The Impersonator
Not every thought we hear is our thought. It sounds like it is. It sounds like there’s a part of us that questions and doubts. But those are not our thoughts. They are darts sent from the evil one in the hope that we will own them, host them, and eventually believe them.
The devil is an impersonator. He speaks like we would speak and seeks to make us believe that we are the originator of these dark thoughts. His plan is simple: believe the lie and empower the liar.
Accusation says, “you are” while impersonation says, “I am”. It masks as statements of identity yet denies the reality of who we are in Christ. Such words as, “I’m a mess”, “I’m a constant failure”, “I will never recover”, “I can’t move past this” all seek to define us through appearing as our own evaluation. They are however the words of a liar who seeks to alter our perception of self and spawn concepts that are contrary to the Word of God and His promises.
Jesus’ words are full of life and reveal His grace and truth. In contrast, the devil’s words question, undermine, insinuate, and lie. They’re dark thoughts looking for a place to land. They are seeds from the enemy who longs to plant weeds in our garden. In Matthew 13:25 Jesus spoke of the enemy arising at night and planting tares amongst the wheat. These tares appear to belong in the soil of our mind but they’re thoughts that aim to lodge amid what the Lord plants and cultivates. They come to take up space, entangle roots, and limit the harvest. Recognise these thoughts and don’t be dupped into believing they’re yours. Be a good sorter of seeds and learn to recognise weeds.
We need to choose wisely what we accept and allow to grow. When a thought comes our way that is full of doubt and unbelief, disown it. Recognize it as words spoken by an impersonator. It may sound like you, but it is not you. Know who you are in Christ and hold on to what the Word declares. Reject the lies and learn to discern. Jesus said that we will know something by its fruit (Matthew 12:33). When the Lord speaks to us, even if it is to correct, there is the fruit of righteousness, peace and joy. When the devil speaks, even though what he says may be factually correct, there is a heaviness, a lack of peace, a sense of condemnation or dread. It is not good fruit for it does not come from a good source. It is simply the impersonator trying to get us to own what is not ours.
