The One Filter Every Believer Needs

“How do I overcome these negative thoughts and feelings?”

Our conversation that day was typical of the many conversations we have with believers who are struggling. They experience the same fears, frustrations, feelings, and failures that all of us have faced at some time.

Even the great King David had doubts and fears. Just read Psalm 13:

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?”
How long will you hide your face from me?”
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?”
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”

Believers cannot allow thoughts and feelings to go unfiltered. We simply cannot trust that all our thoughts and feelings are TRUE. Therefore, we must have a truth filter in place to check those thoughts and monitor those feelings.

I might feel like God has abandoned me, but is that TRUE? No, the truth is that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

I might think that God doesn’t really care about me, but is that TRUE? No, the truth is that God cares about everything that I am going through now and every day. “Casting all your cares on HIM for HE cares for you.”

I might think that God has forgotten me, but is that TRUE? No, the truth is that God is at work in and around our lives every moment of every day. “He who began a good work in you will continue it to the day of its completion.”

Satan, the enemy, is the father of all lies. He lies to us about our identity. He lies to us about God. He lies to us about our past, our forgiveness, about God’s grace, God’s love, God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s plans. The enemy is a liar. Therefore, we must have a truth filter in place.

Thoughts and feelings that are allowed to go unfiltered, become the basis of strongholds. The enemy establishes a lie, reinforces that lie, and now, instead of believing the TRUTH, we end up believing a lie.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

When the enemy tries to lie to you with feelings and thoughts that are contrary to Scripture, just remind him of your true identity in Christ.

“Because of Christ’s redemption, I am a new creation of great worth. I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing to the Father, totally accepted by God and absolutely complete in Christ.”

And that’s the TRUTH.

Pastors, you don’t have to struggle alone. Care for Pastors provides a safe place to navigate through those challenges you are facing. Church conflicts, empathy fatigue, and marital challenges are things we all have faced. Reach out to us and let us help.