If you’ve ever weeded an early spring garden, you know how tricky it can be to sort seedlings from weedlings.
In the garden of the mind mentioned in the above poem, the weeds of lies can be particularly difficult to recognize—such lies as these:
1. God can’t possibly love me because I mess up all the time.
The problem is we think God sees us the same way critical people do—like the spinster great-aunt who looked down her nose at energetic children, like the teacher who frequently criticized, or the boss who was never satisfied.
That’s not God.
He knows we’re incapable of perfection and looks upon us with the compassion of a loving father. No matter the sin, God is always ready to forgive (1)–and forget–as we repent:
Take this to heart: “Our God has a big eraser!”–Bill Zeoli (2).
And we can use that big eraser of love, compassion, and forgiveness to erase Lie #1.
2. I am insignificant.
God would have us know: “There is no such thing as an insignificant person or an insignificant place or an insignificant position” (3).
Take a refresher course on your status:
- The Prince of Peace died for you.
- The King of glory is always thinking about you.
- You have been adopted into his royal family.
- You can enter his throne room whenever you like.
- Your work has been specifically commissioned by the Sovereign Lord of the universe (4).
We run into trouble when we start comparing ourselves to others. Here’s what we need to affirm: “My significance is not based on what I do; it is based on Whose I am.”
3. It’s obvious my prayers don’t matter…
A. …because there’s been no answer.
Here’s a thought:
But there are a number of possibilities why prayers seem to go unanswered, including:
- Unbeknownst to us, the answer has already come. A young man praying for a wife may already have met his future bride; he just doesn’t know it.
- Sometimes God gives us what we need, not simply what we ask for. A young teen might pray that her family not have to move across state, but five years later, ends up earning a much-needed college scholarship from their new church.
- We benefit from the spiritual discipline of asking, growing in faith, and persevering as we wait.
If our God is 100% good—and he is—then it follows:
B. …Almighty God doesn’t need me to accomplish his plans.
You’re right; God can do anything he pleases—without us.
But he instituted prayer as a way for us to come alongside him and participate in the good purposes he’s ordained. He allows us to share in the release of his power as we intercede for one another.
Lord Tennyson spoke of the power of prayer in his poem, Idylls of the King:
One day we’ll know the magnitude of the exact number. And won’t it be satisfying to have participated in God’s monumental work?
_______________________________________
Now that we’ve removed these three weed-lies from the gardens of our minds, we can enjoy to the fullest these flowers of God’s truth:
He remembers our sins no more.
We are precious in his eyes.
He always responds to our prayers (5).
Notes:
- Psalm 103:13-14, 3, 10.
- Quoted in Quote/Unquote, compiled by Lloyd Cory, Victor Press, 1977, 121.
- Anne Graham Lotz, The Vision, of His Glory, Word Publishing, 1996, 77.
- Isaiah 9:6; 1 John 4:9-10; Psalm 139:17; Ephesians 1:5; 1 Peter 3:12; Ephesians 2:10.
- Isaiah 43:25; 43:4; Psalm 102:17.
Photo credits: http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.wikimedia.com.
From the Inside Out 
Great quote about if prayers were always answered in the affirmative. (I am always saying in response to complaints of not understanding God that if I understood God, I would be God.)
Ann Aschauer
Author of “BARRIERS (So, if prayers are so powerful, how come mine don’t get answered?)”
Oh my goodness, Ann! I didn’t know (didn’t pay attention?!) you’d written a book on prayer. I’ll have to check it out! That quote about the consequence of 100% affirmative answers to prayer caught my attention too!. Helped give me a new view for unanswered prayer. Thank you for stopping by, Ann!
Thank YOU, Nancy!
God cares deeply for us and knows what’s best for our life. Thanks for this post. Good reminders.
Thank you, CG. It IS amazingly wonderful that God demonstrates his care for us in so many ways!
Fantastic post,love it for all that has been written ,the quotes are awesome and so is our God.Thanks a lot for sharing.Take care.🌹👍🙏
The quotes included caught my attention, so I was hopeful they would be meaningful to others as well. Glad you found them to be awesome. (And AMEN to “so is our God!”)
Amen.Most welcome.🌹👍🙏
Nancy, hi! And thanks for going there today because too many of the lies we believe come sneaking in the back door and before we know we’ve embraced them much to our detriment.
May we keep our eyes on Jesus and believe what He says about His great love and compassion for us.
An encouraging post!
With you, I’m seeking to keep that back door shut! So glad you found encouragement here, Linda.
What inspiration and assurance found here today. Thank you for such a positive post
Thank you, Jean. It’s an honor to bring inspiration and assurance to you, my friend!
I love the imagery of the ‘weed lies’! And I find great encouragement knowing that “My significance is not based on what I do; it is based on Whose I am.” He doesn’t expect perfection! And I love that he has a big eraser…that never runs out!
I also love that quote about the big eraser–truth presented with a smile! And it is a great encouragement to realize we don’t have to earn our significance–especially with perfection. So glad you found encouragement here, Cheri !
Nancy,
Great point that if God always answered affirmatively we would doubt His wisdom. God gives us what we need, not what we want. Great debunking of the myths we believe.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you, Bev! I appreciated that quote too. Praise God we can trust his perfect wisdom to determine what we need!
I didn’t realize how much I needed this affirmation today of God’s love until I noticed tears coming out of my eyes as I was reading. Thanks for this encouragement, Nancy. It’s been easy for me to doubt my worth in this season of corona since I’ve not been able to get out and volunteer like I used to do. But God counts me as his, regardless of what I *do* and that is a blessing!
Perhaps you’re volunteering in ways you’ve overlooked–through your blog, social media, contacts with family, neighbors, grocery store employees, etc. But you are right: even if none of that were true, you are STILL precious to your Heavenly Father! So glad this post provided uplift for you, Lisa!
This post had that lovely effect that sweeps over me now and again – a fresh realization of GRACE. A sense of release from feeling inadequate. Thank you very much Nancy!
We need those fresh realizations of GRACE. How wonderful this post provided that blessing for you, Colleen! I’m thanking God right now for his inspiration.
Amen! He loves us even when those “weeds” tell us that we are so unworthy! Thank God that He is so persistent with us to keep showing us His love. Blessings to you today.
Yes, praise God for his persistence, never giving up on us. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Bettie G!
Hi Nancy,
I can attest that God’s nos now are His better yeses later. This is so important now when emotions and discouragement is high. In Christ,
Gary
Amen, Gary! Thank you for adding your personal testimony here, affirming another way God answers prayer.
Hi Nancy,
Did you happen to catch our promo for our You Tube podcast. We are looking for people’s ideas. If you or any of your cohorts to send in a clip by Friday that would be awesome. Thanks,
Gary
http://godamonggeeks316.com/2020/08/17/join-the-imaginarium/
I did see the promo, Gary, but I would have no idea how to make a video or upload it to an email!! (I am hopelessly tech-challenged.) Such a great idea to highlight different ways people gather their ideas for art, music, writing, etc!
Great post Nancy. I tweeted it because I believe it contains things many of us (Christian and non) battle with. I especially love how you wrap up with those three truths to remember!
Thank you, Sheila–so glad you found this post meaningful!