Day 14 - Removing the Lies

Today's Scripture: Mark 11:12-25

Today's Devotional: Not only should we speak life-giving words to others, but we should also speak them to our circumstances and ourselves. The toxic words we speak to ourselves can be some of the most dangerous.

Response by: Chad Schuchmann

The words we say to ourselves are as important as the words we hear from others, maybe more-so.  Have you ever found yourself whispering or thinking phrases like,

"I can't do this." "I'm not good enough." "I'm not worthy."

While many of these phrases stem from the ideas placed in our heads over the years, the moment we start muttering them to ourselves is the moment we've begun to believe Satan's lies.

John 8:44 says, "The devil 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."

So often I encounter people who have begun to believe the lies the world tells them.  Once we believe something, that's what we begin to expect to see in ourselves.  And, as the author of this Soul Detox series, Craig Groeschel, puts it, you will find what you are looking for.

If you wake up every morning with the mindset that you are a failure, an addict, or a sluggard; if you look in the mirror expecting to see someone who is overweight, ugly or pathetic; then that is exactly what you will find. Ultimately, those thoughts and ideas become poisonous toxins which cause us to sink futher into Satan's lies and can darken our souls.

But we don't have to accept Satan's lies.  Instead, we are invited to accept the truth Jesus brings.  In John chapter 8, Jesus makes some beautiful claims that we can hold onto.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (v12)

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (v31-32)

In THE LIGHT, we discover the TRUTH and the FREEDOM to change and replace our toxic thoughts with those which bring encouragement and God's truth to our lives.

There really is something to the power of positive thinking and the beginning of that process is to recognize and remove the toxic lies we receive with God's truth.


I'm reminded of the Saturday Night Live character, Stuart Smalley, and his own personal statement of encouragement.

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." 

Something to talk about: What types of toxic words are you saying to yourself? What steps do you need to take to stop saying these toxic words to yourself?