flip the script

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one of the biggest battles i fight is my very own mind. if i'm not careful, the enemy will sneak in and give me irrational, faith-shaking fears. it doesn't happen very often anymore, and i'm getting better about staying alert. but every once in a while, in my weakness, i get terribly afraid for no good reason. the fearful thoughts knock me down, spiral out of control, steal my peace, and can linger for days or longer. i know better. God hasn't given me a spirit of fear and I KNOW THIS, which is why it's so frustrating. 


i confided in a friend, and she gave me some brilliant advice for taking these fearful thoughts captive:
flip the script.  


the enemy is a liar, she explained. we know that by nature, he can not tell the truth.

"The devil was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." 

John 8:44

any time you have these fearful thoughts, you know it's a lie from the devil and you know it can't possibly be true, nor will it ever be true. you can believe the exact opposite of your fearful thoughts because everything the enemy tries to convince you of is a flat out lie. use God's word, the TRUTH, to flip the script on him! 

yeah! why didn't i think of that sooner? i laughed at the urban-slang-ness of it, but flipping the script on the enemy is exactly what God wants me to do. 

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. 

2 Corinthians 10:5

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unfortunately it wasn't long before i had the opportunity to try the flip the script method. this is how it went down in my head:

do you hear the sirens? they sound close. it sounds like a huge car wreck. and isn't it about the time of day your husband is on his way home? what time is it? shouldn't he be home by now? ::panic::fear::

...F L I P... 

Shut. Up. Devil. You are a liar and you can not tell the truth, so i know i have nothing to be afraid of. My husband is not in a car wreck! He is safe, delivered from the powers of darkness, covered by God's Mighty Hand of Protection, no evil shall befall him, and no weapon formed against him will prosper. Lord, You are our refuge and Your angels take guard over us. In Jesus' precious name. Amen. ::peace::calm::

it was powerful. in a matter of seconds i went from heart-racing panic to God-confident peace, simply by calling the devil out as a liar. funny how the tricky lies the enemy tries to convince me of can be exactly cancelled out by God's true and good promises. i flipped the script by claiming God's word.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. 

Proverbs 21:30

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 

Colossians 1:13

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 

Psalm 91:9-11 

the devil comes only to steal, kill, and to destroy, even our thought lives. but Jesus came for us to have life, and have it to the full. so anytime the enemy tries to lie to you, steal your joy, kill your dreams, or destroy your peace, claim God's word and flip the script! it works for me.