One of the greatest difficulties for men caught up in an addictive lifestyle is stifling the many lies that Satan has inserted into our belief system.  Thoughts such as "nobody loves me", "I will never be enough", "I am just a loser" or "I am just too stupid" are examples of the many lies that Satan has inserted into our minds during times of trauma, usually in our youth.  When we were young our brains were not fully developed, and we believed those lies because we didn't yet know the truth of God's Word. Remember, trauma does not have to be large "T", like the death of a family member or divorce of one's parents, it can be repeated little "t"s, like an absentee parent of verbal abuse of a sibling.  They all add up to trauma in our memory banks, which we are not even aware of without searching our past.  This is where the hard work comes in.

 The process of getting those lies out of our mind is recognizing them as lies, renouncing them, and replacing them with the Word of God.  This a process described in Romans 12:2, which reads, "be transformed by the renewing of the mind".  When we truly BELIEVE deep down in our souls the truth of God's Word, we will start following the voice of the Holy Spirit and denying the spirit of this world.  It is a slow process but has great rewards!

One of my favorite song artists is Lauren Daigle, and my favorite title of hers is called "You Say". The 1st verse reads, "I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough.
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up."  How does she fight these feelings and thoughts you ask?  By renewing her mind through memorizing scripture.

I RENOUNCE THE LIE THAT I AM REJECTED, UNLOVED, OR SHAMEFUL.
IN CHRIST I AM ACCEPTED. GOD SAYS:

• I am God’s child (see John 1:12)
• I am Christ’s friend (see John 15:15)
• I have been justified (see Romans 5:1)
• I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:17)
• I have been bought with a price: I belong to God. (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am a member of Christ’s Body (see 1 Corinthians 12:27)
• I am a saint, a holy one (see Ephesians 1:1)
• I have been adopted as God’s child (see Ephesians 1:5)
• I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 2:18)
• I have been forgiven of all my sins (see Colossians 1:14)
• I am complete in Christ (see Colossians 2:10)

I RENOUNCE THE LIE THAT I AM GUILTY, UNPROTECTED, ALONE,
OR ABANDONED. IN CHRIST I AM SECURE. GOD SAYS:

• I am free from condemnation (see Romans 8:1-2)
• I am assured that all things work together for good (see Romans 8:28)
• I am free from all condemning charges against me (see Romans 8:31-34)
• I cannot be separated from the love of God (see Romans 8:35-39)
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected
  (see Philippians 1:6)
• I am a citizen of heaven (see Philippians 3:20)
• I am hidden with Christ in God (see Colossians 3:3)
• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control (see 2 Timothy 1:7)
• I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16)
• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (see 1 John 5:18)

My encouragement for you is that you will pick one of these versus and place it on your mirror in the bathroom, and repeat it over and over again each morning as you shower and shave.  Do this for one month or until you believe it deep down in your soul.  Then pick another one and do the same.  I guarantee it will be life changing!

We always act according to our core beliefs.  If we BELIEVE we are losers, we will ACT like a loser.  If we BELIEVE we are an over-comer, we will ACT like an over-comer.

Your brother in the battle,

Rick DeBoard