3 Practical Habits to Combat the Lies

“Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blooming.” Song of Songs 2:15

Recently, I’ve begun to put action to the dreams God has laid on my heart. Saying “yes” to a few pretty big projects have required me to depend on God in a new way. As I moved forward, stepping out beyond what was familiar… fear crept in.

Fear tells us we’re not enough. Fear tells us our dreams are impossible. Fear tells us we’re never going to move beyond where we are now. It does everything it can to keep our dreams dormant, reinforcing lies (the foxes) in our minds so we won’t walk in our full destiny. Fear poisons us slowly until we believe maybe we were created for less.

Just as foxes can quickly ruin the grapes in a vineyard, the lies we believe as truth can so easily destroy the work of the Lord. Even the seemingly little lies that disguise themselves as truth.

You know the ones: “You don’t have time to dream.” “What if you fail?” “It’s too late to pursue your dreams.” “Did God call you to do this?”

The truth is God has amazing plans in store for each of us. Defeated and belittled is not God’s plan for our lives.

He wants us to walk in the fullness of Christ, breaking free from any scheme of the enemy.

It’s when we, “Catch all the foxes, those little foxes…” that we can walk in our full identity.

The Bible says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. It also says he is a liar and the father of lies (Jn. 8:44).

Our adversary is filling our minds with sneaky little lies, not big blatant lies or we may become suspicious, because Genesis 3:1 says he is, “sneakier than any of the other wild animals.” He comes in with a twist. He knows what to say and when to say it. He hits us in our weakest points making us believe we are helpless, insignificant, and have nothing to offer the body of Christ. And before you know it we are dismissing the leading of the Holy Spirit, believing we were created for less. 

Because if Satan can’t steal our salvation, he will darn well try to steal our purpose and influence.

Here’s the thing: The enemy distracts us with these little foxes, allowing us to lose our joy and peace in the process, causing our eyes to be focused on ourselves instead on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Somewhere in the midst of my spiritual journey I’ve created three habits to combat the lies and to catch those little foxes before they become giant monster foxes.

3 Practical Habits to Combat the Lies

      1.Worship

Worship is something we have to choose in all seasons of life, especially in those seasons when the lies won’t stop screaming. It’s easy to worship when things are going well, but what would happen if we worshipped at all times.

The most significant example of someone worshiping in all seasons is David. He knew the power of worship and how it shifted the atmosphere. In 1 Samuel 16:14-23 King Saul is tormented by an evil spirit, and he calls for David to play his lyre.

“Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him” (1 Samuel 16:23).

Listen to my #Live Facebook video to further hear how to combat your inner critical voices.

Through the power of worship, God’s presence reminds of who we are in Him. Our focus shifts from ourselves to Him. Because honestly, it’s not about us, it all about bring glory to Him.

          2. God’s Word Daily

 This seems like a no-brainer but how many times are you caught feeling defeated and overwhelmed and you realize it’s been a few days since you’ve been in God’s word. I know I’m not the only one!

I’m not talking about reading Facebook or Instagram posts with scriptures in it. Or reading a spiritual book. Or an inspiring blog post. They all have their place, but there is nothing compared to reading God’s word for yourself. Be still and engage in God’s word daily.

Don’t know where to start? I love my friend Sarah’s post…

If you have ever wanted to read through your Bible in a year, but didn’t know where to start, this blog post is for you.

          3. Tell Someone

We all need someone.

Our natural instinct is to choose safety and turn inward, rather than being vulnerable and real. The enemy convinces us no one cares and that no one struggles the way we do. Even though you know God is with you and faith will get you through, you cannot shake the lies alone.

God created us for community. Life change happens in the context of relationships. We are not made to carry burdens alone. Exposing the lies to the light enables hope and light to pierce through.

God has created us for real-life friends. So often we spend countless hours on social media, thinking we are connecting with others, but we hide who we truly are, only revealing our highlight reels. Here is where I hang my soul lately: relationships matter, especially in the middle of hard. Encouragement from others allows hope into what seems like a desperate circumstance. One word of truth from a trusted friend can give you the extra strength you need to continue.

I encourage you to share your unfinished story. Invite a friend to coffee or lunch and allow them to know the vulnerable.

Worship. Spend time in God’s word daily. And find a safe place to expose the lies.

I realized the best life–the most significant life we can live–is the one we live in faith today!

Did you enjoy today’s posts? How did it speak to you?