Fleeing from Falsehood

"He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood ... "

(Psalm 24:4)

I have been deeply burdened lately over the vast difference between light and darkness. Burdened and possibly a little confused by our complacency as believers to accept and partake in the things of this world - myself included. Both the New King James Version and the New American Standard Bible quote Ephesians 5:7 the following way: "Therefore do not be partakers with them." Sometimes I feel like I am such a partaker, when I should be overwhelmed with an inclination to set myself apart. I should desire more than anything in this world - more than my own comfort, happiness, success - to be an imitator of God (Ephesians 5:1).

In thinking through this, I have deeply desired to attain an awareness of good versus evil. Of uplifting versus destructive. Eternal versus earthly.

And in doing so, I have realized the truth - the very real truth - that not everything I subject myself to is of spiritual significance. Nope, quite the contrary. Much of it is actually destructive, leading me only to defeat and discouragement, to selfishness and vanity, to pride and insecurity.

And I'm over it.

A friend of mine said something yesterday that hit the depths of my soul. She recently attended a women's conference where the speaker said the following: We are supposed to be the light of the world so much that we are dangerous to the darkness.

That is what I'm talking about. Being dangerous to the darkness. Standing boldly for what is right, for what is of the Lord, even if once in a while that means me uncomfortably standing alone. Even if it means sacrificing my own ambitions. And yet it begins by being able to distinguish the difference. The difference between what is of God, and what is clearly not.

I could talk about this all night. Maybe this one will turn into multiple posts. The above Scripture is one that has not been able to exit my mind. It is here that the Word of God instructs us not to lift up our souls to falsehood (Psalm 24:4). Jesus knew what our struggles would be: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:11-13).

Falsehood: Evil (as destructive), idolatry, uselessness, falsely, lie, lying, vain, vanity. A masculine noun meaning emptiness, vanity, evil, ruin, uselessness, deception, worthless, without result, fraud, deceit. The primary meaning of the word is devastation.

When we give our souls over to idolatry, to feelings of uselessness, lies, vanity, emptiness, worthlessness, etc. ... We are basically setting ourselves up for devastating results.

And let me just let you in on a little side note. One that is most definitely not of little significance. In Psalm 101, David insists the following: "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3). Does anyone care to know the origin of the word "worthlessness"? Believe me, you do.

Worthlessness: without profit; destruction; wickedness. Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked. Often a strong moral component in the context suggests the state of being good for nothing and therefore expresses the concept of wickedness. [Worthlessness] does appear in the Greek form at a name for the Devil in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:15).

When was the last time you caught yourself feeling worthless?

2 Corinthians 6:15 - "What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

The word worthlessness originates from the word Belial. Who is Belial? Satan himself!

So, once again I ask - When was the last time you caught yourself feeling worthless?

So sad. We are falling into a trap. Into a pit. Guilty of falling for one of the millions of lies of Satan himself. He's such a schemer. Feelings of worthlessness are clearly not of God, and therefore there is no way they can bring Him glory. There is absolutely no spiritual significance in feeling worthless. Zero. Zilch.

Talk about devastating!

[Like I said, little side note.]

I will end with this today.

God wants to have victory over our souls. He desires complete ownership of our being. When we give ourselves over to falsehood - whether it in thought, action or word - we are not obeying God. Plain and simple. Rather, we are gratifying the desire of our enemy.

YUCK! Just the thought of pleasing that creep makes me mad.

So today, let's make an intentional effort to cling to what is good. Are you with me, sisters? I pray that God will give us a check in our spirit when we're walking on thin ice. And that we would stop it - right then and there. Allowing God to have the victory. Because it begins with allowing Christ to take ownership of our souls.

May we move closer and closer to distinguishing good versus evil. Uplifting versus destructive. Eternal versus earthly.

Choosing Truth today ...

Fleeing from Falsehood.

Who Is Jesus to you?

This morning after I had poured my coffee, I set out upstairs to grab my reading materials (Bible, Psalms commentary, Daily Light). My Mom put together the cutest little daisies for me yesterday afternoon to bring home with me and I placed all 4 vases on the kitchen counter. The sight of these pretty spring flowers along with the sunshine shining bright this morning, made me want to remove myself from the place I call my own to the bright kitchen for my time with God - for just this once.

[Side note: Hubby is outside - as in right outside the kitchen window - operating some very loud yard equipment, so who knows how long this idea of quiet time in the kitchen with God will work :) Let me just crank up my worship music a little.]

Anyways, so while I was upstairs grabbing my usual material I had an intense sensation for a refresher from God. After reflecting upon the Cross, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus yesterday, it just seemed fitting that I would grow deeper this spring with Him. It's been a very busy year, and I'm ready to get back to a place of solitude with my Maker, my Savior, my Jesus.

[Pause to go stick 8 big Pillsbury Grand biscuits in the oven for hubby. Because I just received a text from him that said the following: Momma u wanna cook up those biscuits? To which I responded: Sure big boy. Never a dull moment.]

So as I looked through my library of books for that refresher, my eyes hit Just Give Me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz. I grabbed it without thinking twice and when I returned to the kitchen I opened the cover of the book to read the following words: To those who need a fresh touch from God. Yep, that would be me. You?

Maybe this will help ...

She writes:

So Who is Jesus? What is there about him that makes Him so compelling that ...

... a Yugoslavian nun would give her life to comfort the dying in Calcutta for His sake?

... some of the greatest architectural achievements in Europe were built for worship of Him?

... some of the world's most beautiful art was created to honor Him?

... some of the world's most glorious music was written to praise Him?

... 167 years after Rome crucified Him, He was acknowledged as the only God in the Roman Empire?

... Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, rotting in a Siberian work camp, said the very thought of Him was enough to keep his sanity?

... in an outburst of physical pain, frustration, anger, or just disagreement with the officials at a ball game, His Name - not Buddha's or Muhammad's is used in cursing?

... two thousand years after He has been physically removed from the world, people from all walks of life say He has saved them from drugs, illness, suicide, depression, and hopelessness?

... in His Name, people forsake personal gain to feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, heal the sick?

Who is Jesus? How can we know who He really is? We know by studying the truth.

(Anne Graham Lotz. Just Give Me Jesus, 2000. Pages 4-5.)

Who Is Jesus to you?