DOWNTON ABBEY: THE TRUTH SETS YOU FREE!

 Downton Abbey has many interesting characters whose experiences apply to our lives.In the last episode (so sad), Mrs. Crawley and Lord Merton lived under the belief that his anemia was fatal.  In fact, they were waiting for him to rapidly fade away, but that wasn’t happening!  He felt good and began to wonder about his original diagnosis.Determined to check what he had been told, Lord Merton got retested.  The result? His disease was not fatal. He had been believing a lie—something that robbed him of joy and affected his outlook on life.

That’s what happens when you and I believe lies that contradict what God says. Our joy vanishes and we easily find ourselves under a cloud of negative and defeating thoughts. BUT:

Jesus promises

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!   (John 8:32)

To help you examine whether you’re believing lies about yourself or not, check out these 12 statements that might be familiar. Then check out what God says.YOU SAY                                                           GOD SAYS                                           BIBLE VERSES

• I can’t figure it out                                     I will direct your steps                            Proverbs 3:5-6
• It’s impossible                                            All things are possible                             Luke 18:27
• Nobody loves me                                       I love you                                                    John 3:16
• I can’t forgive myself                                I forgive you                                               Romans 8:1
• It’s not worth it                                          It will be worth it                                      Romans 8:28
• I’m not smart enough                               I will give you wisdom                             1 Corinthians 1:30
• I’m not able                                                 I am able                                                    2 Corinthians 9:8
• I can’t go on                                                My grace is sufficient                              2 Corinthians 12:9
• I can’t do it                                                  You can do all things                               Philippians 4:13
• I can’t manage                                            I will supply all your needs                    Philippians 4:19
• I’m afraid                                                     I have not given you fear                        2 Timothy 1:7
• I feel all alone                                             I will never leave you                               Hebrews 13:5

Which one, or more, statements do you recognize as yours? 

Let me encourage you to:

1. Grab a journal or notebook, or whatever you use to make notes
2. Look up the Scripture verses that fit with your thoughts
3. Pray for insights into: Why do I think like this? What’s behind it?
4. Pour out your thoughts, let them flow, record and re-read them
5. Practice replacing your words with what God’s word says
6. Practice affirming, I will believe and trust God about this
7. Practice again and again until you see your thinking transformed

(Romans 12:2)(Thank you to my friend, Chris, for permission to share this helpful list.)If you have friends who would be helped by this content, please share it with them.  Permission granted, but please add the source: www.poppysmith.comBlessings,PoppyPhoto credit: DollarPhoto Club