What Are You Hearing?

I'm all fired up. I've been chatting with one of my sweetest friends and we're moving mountains in our conversation. 

I've been thinking about a trend that I see among many Christians. The enemy is so good at what he does. He has us all mixed up and fooled into thinking that we aren't worthy. He has us confused with how value-less we feel and with doubting that God REALLY loves us as we are. 

And something about Satan...he doesn't change his M.O. He might change his tactics to suit each person and situation, but he always does the same things. He has a limited tool bag. He doesn't come out and say to us, "You are unworthy to God." What he does instead is make us question, "Am I worthy to God?" just like he did to Eve in the Garden. He never said directly to Eve, "You are allowed to eat of the fruit." Rather, he said, "Did God really say that?" And then he watched as Eve destroyed herself by allowing the seed of doubt that he planted infect her heart and her thinking. 

When we take it upon ourselves to do his work, he can stand back and gleefully rub his hands together as we

1. Destroy ourselves,
2. Undermine God's Word and the work He has for us to do, and
3. Stop being a living example and sacrifice to the Lord.

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And the enemy never has to break a sweat. 

(Usually) our first course of action with a sister or brother struggling with low self-esteem or self-worth is to comfort them and remind them of all of their good qualities. We want that feeling of worthlessness to go away and for them to feel better. It may come from a solid, Biblically-based place, even. But something that hit me today as I was looking up verses with the word "worthy" is this:

• John 1:27 (NIV) He [Jesus] is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I [John the Baptist] am not worthy to untie.”
  
  
• Psalm 145:3 (NIV) Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
  
  
• Matthew 10:37 (NIV) “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me [Jesus] is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
  
  
• 2 Samuel 22:4 (NIV) “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.
  
  
• 1 Chronicles 16:25 (NIV) For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
  
  
• Psalm 18:3 (NIV) I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
  
  
• Psalm 96:4 (NIV) For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

In all of these verses (and there are many more) He who is "worthy" is the Lord. 

In fact, when we look at many other verses in relation to being "worthy" we see this:

• Revelation 5:4 (NIV) I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
  
  
• Luke 7:7 (NIV) That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
  
  
• Mark 1:7 (NIV) And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I [John the Baptist], the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

In fact....our worth should be wrapped up in this:

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NIV) Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (emphasis mine)
Our worth comes from Jesus. Nothing in us is worthy on its own, but only by the Blood of the Lamb are we counted worthy. 

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."​ (Colossions 1:9-14, emphasis mine.)

The next time we're questioning our worth and getting caught up in that pattern of thinking, let's remind ourselves that on our own, we aren't worthy. Only through Christ are we considered worthy in the Father's eyes. 

And the more we listen to OUR OWN THOUGHTS about ourselves, the less space and energy we have to put toward what we're called to: live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. The more we hear ourselves or the enemy, the less we are able to hear God. 
And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' (Luke 9:23)

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

I believe the "passions and desires" referenced in Galatians 5:24 include the desire for validation and the desire to be needed and important as according to the world's standards. Where are we seeking those things? From people? From our job? Our ministry? Our finances? Our possessions? Our giftings? Our looks or posessions? If we aren't seeking our worthiness in the Lord, we're seeking after idols. 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)

"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Ephesians 5:11)

The things whispered in our ears in the dark that are contrary to God's Word (that He loves you enough to send Jesus--John 3:16), MUST be brought into the light. Lay it at the foot of the cross, at the altar of God, and let Him consume it with fire. 

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