Self-Reflection – Inviting the Holy Spirit to Reveal Hidden Lies

Over the past five days, we’ve tackled lies about identity, past, relationships, and purpose. But the journey isn’t over – in fact, it’s a lifelong process. There may be other areas in your heart and mind where lies still linger, unchallenged. How can we find them? We need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to search us and show us. King David prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24). This humble prayer is our model today. It takes courage to ask God to reveal our blind spots, the false beliefs or attitudes we might not even realize we hold, but it is a courageous and freeing prayer. Today is about personal reflection and prayerful listening. With God’s help, you can identify any lies not yet addressed, repent of believing them, and replace them with God’s truth.

How to identify these lies?

Rather than providing a new list of specific lies, today is about discovering your own. Here are a few examples of lies in various areas, to help prompt your reflection:

• Lies about God’s character:
• Lies about your circumstances:
• Lies about your worth or abilities:
• Lies related to fear or habits:

These are just a few possibilities. The enemy customizes lies to each of us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pinpoint the specific false beliefs you’ve been living with. Be honest with yourself – what persistent negative thoughts or doubts plague you? Those could be clues to underlying lies.

For every lie the Holy Spirit reveals, He will also highlight a truth in God’s Word to counter it. The truth about each lie is in the Word of God. Spend time in the Word and counter lies with truth. Truth alone can set us free.

• Psalm 139:23–24 - “Search me, God, and know my heart… Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
• John 16:13 - Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” who “will guide you into all truth.” You are not left alone in this process of discernment, God Himself, in the Holy Spirit, is your guide. He illuminates Scripture and speaks to your heart, bringing things to light. Rely on Him; ask Him to guide you to the truths you need.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 - “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This is our ongoing practice. When a thought comes and you recognize it as a lie or something opposed to God’s truth, don’t let it roam freely in your mind – capture it. Examine it in the light of Christ. If it’s false, reject it and replace it with God’s Word. You have authority in Christ to do this mental “housecleaning” consistently

God’s Word is an endless well of truth. Whatever lie you confront, there is a scripture of truth to defeat it. His truth is your sword (Ephesians 6:17), so continue wielding it in every battle of the mind.

Self-Evaluation

• Set aside some quiet moments to ask God: “What lies have I been believing?” Write down whatever comes to mind – even if it surprises you or seems “small.” How have these lies affected my attitudes or actions?
• For each lie identified, find at least one scripture that speaks truth to that situation. Use a concordance or online search, or ask a pastor/friend if you need help finding verses. Write the truth next to the lie.
• Reflect on the journey of these past days. Which truths have resonated with you the most? How will you continue to reinforce those truths in your daily life? Consider practical steps like memorizing key verses, journaling prayers, or sharing with an accountability partner.

Repentance

Spend time in personal repentance for any lies that come to light. Your prayer might go like this: “Lord, thank You for revealing this lie: ___________. I repent for allowing this false belief to take root in my heart. I’m sorry for the ways I’ve lived or felt because of it. Please forgive me and uproot this lie completely. I renounce it now. Plant Your truth in my heart instead.

Closing Encouragement

As we conclude this 6-day journey, take heart that God is committed to your freedom and growth. The very fact that you’ve engaged in identifying lies and studying truth means you’re on the path to a renewed mind and a deeper connection with God. This is not a onetime exercise, but a daily practice of walking in truth. Whenever you stumble or discover a new lie surfacing, remember: run to God with it, not away from Him. He is always waiting with open arms.

For a personal journaling experience, you can find the Lies and Truth Canvas in My Prayer Canvas journal from www.myprayercanvas.com