Defeating Your Destructive Thoughts

“When [the Devil] tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.”

John 8:44 (GNT)

You need a game plan to overcome destructive thoughts. At the root of every one of these thoughts is a lie.

Where do these lies come from?

Satan told the first lie. He sold it to Adam and Eve by wrapping it up in false promises, and he’s been telling lies ever since. Satan can’t force you to do anything, but he tells great lies. He knows exactly what we want to hear, which makes his suggestions extremely powerful.

Satan has set the trap, and he knows what bait to use. Once he gets one person to believe his lies, he’ll work through that person to influence others, creating a domino effect. Satan is constantly working to plant destructive thoughts in your mind.

Here’s the truth: You can’t stand up to Satan on your own. Jesus was tempted by Satan with three different lies. Each time, Jesus responded with Scripture.

God’s Word has the truth you need!

The person you lie to the most is yourself. Lies also come from your old nature. This is the part of you that is broken and sinful. Through faith in Jesus, we have the gift of God’s grace. He erases the guilt in our hearts and the debt we owe him.

While we are no longer under the power of our old nature, it still influences our lives. The old desires say, “You deserve this. It won’t hurt you; it will be good for you.” However, the more we indulge our old desires, the more we lie to ourselves. Without divine interruption, it becomes a never-ending cycle.

Overcoming destructive thoughts goes far beyond positive thinking. God’s game plan for destructive thoughts is to counter them with truth. You need daily appointments with God to remain connected to his power and his Word.

January 18 from Open Doors: A Year of Devotions