A few days ago, a Facebook friend shared a photo similar to the one above with the same text.
And that photo really spoke to me.
Like this precious little girl, you and I have an accuser. The Bible says in Revelation 12:10 that Satan is accusing us before God, day and night.
Satan is the father of lies, and he will lie to you about who you are and what you are.
He whispers in your ear that you are a failure. That you’re not good enough. That you’re useless. That you’re unloved and unlovable.
He tells you that you aren’t pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough, talented enough, or wealthy enough.
He wants you to compare and find yourself lacking, and to think that all the women around you are better than you.
He tells you that you don’t matter. That you can’t do anything for Jesus. That your small contribution to God’s kingdom isn’t enough.
He says you’re a bad mother, a bad wife.
He reminds you of all your sins. And he says that you have to live in that place of defeat.
In short, he tells you that your name is “failure.”
Like most convincing lies, his are peppered with truth. You see, without Christ, so much of what Satan says would be true.
Like this little girl, we also have a redeemer. Praise God! A voice of truth, and life, and power.
And while Satan might tell you that your name is failure, God calls you something entirely different.
God calls you his child, his heir – what an honor!
God says that you are loved, unconditionally – while we were yet in sin, He loved us!
God calls you fearfully and wonderfully made, and precious in His sight.
God says that you are worth dying for! His word tells us that there is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
He says that we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus; that we are overcomers. We have all victory and power over Satan through Him.
So, even if this world and the accuser make you feel that your name is failure, never forget that the Almighty God of the universe calls you forgiven, blessed, redeemed, loved, and precious in His sight.
And, that same verse in Revelation tells us the rest of the story. Our accuser does not win this war! The victory belongs to God alone:
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” -Revelation 12:10
Satan is jealous and he hates you. You have a favored position with God and he wants to strip that away from you. But we know the end of the story! Christ reigns and the enemy is cast down.
I pray that God’s words of life, truth, and power will speak into your life and overcome the lies of the enemy on your heart today!
(I didn’t provide references for all the quoted or referenced verses in this post, but you can find a great list of affirmations in Christ on Joyce Meyer’s website.)
Can you share some encouragement today? What is your favorite verse of encouragement that reminds you who you are in Christ?
By Crystal Brothers, Serving Joyfully
Isaiah 43:1 ‘Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you. I have called you by name; you are mine’ and Psalm 73: 23 ‘Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand’ are my go to verses that remind me that God has got me and that He will never let me go..
Love that, Grace! Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’m working on adding lots of those great, encouraging verses to my memory verse box!
Thank you thank you thank you. You are confirming what God spoke to me this morning. What a friend spoke to me last night. God speaks LOUDLY when we need it most. Thank you for sharing TRUTH.
Oh, Pamela, I’m so glad! Yes, God does give us encouragement and confirmation when we need it most.
Crystal,
Isaiah 49:16 says, “See, I have written your name on the palm of my hand.” God calls me by name and loves me so much that He has written my name on the palm of His hand. He has redeemed me by the scars on Christ’s hands. God’s promises in scripture help me slam the door on Satan and tell him, “You’re not welcome here. I belong to God.” Thanks for a wonderful reminder!!
Blessings,
Bev
Yes! Yes! Thanks for the reminder of that verse, I love that one as well. So very powerful when we can really stop and let the meaning sink in to our hearts.
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. Oh, how he loves us so much. We just have to give our heart to him & stay with him. You will feel his love.
Tammy, thank you so much for sharing that encouragement! Yes, He is mighty to save!
That quote “Satan knows your name… but God calls you by your name” is so powerful. Thanks for sharing this!
Yes, I think we all need to remember that sometimes.
I absolutely LOVE that 2nd image. So perfect.
Thank you!
Loved this and really needed to be reminded that I’m made by the hand of God, and He doesn’t make mistakes. This was powerful, Crystal. Thank you! 🙂
Absolutely, Rosann! I’m so glad you were encouraged 🙂
GIIIIIIrrrrrrrrrlllllllllllll – I needed this today!!!! You know some of what I’ve been going through and this spoke to my heart. Thank you, thank you. And this… ” Christ reigns and the enemy is cast down.” Yes and Amen!!!
Chelsey, you are so very sweet and I’m so glad you were encouraged!
Just knowing that God has a plan for me “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)
Yes! So much hope in that verse!
Simply love this, today, Crystal. Such a great message of hope. Oh how the enemy whispers, trying to drown out our Lord’s words to us. Thank you for this reminder! Blessings to you and your family today!
Thanks so much for the kind words Vanessa, I’m so glad you were encouraged. Yes, the enemy tries hard to drown out God’s truth in our hearts. I always go back to John 10:10 as a quick reminder that satan wants to destroy me, but Jesus wants me to have abundant life!
Thank you so much for the wonderful words of encouragement. I’ve been struggling lately w/the whispers of defeat! It reminds me of a song ‘All He Says I Am’ the 1st verse says: ‘He whispers in my ear tells me that I’m fearless’. Thank you for the wonderful reminder!
Love that song. I’m so glad you were encouraged and I pray that God’s truth will continue to be louder in your life than satan’s lies!
I was very touched by your message this morning. I am a new full-time student and tomorrow go to re-take a huge exam that I and 2 of my friends failed. Although passing this exam is important to my studies, remembering who I am in Christ is even more critical. But, you are so right…that Satan is right there to whisper in our ears accusations. We sing a song in Church with the following lyrics: “I will change your name, You shall no longer be called, Wounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid, I will change your name, Your new name shall be, Confident, Joyfulness, Overcoming One, Faithfulness, Friend of God, One who sees My Face”. I know this is Gods Heart for all of us Christian women-no matter what we are facing-He has called us, changed our name, and we belong to Him! 🙂
You are so right that remembering who you are in Christ is even more important than the test! Also, unfortunately, I can relate to failing a test. I took my comprehensive exams for my masters degree last Fall and I failed a portion of the test and had to retake it. I was so embarrassed about it all, but I did end up passing later and graduated, and I hope that happens for you as well 🙂
Love those lyrics! Thanks so much for sharing!
Just what I needed to hear today after my pity party of yesterday! Thanks for the reminder Crystal. My pick me up scripture is Deut. 32:10. Knowing He searches me out and protects me as the apple of His eye, when I’m in those desert places is a strong reassurance that I’ll make it after all! God bless you.
Hi Bosede, I’ve had my fair share of pity parties as well! lol. So glad you were encouraged, and thanks for sharing that verse! Love that!
Great post!
Isaiah 43:4 is my favourite – precious and honoured in God’s sight and He loves me.
Yes! What a beautiful thing 🙂
Loved this post today. All of the scriptures mentioned are favorites of mine also as well as Deut.31:8 The Lord Himself will go before me. He will be with me. He will not leave me or forget me. Don’t be afraid and don’t worry.
Thank you and God bless you!
Yes, I love that one as well! Thanks for sharing 🙂
“Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to GIVE the victory” ~ 1 John 5:4
I love this verse, I cannot recall which “version” this is … but it is AWSOME to me!
Thanks for sharing, Suzanne 🙂
I really love that image above. “Satan knows your name but calls you by your sin. But God knows your sin, but calls you by your name.” That just hit me so hard. Thank you.
Thank you, Lisa! I’m so glad you were encouraged 🙂
Very powerful stuff, Crystal! Thank you for sharing such encouragement and insight!
Thank you, Nancy!
I am just reading these messages of encouragement at the end of a day that I didn’t measure up again and hurt someone I love. I am thankful for your words of ministering Christ’s love and forgiveness. I see God’s hand in closing my evening like this.
Mary Jo, thank you so much for sharing! I pray that forgiveness will come freely between you and the one who was hurt. I am so glad that you were encouraged tonight. I just love it when God puts things in our path that we so need at that moment!
I’m so glad that while the enemy is our accuser, God is always our affirmer. I think every woman struggles with this (or maybe it’s just me) and you have given us some powerful words to use as weapons in that battle–for ourselves and our sisters. Thank you, Crystal!
Amen, Holley! Yes, it does seem to be a common problem. And it’s so funny how it’s so easy for us to encourage one another and see each other’s value and worth, but it’s so hard for me sometimes to turn it on myself. But all those words are for me too, even though it’s hard to see that sometimes. You’re right–we need it for both ourselves and our sisters 🙂 Thanks!
what a great pairing of articles. How many times I have found myself simply NOT measuring up. Satan brings those lies before us constantly. What wonderful scriptures you chose to remind us just how untrue those words are. I love many of those verses you chose and I also love Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Yes, I love that verse as well! Such a comfort to know that there is a plan, and that whatever happens in my life did not take Him by surprise at all. He has a plan and He knows exactly what that is…for a hope and a future. All these Words of truth are just so exciting when we really let them sink in!
Crystal,
Loved reading your post today. It spoke directly to me. Satan has been on my back & in my ears lately. I hear him daily saying “not good enough, smart enough, stupid”. A lot of days I tend to believe him and take it to heart.
Psalm 23 is always a good place to go. “The Lord is my shepherd…” it is stating that He will take care of us always. I also love Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”. He has big plans for you.
To truly encourage all women here: There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you.” You are all beautifully created by a master who loves you & sings over you daily!
Blessings to all!
So true, Beth! Thank you so much for your comment!
Really loved this! Reminds me of the song “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns.
Yes, Shelly! I LOVE that song! I also think that’s why it is so very important for us to immerse ourselves in God’s word, because that IS the voice of truth and it’s how we fight against satan. Thanks for reading 🙂
My go to verse when I’m discouraged is Jeremiah 29:11. The reminder that God’s got my future keeps me in good stead. Love the second graphic – pinned it!
My favorite verses to remind me who I am in Christ, are from John 1:12-13:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Crystal,
Thank you for your words! This spoke to me in regards to my journey to understand the concept of being “enough” and other lessons from a retreat called Captivating Heart. I recently wrote a blog post that summarizes and shares blogs from others that speaks to this idea. I wanted to show my readers who may be struggling with not feeling adequate that they are not alone! http://jamiesthots.com/2013/09/22/enough-im-not-alone-youre-not-alone/
2 Cor 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
I am weak, and I need Jesus.