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Girlfriends in God - Sept. 16, 2008

September 16, 2008
Nailing Lies To The Cross
Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NLT)

Friend to Friend
One major blessing of being in women’s ministry is the friendships I have with other women in ministry. We are our own little band of sisters. Sisters with a mission! We cheer for one another, cry with one another, laugh with one another, pray for one another, and rejoice with one another.

One sister I’ve had the opportunity to lock arms with for the journey is named Renee. Renee works for an international women’s ministry and is a talented God-fearing, Bible-teaching speaker and writer. A few years back, Renee traveled across the country to speak at a women’s retreat. When she got there, a few unexpected circumstances caused her to send out an “SOS, pray-for-me-now” email to her ministry sisters. I got the email and hit my knees.

Early the next week, Renee sent us an email thanking us for praying and telling us what God did in the hearts of women at that retreat. She told us that she spoke about the lies that we believe as women and told personal and biblical stories that illuminated God’s truth. Then, at the final session, Renee asked the women to consider what they believed to be true about themselves. Her challenge went something like this: “When you settle your soul long enough to simply be still—when you pause to listen to your heart—what do you hear? Are there lies that linger in your heart knowingly or unknowingly?”

She encouraged them to write down on a note card the lies they had accepted as truth, whether lies spoken by a parent, kids in the schoolyard, a friend, a family member, a spouse, a child, a pastor, or a stranger. She told them that some of the lies might never have been spoken at all, just believed.

When they finished she invited them to bring the cards to a wooden cross at the front of the room. Next to the cross she had placed baskets filled with promises from God’s Word, and after each woman nailed her card to the cross, she picked up a truth that would replace her lies.

Tears ran down almost every cheek as the women brought their lies to the cross and embraced God’s life-changing Words. Guilt was forgiven, worthless became precious, and sorrows were traded for joy that day. Then a whoop-it-up celebration went down! God, through his Holy Spirit, revealed His heart to those sweet women and shattered the lies of the enemy.

After the retreat was over, Renee looked through the cards that had been nailed to the cross. One card jumped out at her. Written over and over was one word: Worthless!

The woman who wrote that word wasn’t the only one at that retreat who felt that way. That same word—worthless—was penned on many of the cards that weekend. It represents a lie that has been believed by most every woman at some point in her life. There have been days, weeks, and months that I’ve believed it myself.

It’s one of Satan’s favorite words to throw at us, and it is a big, fat, ugly lie.

The Bible clearly shows us that we are valued in the sight of the Lord. When we allow God’s Word to flood our lives with the truth we are changed by the height, the depth, and the width of His love for us. “Take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18–19, MSG).

God loves you with a personal love. He knows your name. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He considers you highly valuable. No matter what you’ve believed in the past, choose by faith to believe this now: you are valued, priceless, and adored by God.

Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you for holding me safely in Your arms of love.  Please help me to recognize any lie that my heart may perceive as truth, and strengthen me to trade in my sorrow for your joy.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
What does your heart hear when you are still?

What lies would you write on that card?

Meditate on the following Psalm (Read it silently; then out loud.)

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalm 103:1-5)

Now, spend a few moments prayerfully responding to God.

More from the Girlfriends
On a personal note, I recently had the honor of recording a LIVE worship album that is scheduled to be released in October!  The CD is called “Unsearchable,” and I have never been more excited about a project in my life!  God led me to partner with a record label called Great Worship Songs. GreatWorshipSongs.com is a worship-centric imprint and division of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing (a Universal Music Publishing Group Company) serving worship leaders and pastors with new worship songs for corporate and personal worship. Check them out and let your music pastor know about them too!  CLICK HERE to listen to some of my music right now! :-)

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from Gwen’s book, Broken Into Beautiful. To order the book, please CLICK HERE

Gwen Smith is a worship artist, songwriter, speaker, and author. For more information, visit her website at: www.GwenSmith.net.

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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
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