Day 5 Devotional: The Hope That Holds Truth

Chasing Hope: The pursuit of a Hope that lasts

Day 5: The Hope that Truth Holds

When I owned my robotics company there were a few things our company’s culture did not allow you to say.  The first being “I can’t”. This was not allowed because you don’t know if you can or cannot unless you try. You always have to try.  The second was to say, “that’s impossible”. Nothing made me more irritated than those two lies.  Science proves that if we go into a situation with the thought that we cannot endure or accomplish what we are set out to do, our brains neurons fire differently, they actually slow down, and I didn’t want a difficult task to become even harder because of a negative mindset.  There are so many things in life that people believe the lie of “its impossible”, or “I can’t”.  

When we are faced with the things that cancer brings us all the suffering and hopelessness, we have to recognize the fact that these feelings can begin to pull us away from the truth and open a door for lies to be spoke.  For example, “I will never feel hope again.”, “God has forgotten about me.”, “Why would God do this to me?”, “I am broken beyond repair.” All of these are lies that just continue to rob us of hope.  We must remember that its not God that wants to see us hopeless, but it is the devil, and the bible says he is the father of lies.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8: 44

Jesus clearly describes the devil as the father of lies not holding to the truth.  Many have said, “the devil knows our name but calls us by our sins and mistakes, but God knows our sins and mistakes, and yet call us by our name.”

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 

Lions look first for the prey that is on the fringe, that is maybe hurting and slow, those are the first targets, he wants those whom are already struggling.  If this is the case, why wouldn’t he go hard after those of us whom are suffering and are battling hopelessness.  When we are battling hopelessness that is the perfect target for satan to sew his lies, one by one moving you slowly away from the herd so he can take us down.  The best way to battle the lies and the spiral that comes with them when battling hopelessness, is to speak truth.  We saw Jesus did this when He was in the wilderness and the devil came to tempt him.  Every time satan spoke lies to tempt Jesus, Jesus used the word of God, the living Truth!!  The truth is what frees us from the chains of satan’s lies. 

Assignment:

For the next two weeks use the lie and a truth exercise to combat the lies we hear the devil whispering to us.   Examine what you are focusing on and hearing in your heart and head and wash over it with the word and truth of God.  When you recognize a lie, write it down, then next to it write the truth that overcomes that particular lie.  Repeat this exercise as you battle these things. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have us your word, the very word that your Son, my Savior used to defeat the devil in the face of temptations in the desert wilderness.  The same truth that echoes through all of eternity.  Lord, I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit may I recognize the lies that satan is trying to distract and derail me with, and instead may I be able to speak truth into those moments driving out all the lies and deceptions in Jesus name!  God, may I have piece knowing that you are by my side, and that your truth remains steadfast.  In your mighty name Jesus AMEN