Even when I turned my life over to Christ, I didn’t know anything differently than to believe the lies and accusations the enemy suggested in my mind. I had no idea what God said or thought about me—that I was fully loved, fully known, and fully accepted—because I had been listening to the enemy whisper lies to me my entire life—lies that limited my life and weren’t based in truth. That’s what he does. He makes up lies and spreads them nonstop. I heard a constant barrage of, “You can’t, you won’t, you’ll never be,” or, “You’ll always be . . .”

Our wounds of worthlessness are constantly chafed by these accusations and never allowed to heal because we believe them and repeat them to ourselves. I never questioned what rolled through my mind—No one will ever love you. You’re a failure. You’re damaged goods. You blew it big-time. I never asked myself: Who sent those thoughts —God or the enemy? Where will these thoughts take me—into God’s mind and will and purpose, or into shame—the enemy’s mind, will, and purpose?

Satan is the father of lies and the accuser of us all. When he lies, he speaks his native tongue. That’s right, his native language is lying (John 8: 44)! He doesn’t know how to speak anything but lies . . . and for years, I didn’t know how to do anything but believe those lies.

Wherever my mind went, all of my emotions and feelings followed uncontrollably .. “Not smart enough, fit enough, pretty enough, thin enough, good enough, holy enough.” Never enough. Of anything. Just as God had begun to heal my broken heart and bind my wounded soul, he began renewing my mind with his truth. God used my longings and desires for redemption and reconciliation to draw me closer to Him.

Instead, think: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4: 8).

My Daddy Says . . .

“My daddy says I’m beautiful and intelligent.”

Through strengthening my heart and soul, and renewing my mind, God has taught me that though I cannot change the past, I don’t have to perpetuate it into my future. I can change my mind, my future, and the next generation’s heritage. I can love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind. I can grow strong for the challenges that lie ahead in my promised land. Yes, I know, just as the children of Israel discovered, that to defeat my enemy of shame there will always be walls to tear down and giants to slay. But I’ll be ready. I know what my Daddy says.