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I bought into the lie.

It crept in when I was unaware. I thought it was harmless.

It seemed like such a small, trivial thing.

Until it wasn’t.

Ok, I am being overly dramatic, but yesterday I was gently reminded of how easy it is to be deceived. My insight came as I started painting my kitchen. I realized I am a victim of those decorating shows on television. You know the ones that do a complete makeover in thirty minutes. Compared to some of the other stuff on television, they seemed harmless. But yesterday I realized that over time my thinking had changed from watching those shows. I bought into the lie that “it’s easy to change, it’s just paint.” That is until yesterday, when I started the task of painting my kitchen and realized that I have hours of work ahead of me, not only in the kitchen but in other rooms as well. Not quite as “quick and easy” as the shows made it seem.

As I began painting, I found myself wondering how many small trivial lies are we exposed to in a day?

How do we protect ourselves from these so-called “trivial” lies that sometimes lead to bigger lies?

Like the lie that now that I am no longer a wife, I have no purpose.

Or the lie that because I am on my own, I can no longer do the things that I did before.

And the lie that no one cares about me or loves me anymore.

None of those things line up with God’s truth! His word tells us:

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
Isaiah 43:7 NIV

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11 NIV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV

We rely on God and His truth

As a widow, I feel it is wise to be more cautious about getting deceived. I no longer have my husband to rely on for additional wisdom and insight. But I am not alone, I know where my help comes from.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

I am relying on God’s love more intimately in this season. I am no longer surrounded by the friends who so generously encouraged me in my journey over the years. But that’s ok. Because I have God. And I have His Word, which is the Truth. Today He led me to Psalm 25:4-5 NIV.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

What a beautiful thing it is that the Lord of all creation lives in us and speaks to us through His Word. We do not have to walk around in fear of being deceived, for our Lord is willing to teach and guide us in His truth. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace and Your mercy!

Dear sisters, as you move forward in your journey ask God to show you His way, His path, and His truth each and every day, because He is your God and He is willing!

Have a very blessed day, back to painting I go!