I was buried in anxieties accompanied by depression for 34 years…not fun! I frequently chastised myself mentally and emotionally that I did not have enough faith. However, that ended up not being true. I discovered that my problem was not unbelief but misbelief. Misbeliefs or untruths dictated the monologue or the continuous negative chatter that went on inside my mind. These thoughts were lies which were destructive mentally and emotionally.
Your emotions manufacture your behavior, your self-talk dictates your feelings, and the core of your mind (your heart) generates your self-talk. The foundational beliefs in my heart were misbeliefs/lies which produced erroneous self-talk. Darkness ensued resulting into behavior that restricted, betrayed, and compromised my walk with the Lord.
During these dark days constantly living life based on misbeliefs, I became a germaphobe which was horrible. Severe germaphobia was a terrible taskmaster. It impacted me practically every moment of my life. The devil used this to shrink wrap my world. My being was restricted and confined, and I could not break free.
Some of the diabolical thoughts at the core of my being were, You’re a reject…You’re crazy…You’re stupid…You’ve let the world kick your butt…don’t try anything proactive, you will fail…he/she doesn’t like me…that is so diseased…stay away from that…you forgot you disinfecting wipes…that waitress touched the top of your glass, ugh, I can’t drink from it. Planes and restaurants were disasters for my mind. My problem was not unbelief but misbeliefs.
How did I get well? I came to realize that I was in a spiritual battle that I could not win on my own. Ephesians 6:10&11 showed me how to win my battle…Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The armor of God begins with the “belt (or girdle) of truth” which holds other vital pieces of the armor in place. Everyday was started by putting on the whole armor.
I recognized that the devil was a pathological liar. “The devil does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
I came to realize that the way the devil and world snatched my attention was through anxieties and fear. Philippians 4:6 became very clear about this, “Be anxious in nothing but in everything let you request be made to God…” I treated every “anxiety” that came my way as a lie and immediately handed it over to God.
I learned to trust God in detail. Proverbs 3:5&6 instructs us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.” I didn’t allow anxieties to become entrenched in my mind and treated each of them as a lie. Got rid of them immediately.
I saturated my mind with God’s Word…memorized and “chewed on it”. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31&32. Psalm 119:11, “Your Word of I hid in my heart that I will not sin against you.”
I started the day praising Him. Psalm 100 states for us “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His court with praise.”
Don’t do life by yourself. You need others. Be transparent and authentic with one another, “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
It’s all about the Truth. “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long” (Psalm 25:5). Misbeliefs/untruths will take you down. Get rid of them and live in the truth which sets you free…
Barnabas Man 