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If you write fiction, you may know all about crafting lies that drive your characters, but have you ever had to beat the lies in your own real-life story?
As I write this, my head and heart are full of the lessons and fellowship of my first ACFW national conference. It is both a spiritual and a professional event, part Christ-centered retreat and part writing career boot camp. If you’ve attended either this year or in the past, you’re probably nodding in agreement.
I went in with two straightforward goals: to learn everything I could from the workshops and to make friends and network with other Christian fiction writers and industry pros. Soon after I stated these goals, I noticed my head crowding with pernicious thoughts.
One insisted, “You’re not good enough and never will be.” It rattled me, because while “not good enough” may well be true for now, “never will be” flew in the face of my goal. Why bother trying to learn or improve? Never is a long time.
The other thoughts looped around memories of every boneheaded remark I’ve ever made, until meeting tons of new people was the last thing I wanted to do. These thoughts didn’t waste time actually telling me that I’m socially inept. They simply repeated until I figured it out myself.
The insecurities paralleled my goals neatly, and it seemed more than coincidental. I asked the advice of a trusted friend and Bible teacher. She recommended that I recognize these thoughts as lies and find specific Scriptures to expose and counteract them. A simple prescription, but it worked.
Maybe you’re headed to a conference soon with one or both of these lies pounding away at your confidence, or maybe you’ve returned from an event with “evidence” that these lies are true. Here are some of the verses that God used to speak comfort into my heart and mind. I know He can do the same for you.
The enemy says, “You’re not good enough and never will be.”
But God’s Word says:
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. -Psalm 139:14
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty! -Psalm 8:3-5
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. -Philippians 1:6
The enemy says, “You’re socially inept.”
But God’s Word says:
Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed? -Isaiah 2:22
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. -Colossians 3:15
“Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.” -Isaiah 54:4-5
Let’s Talk: What lies or insecurities have plagued you recently? How did you beat them?