But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. – 1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Matty Mullins’ song “No Hold On Me” captures the theme of breaking down strongholds in a Christian’s life. Mullins states, “The song’s lyrics declare war on the enemy’s never-ending string of lies. He reminds us that the enemies’ lies hold no power over the children of God.”
After high school graduation, I felt called to be a pastor. I was so thrilled to be going to Bible college that I started to tell everyone I would become a pastor. I felt unstoppable, until one day I was blindsided by the unexpected.
A good friend said, “You’re not gonna make it in ministry.” His words crushed me. Any good counselor will ask, “Who’s voice are you listening to?” That is to say, we will have a choice to draw from different voices every day.
In “No Hold On Me,” Mullins sings,” “He, the enemy, told so many lies that I believed.” Every day, we have a choice to listen to the voice of God or the lies of the enemy. If we are not careful, we will allow the enemy’s voice to speak to our identity. Matty continues, “Then I heard a voice from Calvary!” That is the voice of Jesus, we must tune in to every day! We must listen to God’s Word and let it form our identity.
I had a choice to make when my friend spoke that hurtful phrase. Would I accept it, or would I allow God’s Word to guide and shape my life? 1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are, “A chosen people, royal priests, and God’s very own possession.” That is how God defines us.
On the other hand, the enemy will speak lies to us to convince us we are not enough; we don’t matter, and we will never measure up. So, the question stands—whose voice are we listening to?
There are things in our lives that can have a hold on us. There are also things that have a strong hold on us. These are called strongholds, which can be incorrect thinking patterns that do not line up according to God’s Word. They can also be lies the enemy feeds us, leaving us wounded and scarred.
As Christians, we need to make a commitment to study what God’s Word says about us. When we do this, we defeat the lies of the enemy. Consider the truth this verse speaks to who we are in Jesus, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).
When we sin, we are merely forgetting who we are. Therefore, we need to remind ourselves of our position as believers. We are righteous, free, forgiven, loved, and entirely accepted. The more we understand our place in Christ, the more we will walk in truth in our daily lives.
When we are in Christ, sin no longer has a hold on us. As the song states, “No more shackles on my feet!” We are free from the power of sin and the guilt of sin. It has no hold on us!
Dig Deeper
1. Whose voice have you been listening to? The world’s voice, or God’s voice?
2. Why is understanding our position in Christ so important to our identity formation?
3. What is one incorrect thinking pattern you can let go of today?
