I want to begin by saying that speaking truth over the hard times in your life will not necessarily “fix” them. What it will do is position your heart in a place of peace and surrender, giving you the strength and hope you need to carry on.

When I was going through one of the most difficult times in my life and in my faith, my thoughts became tangled in the lies I’d believed my whole life.

I wasn’t enough, I wasn’t lovable, I wasn’t worth anything. These thoughts pounded at my heart as I struggled through some really tough stuff.

And I believed them.

I was so overcome with believing I had no worth that I was ready to give up on my faith. In little ways I began to fall away from God. I felt He had abandoned me and this new thought only fueled the belief that I wasn’t worth loving. It was a dark place that I thought I’d never climb out of.

I wish that I had known how to take control of my thoughts and speak truth over my life at the time. But, being only a few years into my Christian faith, I had no idea how to stand against the lies in that way.

It was through some influential people and messages poured into my life that I learned the practice of speaking truth over hard times. And that is what I want to share with you today.

Soaking in the Truth

Although it seems the hardest to read the Bible when you’re struggling, t is important to constantly be in the Scriptures when you are going through hard times.

We need to know the truth in order to combat the lies.

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When Jesus was in the wilderness, Satan used a skewed version of the Scriptures to tempt him. But Jesus knew what the Scripture said and so he could remain steadfast despite the temptation.

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” -Matthew 4:10

We need to be in the Word, constantly familiarizing ourselves with what God actually says. It is so easy to take a verse out of context or to hear or read an encouraging message that isn’t actually biblical. And Satan wants to use these things against us.

Spend time in the word. Find a Bible reading plan or read through a specific book. Do what it takes to spend time in the Word every day. It doesn’t have to be long. Sometimes I’ve just read one small chapter a day. Sometimes it’s meditating on just one verse from that chapter.

Fill your mind with truth, and you will find it easier to stand against Satan’s lies and find hope in hard times.

Finding Truth to Speak

I love the encouragement that I found in Joyce Meyer’s, Battlefield of the Mind book. She reminds us to “think about what you are thinking about.”

How often do we let our thoughts wander to dangerous or hopeless places?

I want to encourage you to start the practice of thinking about what you are thinking about. Try to recognize the thoughts that are going through your mind, especially directly before you begin to feel hopeless or discouraged.

As you recognize the thoughts that bring you to that hopeless place, you can begin to find the truths to speak into those places.

For me, I began to recognize the thoughts that I wasn’t enough and I wasn’t lovable. So I searched the Scriptures for truths to combat those thoughts.

I am God’s masterpiece and He created me for a purpose. -Ephesians 2:10

I am dearly loved. -Colossians 3:12

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. -Psalm 139:14

These are just a few of the truths I found to combat the negative thoughts that stemmed from Satan’s lies. Take time to find Scripture to combat the lies that you struggle with.

Find that truth and write it down.

Speaking Truth Over Lies

Next, it is so important to speak these truths out loud over your life.

I woke up each morning and would say these truths aloud. I would then read the Scriptures and pray that God would work them into my heart and cast out the lies.

Here is an example of one of the lies I chose to combat with truth. 

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Say Aloud:

I am God’s masterpiece and He created me for a purpose

Scripture:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your great love and grace. Thank you for creating me exactly as I am. Help me to be confident despite my hardships and limitations. Help me to consider my suffering as joy as I live to do the good you have prepared for me. My purpose is to bring You glory, Lord, and I surrender my heart, my limitations, my fears, my plans and this day to You. Help me to walk in the confidence of being Your beloved masterpiece. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Thoughts to Consider:

What changes about my view of myself when I consider myself a masterpiece designed my God?

I want to encourage you to find Scripture to speak over your life. Take notice of what you struggle with and what lies go through your mind. Take notice of any negative thoughts. Find the truths to combat those lies and negative thoughts and speak it over your life daily.

It is amazing the hope and peace that will fill your heart as you begin to speak truth over your life.