When I look in a mirror, I see myself.
I see that freckle.
I see my smile.
I see the piece of spinach stuck on my tooth.
Mirrors help us see ourselves clearly. They show us whether we’re ready to head out into the world or whether we need to make an adjustment—like removing that stubborn piece of spinach from my canine tooth.
Like it or not, the reflection we see informs how we view ourselves and even how we understand our identity. But sometimes, the mirror we’re looking into distorts reality.
Have you ever stood in a funhouse and seen your reflection?
I’ve looked in enough normal mirrors—and seen enough pictures of myself—to know that my torso is not three times longer than my legs. But if I didn’t know the truth, I might wonder what was wrong with me. That mirror shrinks my head to the size of a pea and stretches everything else wildly out of proportion.
Reality is skewed in that mirror.
Believing the lies of the enemy is much like looking into a funhouse mirror. We see ourselves distorted. Lies become a breeding ground for negativity, and Satan has a heyday with us.
Negative self-talk loops endlessly, whispering worthlessness. We compare ourselves to others and always come up short. Feelings take center stage while God’s truth fades into the background.
The real question is: What does God’s Word say?
Satan is the father of lies. He cannot take away who we are in Christ, but he can distract and discourage us so that we fail to live in the freedom and by the power of the Holy Spirit. We stay stuck because our thinking and emotions are stuck. Often, we don’t even recognize the thought and emotional patterns we’re trapped in. It’s like we’re looking in that distorted mirror and really think our neck is as long as our legs.
But there is power in identifying what we are thinking and feeling. If we can name the thought, identify the emotion behind it, and process the “why,” we can begin to take it captive.
Whatever thoughts or emotions we fail to take captive will eventually take us captive.
When we’re swept up in negative emotions and thought loops, we become vulnerable. That’s when the flesh takes over and the enemy whispers his lies.
In those moments, we need to pause and go to the Lord. It is crucial to ask Him to meet you right there and to reveal what’s happening beneath the surface. When we process the “why” with Him, He shows us truth and exposes the lies.
The Lord calls us to take our thoughts (and emotions) captive and make them obedient to Christ. But we can’t fully surrender what we haven’t first identified. We must become aware of what we’re thinking, feeling, and choosing—and what is driving those patterns.
We can confess and renounce the lies of the enemy. We can confess our sin. We can remind ourselves of who we are positionally in Christ. And we can speak Scripture over our minds and hearts. This practice is life-transformational. It is actively taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, Paul writes:
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
God’s Word tells us that we need to confess our sin to the Lord. Often, there are lies hiding behind our sin. How often do we believe lies that don’t make sense? Many of those lies we’d never say out loud. They just take up space in our minds getting louder and louder the longer we allow them to take up residency there. These lies begin to drive our behavior and influence our emotions.
We want to put a stake in the ground and say NO MORE.
I renounce the lie. I give it up. I lay it at the feet of Jesus. I actively have to decide that I will not be tripped up by the same thing over and over.
I’m going to CHOOSE to believe and announce God’s truth over the lies of the enemy.
It is so crazy. Satan is our tempter and our accuser. He tempts us to sin and then shames us and tells us how much a failure we are for giving into the temptation.
Our minds naturally settle into familiar ruts of thought and emotional patterns. That’s how our brains are wired. We gravitate toward the path of least resistance—recycling the same thoughts, which produce the same emotions, which lead to the same behaviors.
But the beautiful truth is this: we do not have to stay in ruts that are unhealthy or dishonoring to God.
Through His power, we can put up a “road closed” sign on those well-worn paths and begin forming new patterns that align with truth. God enables us to renew our minds—to replace lies with truth and distorted thinking with clarity. He helps us process our emotions so that our inner world becomes a place of peace rather than chaos.
When our eyes are fixed on Him, He meets us in our pain, fear, and suffering—in whatever emotions rise to the surface. He fills us with His Holy Spirit. In our weakness, we experience His nearness. Our internal landscape can become steady and beautiful because it is grounded in Him.
When the enemy holds up a cracked or distorted mirror, we must have spent enough time in God’s Word to recognize the difference.
James compares looking into God’s Word to looking into a mirror. Scripture reveals who we truly are. It shows us our condition, but it also reflects our identity.
When we consistently view ourselves through the lens of God’s truth, the fun house mirror becomes obvious. The distortion is glaring. The lies don’t sit right because they don’t match what God has said about us.
We recognize the lie because we know the truth.
We return again and again to our identity in Christ. And when we are secure in who we are in Him, our identity begins to shape our thoughts instead of our thoughts shaping our identity. From that place of security, our behavior follows.
Truth steadies us.
Truth anchors us.
Truth reminds us who we are.
Next Steps: Application
Spiritual Practices
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, this is who you are in Christ. Read through the list slowly and prayerfully. Ask God to bring light in any dark areas.
- I am forgiven (Acts 13:39)
- I am loved (Romans 1:7)
- I am the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- I am the bride of Christ (Revelations 19:7)
- I am an adopted child of God (Romans 8:17)
- I am part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
- I am redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
- I am chosen (Colossians 3:12)
- I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- I am free (Colossians 1:22)
- I am protected from the evil one (John 17:15)
- I am complete and whole (Colossians 2:10)
- I am anointed and the Holy Spirit dwells within me (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
- I’m in process and being sanctified by Truth (John 17:17)
- I’m holy through Christ (1 Peter 1:16)
- I’m no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6)
- I’m alive in Christ (Romans 6:11)
- I’m free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-6)
- I’m equipped (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- I’m a branch attached to the true Vine who bears fruit in me (John 15:1-16)
- I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
- I’m an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
- I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
Mental Practices
A practice that has helped me greatly in renouncing Satan’s lies and announcing God’s truth is making notecards. I hole punch the upper left corner and color code them based on subject matter. I attach them with a ring.
- Write what you are renouncing (a lie or a sin)
- Write what you are announcing (God’s truth)
- Write a Bible Verse or passage
Here’s one of my cards. Believe it or not, this one is in better condition than most. You can read them proactively or when you come against something in your day. Write out the whole Bible verse, not just the reference. God’s Word is powerful and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Below the card is a link to a document with more information about this practice. Many real world scenarios (lies and sins) are listed with helpful suggestions. Some topics include: feeling like a failure, being stuck, idolatry, perfectionism, selfishness, pride, suffering, weakness, loneliness, discouragement, worth, sin, bitterness, and so much more.
Emotional Practices
What emotions rise to the surface as you recognize these lies?
Is it anger, frustration, numbness, fear, anxiety, insecurity, rejection, feeling exposed, guilt or shame, apathy, overwhelm, surprise, confusion, hurt, sadness, vulnerability?
Or, do you feel hopeful, thankful, loved, accepted, trusting, interested, joyful, free, curious and valued?
Or a mix? Allow yourself to name and feel the feeling and bring it to the Lord and ask Him to speak truth over you. Scripture is truth so you can rest in the truth of God’s Word.
Physical Practices
As you work to combat these lies, turn on quiet ambient music and engage your body in gentle stretching. Remind yourself of your identity in Christ. Let the truth wash over you as you point your mind, heart, and body to the truth of God’s Word. Use this time to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. Tears may flow, and that’s okay. In fact, many times that is where the healing happens.
Relational Practices
Grab a friend or a family member and discuss what you have learned. Pray for each other. Speak life to each other, pointing each other to the Lord.
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