GIRL POWER!
LIKE A BOSS!
I CAN DO IT!
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!
To the world, these phrases are proclaimed to empower all of us, but often it is geared toward women. Some of you may have said these things. It's often displayed with cute graphics in bold font. It's easy to get caught up in this movement, but let me caution you to weigh these words against the Scriptures. Will they line up to the teachings of Jesus? Is this another sneaky way for the devil to trip us up in our efforts to improve ourselves? When does it cross the line from encouragement to deception? Today I am going to unveil some of the lies the enemy is using to deceive the church, and it all starts in our thoughts.
Thoughts are powerful! Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. I was 16 years old when my grandfather planted the idea in my mind that I should become a nurse because of the way I cared for him in the hospital. I never forgot it. I imagined myself as a nurse. My life took many different turns and it was many years later when I actually realized that dream, but today I am a nurse. What are you thinking about?
Successful people use a strategy to ensure they are going to do well on a project, they envision themselves completing the project with great success. Thoughts can also bring disaster! I have known someone very close to me who always told me, "No one in my family lives past 60. I know I won't make it past that." Keep in mind, these family members died for different reasons: no inherited disease process. This person died at age 60. I heard this person repeat that phrase so many times in my life and it came to pass.
Successful people use a strategy to ensure they are going to do well on a project, they envision themselves completing the project with great success. Thoughts can also bring disaster! I have known someone very close to me who always told me, "No one in my family lives past 60. I know I won't make it past that." Keep in mind, these family members died for different reasons: no inherited disease process. This person died at age 60. I heard this person repeat that phrase so many times in my life and it came to pass.
What if negative thoughts continue flooding into our brain? How can we combat the subtle lies the enemy is whispering to us all day on social media and in feminist groups? What does the Word of God say about taking back our thoughts? 2 Corinthians 12:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. So this is how we do that: absorb the Word of God. Educate yourself on what your Bible tells you. Hold the thought up against what the Word of God says. What is the real message behind these "empowering" statements? Let's look together.
Lie #1 Girl Power! What does that statement really mean? What is the message it is sending out? On the surface, it appears to be a statement to females that they have the power to do anything they want. I have a daughter and many times I have told her to dream big and encouraged her to be everything she can be! But is the real agenda behind Girl Power to help girls have a positive self-esteem, or is Satan trying to water down the gospel message found in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me? You see our power is not enough. John 5:30a I can of mine own self do nothing. With this scripture, Girl Power! becomes a movement that leaves God out. It's God's Power!
Lie #2 LIKE A BOSS! So many people are launching businesses, side hustles, multiple streams of income, and with the help of social media, the Internet, and marketing, so many are being successful! It is so easy to start thinking you are successful because of your own doing. Sure, you put the hours in, you made the calls, had the meetings, put in the work, but how many others do the same thing and yet do not find success? Perhaps God has given you His favor. Psalm 121:1-3, 8 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. The Bible says that it is God who is keeping His hand on you as you go to those appointments, and it is God that has His hand on you as you come back home. He is our help. He is God and He is BOSS!
Lie #3 I Can Do It! This could easily be countered with Philippians 4:13 or John 5:30a like mentioned before, but there are other scriptures that we can use here, as well. This is a lie from the enemy that says you have everything you need to succeed deep within you, and if you will simply look hard enough, you will not fail. The Bible says, Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. This is very clear that God is the one who will bring it to pass. It will not be in your own will, your own power, your own intelligence, or your own time. God wants you to commit your ways to Him, trust Him to give you the best outcome, and leave the rest to Him. The devil wants you to believe the lie that it's all about you. It's all about God! It's all about sharing the gospel message with the hurting, the sick, the lonely, the dying, the lost. Don't let the devil twist your thoughts. Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD; and thy thoughts shall be established. Give it to God and He will give you the thoughts you need, the ideas, the plans, the ability to succeed with His will for your life.
Lie #4 Believe In Yourself! The Bible clearly addresses this issue in many verses. I am going to include several scriptures so that you can fully understand why this lie is so harmful to those who call themselves Christians - born again believers. Satan tries to hinder God's plan for you and nullify the work of the cross by taking your eyes off Jesus and instead looking to yourself to be the champion. Psalm 78:21-22 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation. When we believe in God for salvation, He also needs to become the LORD of our life. Isaiah 43:10 Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. God takes it personally when His own creation, the very servant that He has chosen, chooses to put their faith in themselves instead of God Almighty!
Why would the enemy want you to believe in yourself? He is a thief who wants to steal your power. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name. We have the power to become the children of God but it is when we put our trust in Him and not in ourselves. If we could do it on our own, why did He send Jesus? John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We must believe in Him, but not for our salvation only. We must give Him everything. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. It was never something you could do on your own. Believe in Him!
Lie #5 Do More Of What Makes You Happy! This has been around for a while. The devil changes the words from time to time but the meaning is still the same. It's the ole "If it feels good, do it" mentality. The terrible advice to "follow your heart." Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. We are not to seek our own pleasure, but we are to delight in Him. Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. In fact, Jesus clearly tells us to deny ourselves. Mark 8:34 And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Jesus didn't just do whatever made Him happy. Do you think He was excited about being crucified? Of course, He wasn't! He prayed that if it were possible, that this moment would pass Him by, but He submitted to the will of God. Matthew 26:39 And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
I have a sticker that said Do More Of What Makes You Happy, and I just put alphabet stickers over the word YOU and replaced it with the word GOD and it always puts a smile on my face. Do More Of What Makes God Happy.
Friends, please don't be discouraged if you have fallen into these traps set by the devil. He is always trying to tear Christians down and cause us to compromise and fall. It's those little foxes that spoil the vine. The Bible says this about the devil: Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. We can see that happening already. I beg you, please don't be deceived. These slogans are popular because they are intended to empower us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. God is in control. He has all power in heaven and in earth. He is the one to get the glory, the praise, and the recognition. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever!
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
