The D Word

I bet you are going through a bunch of ugly words in your head right now, trying to figure out what the D word is? Am I right? Hee Hee. :)

The ugliest of all D words is devil. Okay, so we knew that. But have you ever noticed how many negative words start with the letter D?

- dead - disgusting - dumb
- death - dishonor - dark
- debt - divorced - dirty
- defeated - drunk - destroyed
- demonic - defiled - disgusting
- denial - discouraged - doomed
- depressed - devious - dreadful
- damaged - deceitful - desperate

....just to name a few.....

Now Im not trying to give the letter D a bad wrap - I know there are some D words that have positive meanings -but for todays purpose, lets give credit where its due. The D words that are negative, are the ones that the ultimate D word uses against us.

John 10:10 says, The thief( aka, devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

That ol devil seriously does come to steal,kill and destroy - and our attitudes and the state of our heart are the first targets.

Have you had any of the above words floating around in your head lately? Have you been beating yourself up inside for mistakes made, things not done, failures, sins committed? Have you been talking to your own psyche, trying to convince yourself that are a pretty pitiful excuse for a Christian, woman, mother, wife, or person?

Its not you. Its that D word again. He is ready and willing to pounce into your mind, convincing you that all those ugly D words above, apply to you. He is probably working hard at inviting you and engaging you in a game of stinkin thinkin. Are you playing along?

If you are, stop it right now! (Sorry, my mommy voice slipped out.) When your mother told you not to get involved in things or with people that would bring you down, did you ever notice that she was usually right?

Well in this case, our Father is telling us not to play the game, and I think we should listen.

I often find myself playing this game with D, before I even realize that he has pulled me in. That is how D operates - sneaky, conniving, with an intentional focus on destroying our spirit.

The good news, literally, is that we have the power within us to say no to this game. To listen to the voice of God, instead of the tricks of D. To focus on who God says we are, and not who we think we see in the mirror. To remember that we are wonderfully and uniquely made, not just the shell of a person who has been wronged, hurt, sinned, and ashamed.

That is just D talking. God would never say such things. God does not play the game of stinkin thinkin, in fact, He does not play games at all.

So many people, especially women, engage in the game of self condemnation every day. We compare ourselves to others, and feel inferior. We compare ourselves to who we think we should be, and feel inferior. We compare ourselves to who we wish we were, and feel inferior.

Inferiority is nothing more, than stinkin thinkin. Self condemnation is stinkin thinkin. And D is the king of stinkin thinkin. Lets make a pact to not be friends with him anymore. Pooh on him.

Galatians 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Whatever we have done, whoever we are or have been, whatever has been done to us - does not matter. The only thing that matters is that we are made new - made whole - made clean - made beautiful - made amazing - by Gods grace. Beautiful, inside and out.

His grace remains with us, His love sustains us, and His mercy maintains us. Thanks to His love, we have no reason to entertain any words that start with D - unless they are delightful daughter of the most high King -

Focus today on who you in Christ.