By Karen DeArmond Gardner―

We have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (I Peter 5:8 NLT). That someone he seeks is you. The enemy has always hated the truth, he perverts the truth. Lying is consistent with his character: he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44b NLT).

Satan will tell you just enough of the truth so you will believe the lie. So how can we tell the difference between truth and lies? It is the question of the ages, one I am sure Eve asked herself.
Lies can be so ingrained in who we are because of our life expeirences; we may struggle to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Throughout the gospels, Jesus reiterates, I tell you the truth. Jesus is Truth, it’s His character, and He speaks only the truth.

The only way to distinguish between truth and lies is to know the voice of Jesus. John 10 tells us if we belong to Him we will know His voice, He calls us by name, we come when He calls. As we spend time with Him we learn to recognize His voice.

In this, my last year of my 50’s, I combat the lies of the enemy about who I am. He uses the facts of my life and adds a twist. “You lived your life and made such a mess of it, now you are useless and worthless” He wants me to believe my youth has faded and that I need to step aside to let the younger generation take over. He tells me my time has passed and I no longer have a voice. Just enough facts so I believe the lie.

There is some truth in Satan’s words. I’ve lived my life and did indeed make a mess of much of it. My youthfulness has faded, and it is time for the younger generation to step up. However, none of that eliminates my voice or requires me to step aside. My time has not passed, and I have value to bring to the body of Christ every day.

The Bible is filled with people like Moses, Joshua, Caleb, and Sarah who did their best work well past the prime of their lives—well into in their later years. Women who made a mess of their lives like the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the prostitute who wept and kissed Jesus’ feet, Mary Magdalene and countless others. Yet Jesus touched their lives and redeemed their stories. Two thousand years later and they still impact our lives today.

We are modern day examples of God using experienced women…women with a voice. I am woman, hear me roar! Remember the song?

Don’t look just at the facts of your story. Stop believing the lies of the enemy. His sole purpose is your destruction.

Stand firm on the truth of The Word.

“I am convinced and sure of this very thing, He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you” (Philippians 1:6 AMP).

The translation of this same scripture from the Message Bible says, “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started the great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

Are you dead?

Has Jesus returned?

Then He is NOT done, and neither are you—He has more for you to do.

You may feel it, the burning inside of you as if something big is about to break. You can’t quite put your finger on it, seems just out of reach. I’ve had this feeling since I started this last year of my 50s.
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come (Jeremiah 33:3 NLT).

It’s time we asked him. Are you ready? I am.

 

Karen DeArmond-Gardner: I found myself in my early 50′s shattered, divorced and without a job – moving to a new state to begin over again. There were times I thought the “start would stop me.” I had no clue what my purpose was and quite frankly thought I had messed up so bad that even God couldn’t put my life back together again. Within the last 6 years I started a new career, enjoyed being single, became a grandmother, reconnected with my family and at 57 I married the most amazing man ever. Because God never does anything small, He asks me to step out of my box and begin writing. Only God….if He did this for me, He will do it for you. Join us on the journey to discover Your Purpose Now.

2 Comments

  1. 9-2-2013

    Karen, thank you for your transparency, as well as your example and encouragement to stand on the Word of God in the power of His Holy Spirit!

    • 9-2-2013

      Thank you Ava. I love the power of the Word.

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