If all the energy spent worrying about how we appear to others was spent on meaningful pursuits, our lives and the world may be drastically changed for the better in a week’s time!

I know that there is value in presenting ourselves well; I agree with that, but there is a strange and powerful pull from the world system to give it much more weight than we ought; pardon the pun.

Through a constant hearing of the lies of the world, it seems that we are liable to come to two default positions: life-sucking fretful judgement of ourselves in disgust, or on the other side of the spectrum: selfish pride in our physical appearance.

No one doubts the incredible value of getting some exercise; we were made to move. No one doubts the value of endeavoring to eat relatively healthy, and depending on an individual’s situation, watching our portions. And again, no one doubts the importance of presenting ourselves in a clean and respectable manner. What I wish to argue against is heeding that devil from Hell that makes people feel that they are of less value because they don’t meet a certain physical standard held out by the world. Why not rather give our heart’s attention to the truth held out by Jesus Christ, the truth that you are accepted in the Beloved and belong to Him? Why do we attend to the lying voices that hate us, instead of to the freeing truths of God’s loving Word that are life and health and peace to our bodies, souls, and spirits? We are sometimes in danger of considering truths as cliché while willingly heeding the vomiting voice of the world that ever lives to bind us in fear. We give weight to the shadow, and trample the real as common. Believe the words of God and be free! Attend to the truth. And live free from the fear of man as you truly trust in the Lord and cling to His comforting words.

Victory

There is no secret to freedom. The truth sets free. Simply believe the truth, receive God’s love, and command the spirit of fear to leave. The truth sets free. God’s perfect love casts out fear. Resist the devil and He will flee. There is a battle raging for your heart. Jesus has won the victory already; overcoming the world, He encourages us to “take heart,” and live in a reliance on His strength. We are “strong in the Lord and the strength of His might.” “It is finished,” and by the merits and power of Jesus Christ, all the strength we need to live in this gift of victory is available. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” By simple child-like faith, believe and receive the love of God afresh into your heart. The obedience of faith will work itself out in feats of victory by the power of the Spirit. The reason the enemy tries to bind you with fear is because he is deathly afraid of you. You have authority in Christ to set captives free from the dominion of darkness, to “trample on serpents and scorpions,” and to wield that mighty sword of the Spirit that is sharper than any double-edged sword. In a coming day, when the web of Satan’s lies is exposed by the fullness of the glory of Christ, all shall mockingly speak of him as thus: “is this the man who made the earth tremble.” (Isaiah 14:16) Satan’s power is in his mouth’s accusations and lies; all we need to do is call his bluff and believe the words of our loving Father. It’s true that the devil is the master deceiver, the very father of lies; but we in the power of the Spirit can discern who is speaking, and put to flight his accusing tongue in the authority of Jesus’ name. When confronted by the devil’s temptation in the wilderness, Jesus simply quoted Scripture, commanded him to leave, and quoted one more Scripture (Matthew 4:3-11). We are not ignorant of his devices. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” Praise God that the Holy Spirit has shed abroad God’s love into our hearts, that His perfect love casts out fear, and that we are more than conquers through Him who loved us!