And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free John 8:32 NKJV
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness
Ephesians 6:14 NKJV
If the truth sets us free, then it is lies that keep us in bondage. Knowing the truth of who God is, who we are as children of God, and a correct understanding of the demonic realm go a long way to determining our mental health and living victoriously.
The lies that we believe wound our soul. Jesus told us that Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth (see John 16:13). Replacing lies with truth brings healing and deliverance. The enemy is called “the father of lies” in scripture and these lies empower the demonic in our lives. Breaking free from lies is a part of the process of freedom. Embracing the truth of the word of God and renouncing lies is one of the ways we resist the devil so he will flee. (James 4:7) Declarations of truth are a great place to start in the journey of freedom. Sometimes though, we must go deeper to experience lasting freedom.
The truth that brings us freedom is more than information in our brains. The biblical meaning of knowing is far more than intellectual knowledge. When the Bible speaks of “knowing” the truth, it is referring to an experiential relationship with it.
It is common for Christians to become frustrated because they think they know the truth when it is merely information in their minds. The Bible tells us that we believe with our hearts and not merely our minds.
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!”
Luke 24:25 NKJV.
Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:37 NKJV.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV.
So often I hear Christians say “I know it in my head but I don’t feel it in my heart”. This is very real for all of us. Our “head” or left-brain, learns through communication. So we read the Word of God, listen to sermons etc. and our “head” gets it. Our heart, or right brain, however, learns through experience. It is very possible and frustratingly common, to hold two opposing beliefs at the same time.
So how do we get the truth into our hearts? The process will be unique to each individual but it’s worth pursing. It’s only when the truth is received at a heart level that we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2). Well, often it requires intentionality on our part when we realise our hearts are lacking certain revelations of truth that are keeping us from freedom. The Father tells us to “ask, seek and knock”. So intentional and specific prayer is the first step. There are times when we have strongholds of the mind that need to be deconstructed for us to receive truth in our hearts. This may require healing from past hurts, childhood trauma or other wounds of the heart. If this is the case, it might be beneficial to seek help from a Christian who is trained to facilitate the healing process. There are many Christian counsellors, pastors and inner healing ministers who have expertise in resolving the spiritual and psychological conflicts that keep our hearts from receiving truth.
If you need assistance finding an inner healing ministry or Christian counsellor, please get in touch.