There is a battle going on, can you feel it?
Sometimes it feels like everything we thought we knew about ourselves and our world is being slowly stripped away. We are told where we can and cannot go. We are told who we can be around and who we must avoid. We all wear masks that hide our faces.
This is more than just a virus—this is a spiritual battle.
In these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever for us to remember who we are, and more importantly, who we are in Christ.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
The enemy encircles you like prey. Lies, shame, guilt, condemnation, the opinions of others, painful experiences, and even the media are like poison arrows in his quiver to strike you and make you question your identity.
Remember that Satan cannot create. He can only pervert, distort, or destroy what God meant for good. This attack is not much different than the one he perpetrated on Eve that fateful day in the garden; the lyrics may be different, but the song remains the same.
Eve had an identity crisis. She didn’t know who she was, what she was created for, or who she belonged to. So the serpent slowly slithered to whisper in her ear, “Did God really say?” Genesis 3:1.
And once she doubted, the arrow could pierce her skin and send its venom to her mind, her heart, and her soul.
Eve’s Daughters
The reputation of Eve follows all of her daughters—nipping at our ankles, threatening to keep us from reaching our God-designed purpose and knowing our true identity.
Why does the devil work so hard to get us to say, “Who am I?”
I believe it is because if we knew, I mean really knew, the truth about who we are in Christ, we would be so strong and so powerful that as Isaiah reminds us, “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17.
Oh! This should be so encouraging to you! The devil has an arsenal, but so do we and it is so much more powerful than any grenade the enemy could throw in your foxhole.
And this is what Satan is terrified of—you knowing this!
We Water the Seed
“When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
The devil’s lies are like seeds that he plants into the soil of your mind.
- you’re not good enough
- you will never succeed
- you won’t be forgiven
- you are unloveable
- you are worthless
Many times, the enemy can plant the seed and walk away. We water the seed by repeating the lies over and over and over until the seed grows and becomes our identity.
Like weeds, the lies choke and strangle the truth of who we are in Christ.
In our landscaping in front of our house, there are weeds that pop up through the mulch. I can pull the weed out, but literally the next morning it appears again, almost as if I never removed it. The reason it comes back is because I didn’t get it at the root. I only pulled what could be seen. But the strength of the weed is found deep in those places that are unseen—this is where it is strongly rooted.
It is the same for the lies of the enemy. You may think that you have gotten rid of the lie, but have you dug deep and pulled it out from its root? Until you can, it will keep coming back, reminding you and taunting you; making what should be beautiful, covered in what is ugly.
Don’t Fall Victim to Identity Theft
The good news is… we have the GOOD NEWS!
You don’t have to live defeated. You don’t have to be a victim of identity theft. It is time for you to know who you really are—a child of God and a daughter of the King. It is time to pull those old weeds of lies out for good. It is time to go back to the enemy’s camp and take back what has been stolen.
We are in a battle, but remember, “Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15. The battle belongs to the Lord. Stand on the front lines and stand strong with your armor of faith.
When the devil comes to you and he calls you by a name that doesn’t belong you, you can tell him, “I am who I am because the
I AM tells me who I am.”
Praise be to God as you remind yourself of who you are in Christ.
The Infographic below gives you just a small look into the vastness of all that you are and how your Father sees you sweet daughters.
Blessings,
Susie O’Neal and the Help Club for Moms Team
To connect more with Susie, go to susieoneal.org or follow her on Instagram @between_the_gardens
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