Who had deceived thee so often as thyself? —Benjamin Franklin
Have you ever worn one of those weight-lifting belts and cinched it up nice and tight? It gives you a feeling of stability and strength. That’s what truth does. It strengthens us at our very core. Maybe that’s why the Bible calls us to put on the “belt of truth!”
Truth is reality—things as they really are as opposed to what they look like, what they feel like, or what you wish they were like. Yeah, it’s touchy, emotional stuff. So we need Truth as the undergirding reality that holds everything else up. Jesus’ “high priestly” prayer reveals where truth is found:
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:14-17)
First, we need to take time to know the truth. When you know the truth of Scripture, lies become obvious. That comes through a lifelong discovery of truth in His Word.
Secondly, take your thoughts captive. If we have a thought and wonder if it’s a deception, we present it to Jesus and ask Him, “Jesus, I just had this thought. Is it a lie or Your truth? Open my eyes to Your truth.” And by His Spirit, He will.
Thirdly, take your thoughts to community. One of the great joys of living in a community that believes the Bible is that we can sit down with one another and say, “Here’s what I’m thinking. Does it sound like a lie to you or does it sound like the truth?” And sometimes just by verbalizing it, we know it’s a lie.
So where are you today? Is there someplace you are teetering between Truth and lies? Cinch up that belt of Truth!
Lord, strengthen me with Your truth, protecting me against the lies of the enemy. I bring my thoughts to You now, to be taken captive by You. Thank You for the brothers and sisters around me who are honest and wise. Use them all to lead me in Your everlasting ways. Amen.