Fighting Words: Confronting the Lies of the Enemy with God’s Truth (Part 1)
Life can feel like a battlefield, can’t it? Our spiritual enemy rarely shows up with obvious attacks—more often, he slips into our thoughts and whispers them over and over until we start to believe them. He tells us that we’re not valuable, that God has forgotten and abandoned us, and that His promises are for everybody other than us. Satan is a really, really good liar (John 8:44). And the problem is that a lie you believe to be true is just as effective as if it were actually true.
But God hasn’t left us defenseless. He’s given us a stronger weapon: His Word. Ephesians 6 calls it the sword of the Spirit, sharper than any double-edged blade, able to cut through anything. If our enemy’s best weapon is deception, then our greatest defense is the Truth.
Every believer is in a battle, but many of us are showing up unarmed. If we want to stand, we need more than willpower. We need fighting words. This two-part series is all about building up our arsenal, being battle-ready, and learning how to fight with God’s promises.
#1: “You’re not valuable.”
LIE: You’re ordinary, replaceable, or even a mistake.
TRUTH: God calls you His masterpiece. In Ephesians 2:10, the Greek word used for “handiwork” is poiema (God’s masterpiece created for His divine purpose). You’re not just another creation or some macaroni noodle-art project. You are a freakin’ masterpiece.
FIGHTING WORDS
Ephesians 2:10—For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 139:14—I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
#2: “If you can’t preach, memorize Scripture, or have the ‘right’ gifts, you can’t do Kingdom work.”
LIE: Only “special” people are useful and can serve God.
TRUTH: God equips all of His people differently and each gift is essential. Paul writes about this truth in 1 Corinthians 12. Just as the human body is made up of different parts, the body of Christ is comprised of unique spiritual gifts. Eyes are important, but even Mike Wazowski was more than just an eyeball. Every single piece of the body is essential! (More about that in When Your Friend Gets the Crown)
FIGHTING WORDS:
1 Peter 4:10—Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
#3: “God’s promises might be true for everyone else, but not for you.”
LIE: You’re the exception.
TRUTH: God is faithful and His promises are guaranteed for all of His children. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to believe God’s promises for other people than it is to believe it for yourself? Think about when someone is going through a hard time: we can wholeheartedly believe that everything is part of God’s plan and He can be trusted to come through for them. But when something hard happens to you, do you struggle believing that for yourself? MAN, the enemy would love for you to doubt the promises of God. You are not the exception to His love, His care, or His faithfulness. God has never broken a single promise, and He’s not going to start with you.
FIGHTING WORDS:
Hebrews 10:23—He who promised is faithful.
#4: “If God really loved you, life wouldn’t be this hard.”
LIE: Suffering means God has abandoned you.
TRUTH: Jesus warned us there would be trials, but He also promised His victory and presence. When someone says they thought their life would be easier because they’re a Christian, I swear God elbow drops the Family Feud “wrong answer” buzzer. EHHHHHH. Life still has hardship, because we live in a broken world. But because of Jesus, we don’t fight a battle that hasn’t already been won. And even walk you’re walking through the valley, God never leaves you (Psalm 23:4).
FIGHTING WORDS:
John 16:33—“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
#5: “You’re alone.”
LIE: God has forgotten you.
TRUTH: God never abandons us. There is no place you can go where He won’t follow. David wrote in Psalm 139, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (V. 7-10) You know what else? Even if you feel like you’ve left Him, He still hasn’t left you. Lay claim to the nearness of God!
FIGHTING WORDS:
Hebrews 13:5—“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
#6: “If you’re not moving fast, you’re falling behind.”
LIE: Your hurry proves your worth.
TRUTH: Jesus values the quality of the things you do far more than the quantity. In the story of Martha and Mary, we see Jesus praising one for choosing to rest at His feet rather than bustle around the house with her sister (Luke 10:38-42). While we are called to serve and do good works, we also have a holy invitation to be still in the presence of our Lord. Don’t confuse “busy” with “faithful.” You can read more about that in Serving or Sitting.
FIGHTING WORDS:
Ecclesiastes 3:11—He has made very thing beautiful in its time.
Psalm 46:10—“Be still, and know that I am God.”
#7: “If you have doubts or questions, God will be mad at you.”
LIE: Doubt disqualifies your faith.
TRUTH: God is big enough to handle all of your questions. Jesus met Thomas in his doubts, and God welcomes honest hearts (John 20). Here’s the thing: God already sees your heart and knows every thought you’ve ever had. If I ask my husband if he likes a new outfit I’m wearing, 9 times out of 10 I can already see the answer—it’s either a big smile or a head tilt that gives it away. The problem is, 10 times out of 10 he’ll say, “Oh yeah, that’s nice!” (I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right—smart man.) But when I know he’s lying, I think, “Dude, I can totally tell that you aren’t crazy about this. I might be a little disappointed that you don’t like it, but you’re not going to hurt my feelings. I can take it!” That’s how God is. He already knows if you have doubts. And He might be a little bummed that you temporarily forgot His faithfulness, but He gets it! He would rather you come to him with all of your big feelings than try to hide away with them.
FIGHTING WORDS:
Jude 22: Be merciful to those who doubt.
#8: “God will only give you so many chances.”
LIE: Grace runs out.
TRUTH: His mercies are new every morning! Contrary to what Angels in the Outfield would have you believe, God doesn’t play baseball. There’s no “three strikes, you’re out” of grace. God isn’t sitting in heaven with a running tally of how many times you’ve screwed up, waiting for you to finally max out your mercy allowance. God loves because He is love—that means He doesn’t know how not to love you. And God forgives us because He loves us! So if He can’t stop loving you, how could He stop offering you forgiveness? Don’t mistake not being able to forgive yourself, with God not being able to forgive you. He is the only inheritance you can never lose.
FIGHTING WORDS:
Lamentations 3:22-23—Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
#9: “God expects you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and figure your life out on your own.”
LIE: Independence = strength
TRUTH: Apart from Him, we can do nothing! Do you really think you could figure everything out by yourself? I don’t even know what kind of lightbulbs I’m supposed to buy, but I should be in complete control of my own life? My salvation? We live in a world that pushes independence, self-reliance, and self-determination. And what does it offer when we can’t seem to figure those things out? SELF-help! The world screams that all we need is just a little more ME in the equation. Meanwhile, the Creator of the universe, oceans, mountains, stars, and sky is waiting for you to tag Him in!
FIGHTING WORDS:
John 15:5—“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
#10: “Your feelings are more trustworthy than God’s Word.”
LIE: Listen to your heart. If it feels right, then it must be true.
TRUTH: Don’t listen to your unsteady emotions rather than God’s steady truths. Jeremiah 17:9 reads, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” While our feelings can be the forceful winds that try to steer our boat, God’s Word is the anchor that keeps us in place.
FIGHTING WORDS:
Proverbs 3:5—Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
The enemy wants to wear you down with lies, but you don’t have to show up to the fight empty-handed.Every falsehood he tries to perpetuate has a counterattack in God’s eternal Word. When you start to feel forgotten, cling to His promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” When you feel rushed, remind yourself that He makes everything beautiful in its time. When you forget just how special you are to God, pray that you are flooded with the truth that you are His masterpiece.
This is how we fight—not out of our own strength, but with His promises.
And the battle doesn’t end here. This is only Part 1! In Part 2 of the Fighting Words series, we’ll uncover even more common lies the enemy wants you to believe, and stack our arsenal with more weapons to send him running. Stay tuned, because the battle is real, but so is the victory.
Lord, I know that the enemy is a liar, and too often I’ve believed his words. Today, I ask You to sharpen my sword and remind me of the truth that no lie can stand against. Open my eyes to recognize the lies for what they are, and strengthen my heart to stand firm in your promises. When I feel weary, remind me that You are my strength. When I feel forgotten, remind me that You are near. When I feel rushed, remind me that Your way is perfect. Anchor me in Your Word and let it be the weapon I reach for every day. Help me walk forward in freedom, ready for the battles ahead, knowing that the war is already won in You. Amen.