Grab a cup of coffee and relax as you read on about the lies we are tricked into believing…

The devil whispers HIS lies – in YOUR voice – in your mind and if you listen to them long enough, you start to believe those lies instead of the truth. “I’m not pretty enough.” “I’m not smart enough.” “No one will ever love me.” “They don’t want to see me succeed.” “I can never leave this abusive relationship.”

These lies will affect your choices.

EVERY choice you make affects the life you will live. (And contrary to popular belief – EVERY choice you make affects someone else.)

If our identity is based on our accomplishments or relationships – then it is forever changing.

But if our identity is based on the solid, never changing truth – then we can navigate through the highs and lows without being destroyed by the lies of the enemy.

Think about this….how could a day start out with the sun shining, birds singing, and then go horribly wrong?

**Your parents get mad at you for a low grade in Math.

**The boy or girl you like goes to the dance with someone else.*

*You get in an argument with your best friend.

In that moment – when things like this are happening to YOU – you feel anything and everything but good and worthy.

It’s in these moments that your identity matters the MOST! To see yourself as God sees you! It’s when you have to put your boots on and step on those lies that swirl in your head and embrace the truth of God’s word that says..

**I am made in the image of God!

**Christ died on the cross for me!

**I’m a child of God and He loves ME!

**I will not be defined by the mistakes I’ve made or the way I “feel” – I will stand on the truth that I am a child of the King!

If we do not stand on these truths and combat the lies of the enemy, we will make bad choices.

Bad choices are most often made in the midst of strong emotional “feelings” – often out of rebellion – thinking we will hurt someone else when in all reality, we end up hurting ourselves.

Hurt people, hurt people.

Healed people, help heal people.

You can restructure negative thinking patterns. Mental Health Science call is “cognitive restructuring”. In other words – changing your thoughts.

The bible teaches this exact same thing. In Philippians 4:8 tells the way to perform “cognitive restructuring” – “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Control your thoughts – think on good things – quench the lies of the enemy and take back your thoughts!

I am currently meeting with teens with the end goal of guiding them to find their identity in Christ. To empower them to be strong but kind. This past week I brought them a blank canvas and told them to paint a quote that would encourage and inspire them and to then hang them in a place they would see them every morning.

I encourage you who are reading this to find a favorite positive quote – write it, paint it, post it look at it often.

I also asked my teens to take positive affirmations – “I am a good daughter” – “I am Loved” – “I am Beautiful” and post them around their mirror. I asked them to say them out loud every morning. (Because what you say goes out your mouth, in your ear, and that starts the cognitive restructuring). I then asked them the next time we met if it made a difference? Every. Single. Girl said Yes! It did! It just made my day “better” somehow.

May is mental health month – let’s be there to lift up and encourage each other! Be blessed my friends