Yesterday, I overheard someone incredibly important to me say, "I love her, but..." Whatever was said next was muffled through the wall, but my heart filled in the blanks with the lies the enemy has whispered my entire life.
I love her, but she's annoying.
I love her, but she's too much.
I love her, but she can be so frustrating.
I love her, but I wish she'd just be quiet.
I love her, but she's embarrassing.
I love her, but she's just a lot.
I love her, but she's so dramatic.
I love her, but gah lee she's loud.
I love her, but she's so emotional.
I love her, but she's being silly.
Lies that have been spoken over me for so long, I can't help but sometimes feel and carry them as truths.
I've always been the loud girl. The too much girl. The dramatic one. Labels that, to anyone else, seem less than monumental, but for someone who has worn them her entire life, at some point, they can begin to snuff out and take over my identity if I let my armor down.
So, I refuse to wear them any longer. That is my weapon. My battle cry this morning. I refuse to believe anything less than who my Creator says I am.
And I hope you refuse too.
The enemy says loud is bad, God says, She's just making a joyful noise! (Psalm 100:1)
The enemy says I'm too much, God says I'm fearfully and wonderfully just enough! (Psalm 139:14)
The enemy says I'm being silly, God says, Watch out! She'll become even more undignified than this! (2 Samuel 6:22)
The enemy says just be quiet, God says, She opens her mouth with wisdom, and kindness is on her tongue! (Proverbs 31:26)
I WILL NOT BE QUIET ABOUT THE THINGS I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT.
The enemy says I'm too emotional, God says, She is happy with those who are happy and she weeps with those who weep! I made her to feel (Romans 12:15).
The enemy says I'm embarrassing, God says, I am so proud of her. I take delight in her and I rejoice over her life with singing! (Zephaniah 3:17)
I am who the I Am says I am, not the lies I hear spoken about me through a wall, and YOU are not the exception to that rule either.
So, may the fire in our eyes burn deep and wild as we walk today, even before kings, in the confidence the cross bought for us. Putting off the lies of the enemy, posturing our shoulders as daughters of the King should, in the grace and strength gifted to us by the One who created us.
She [wisdom; a wise woman] is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed (Proverbs 3:15-18).
She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (Proverbs 31:25).
