend or neighbour who doesn’t know God at all.
Take time with this question and ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see
When you have identified the lie, ask Jesus where the lie came from. It may be from a person who said something hurtful to you, or from a book you read, a movie you watched, or an incident that happened. To some of us it may be an experience you’ve had in the past.
Pause now and ask Jesus to reveal to you where the lie came from.
As contrasted by the truth from the passage, you can now renounce and reject the lie, and sever the ties with the lie and its influence over you. When we unknowingly allow the lie to stay with us, over time it exerts authority over us, that’s when it becomes a pronouncement over us.
Use the following prayer to reject the lie and pronouncement that you have identified.
Renouncing lies and pronouncements:
Pray: “I reject the lie (pronouncement) that … (repeat for each lie).
I now repent of these sins and declare them null and void, no longer able to influence or affect me in any way.”
Replacing with truth:
Pray: “Jesus, please reveal to me your truth to replace all the lies I have believed and lived.”
Pause to listen to Jesus.
Day 5
Sit in silence for 2 minutes
Pray: “Jesus, I open myself to you, speak truth into my life I ask.”
Read Hebrews 4:15-16 slowly a couple of times
How does this passage describe God? How is this description of God different from what you believe about God?
Remember, the assumption is that it is much easier to nod our heads and affirm what the passage is saying about God. This is especially true if you have been a Christian for a long time, the true impact of the Scripture may have become blunt. It requires more work to detect the inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we live our lives.
For example, you might know in your head that God forgives your sins, but you might have a hard time forgiving yourself. Now, I know that much of these struggles require you to first find healing. Identifying the lies is the first step.
Take time with this question and ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see
When you have identified the lie, ask Jesus where the lie came from. It may be from a person who said something hurtful to you, or from a book you read, a movie you watched, or an incident that happened. To some of us it may be an experience you’ve had in the past.
Pause now and ask Jesus to reveal to you where the lie came from.
As contrasted by the truth from the passage, you can now renounce and reject the lie, and sever the ties with the lie and its influence over you. When we unknowingly allow the lie to stay with us, over time it exerts authority over us, that’s when it becomes a pronouncement over us.
Use the following prayer to reject the lie and pronouncement that you have identified.
Renouncing lies and pronouncements:
Pray: “I reject the lie (pronouncement) that … (repeat for each lie).
I now repent of these sins and declare them null and void, no longer able to influence or affect me in any way.”
Replacing with truth:
Pray: “Jesus, please reveal to me your truth to replace all the lies I have believed and lived.”
Pause to listen to Jesus.
The passage tells me that the Lord understands our struggles. He does not condemn but rather offers grace for you to move forward. I am reminded of this song called “Who am I”. It speaks of our frailty and refocus on what God has done for us.
Finally, If you realized that you can’t just renounce a certain lie and you know you need healing from the experience that caused it, reach out to your site pastor. They can arrange a renewal prayer session for you with our prayer team. Two prayer team members will pray with you and give time and space for Jesus to heal you and dislodge the lie.
Bolton Site – Tony Sammut (tony.sammut@thewell.ca)
King Site – Melissa Jurik (melissa.jurik@thewell.ca)
Vaughan Site – Dave Au (david.au@thewell.ca)