When You are the Leper: Part I

Lies. We all know them well. We have been told them. We have told them. We have been consumed by them. We have overcome them.

lie ² |laɪ| |lʌɪ|

noun

an intentionally false statement 

• used with reference to a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression 

tell a lie or lies :

• ( lie one's way into/out of) get oneself into or out of a situation by lying 

• (of a thing) present a false impression; be deceptive 

From experience I have found that it is easier to believe a lie when a person is vulnerable. Many different things can make one vulnerable to falsehood. 

• Naivety
• Stress
• Haste (ready to believe the first thing said)
• Sickness
• Depression
• Foolishness
• Self Pity
• Weakness of heart
• and many more...

If anything we are always vulnerable because of our own foolishness. Tough, but true.
So when vulnerability kicks you in the butt you can find yourself drowning in the lies. Small ones start and they feed at the core of your being and begin to slowly deteriorate the truths your mind knew before. One acceptance of a small lie is just a hop, skip and a jump from birthing a rumor weed.
Lies are the start till the rumor catches on and spreads devouring all in its path. No mercy. No grace. We see this outwardly among us all. Friends talking about friends. People talking about People. Family talking about Family. But, the lies that I address today are not the ones that others are speaking from their lips, but the ones that are fed to us by the enemy.
The enemy of any spiritual walk or journey. Our worst enemy. The enemy longs for us to accept him so that we ultimately become our own enemy. Let's hope that it hasn't got that far. & if it has, there is a way out, you can fight yourself with help from the Lord.

Ephesians 2

By Grace Through Faith

 ¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him

Click here to read all of Ephesians 2
Lies that I have been recently flooded with are so silly to even type here. There should be no doubts to any of these lingering questions. But, if you are honest with yourself, there has been a time in your life, if not right now, that you also have struggled with these. We are all in the same rocking boat.
The Lies:

1. Will God answer my prayer?
2. What if He doesn't?
3. There's nothing that can really be done.

The Truth:

1. He will always answer prayer. His listening never stops. He is always hearing our thoughts, our words, our spirits, our souls and our hearts. There isn't one second that He is too busy to pay attention. Believe and Receive. Have faith. Take heart. We often mishandle our faith which creates doubt. I am praying through my doubt currently. Doubts that I shouldn't have I am asking the Lord to help me to overcome. Who better to ask to gain faith from then the One who has always had faith in us and is eternally faithful to us. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
2. You Have Not because You Ask Not::: We make the mistake of dwelling on the issue, we get lazy and we don't put our lips into action. We must find our humility. To bow before the throne knowing that God has all power to do anything. We must not limit the Lord. God has NO LIMITATIONS. How silly we are to think God can only do "so much." Still think God has limitations? Watch this and I guarantee you that you will change your mind: Crazy Love Universe. 

   James 4:2

   New International Version (NIV)
   You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

   2 Chronicles 7:14

   New International Version (NIV)

   
   

   if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

   
   

   Hebrews 10:22

   New International Version (NIV)

   
   

   let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
3. Matthew 7:7-11

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
If we are not asking then how can we expect to receive. If we are not seeking how can we expect change. If we will not knock on the door it will never open.

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 15:7

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Mountains can be moved by the power of prayer. The Lord rewards those who seek His face. He longs for us to come to Him in our weakness because He is stronger. FAITH. We can have faith that the Lord will become our warrior when we have lost the battle. He will raise us up and renew our strength so that He and we can fight the battle together.

People do not pray because they think that their prayers don't make a difference. This is something I have struggled with at times. So this is where I begin to make a change. I pray that the Lord would help to humble me. I cannot go through this life doing things all on my own. I need my knight in shining armor to suit up and put me back on my horse; to ride into battle with me against the enemy. I pray that the Lord would help me to uncover the lies and see them for what they are: worthless. I pray that the lies would be replaced with truths. I pray that this leper would grow in faith. I pray that this faith would bring favor in prayer. I am casting out all lies and deception. Sweet relief. It shall come. Lord teach me how to have more of your unfailing faith. I pray that I am freed from these bonds. Amen.