Mathematics has never been my strong suit. Even before my “brain issues” words and music always made so much more sense than numbers. Fortunately, memorization was easy for me, so I could learn formulas and tables by sheer repetition.
Lately my studies have concentrated on the power of words (not a study for the faint-hearted or for the woman not willing to look honestly at what sin needs repentance and what wound needs forgiveness and what attitude/action needs to change) as well as the effect of the lies we tell ourselves.
And I discovered a math formula I can hold on to . . .
“Little children, you are from God, and have overcome them [every spirit that does not confess Jesus, v.3] for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” 1John 4:4 ESV
Who is the most powerful being (spirit or human) who is against God? Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) our adversary (1Peter 5:8)
The most evil human, the most hurtful abuse, the most awful circumstance, is not “more evil” than satan himself, since he is the father of lies, the head of all the demons.
And God is greater than, more powerful than ___________.
Which means that, no matter how devastating the abuse, the circumstance, the lies told to you by your own heart or some one else’s lies you adopted as your own–
NONE is greater than God.
Than God’s power to renew your mind (Romans 12:2)
Than God’s ability to guide you into all truth (John 16:13)
Than God’s power to set you free from the bondage of sin (John 8:32) Than God’s power to free you from fear and give you a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
So my math formula — God > satan, abuse, lies, hurts, wounds > me in my own strength
What if you are dealing with the guilt of your words to another, hurts you have inflicted?
The formula is the same. God’s power to forgive and cleanse all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) is greater than any wrong I have done.
Isaiah sings of God’s “only-ness” in chapters 44 and 45 of the book that bears his name. Let these words of God sink deep into your soul,
“For thus says The Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): I am The Lord and there is no other.
I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘seek me in vain.’ I The Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right.” Isaiah 45:18-19 ESV Sent from my iPad
Plea for Grace 