The Bible joyfully tells us a deep truth that affects every part of our lives as believers: God delights and takes great joy in us, and we are temples of His Holy Spirit. This truth is fundamental for understanding our identity in Christ and for rejecting the lies that Satan, the deceiver, tries to plant in our hearts.
God Delights in Us. Let us start by embracing the beautiful truth in Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you, a mighty one who will save. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” It is much like a parent who beams with joy at the sight of their child.
We Are God’s Temple. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul shares a deep truth: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” As temples of the Holy Spirit, we aren’t abandoned buildings left to decay. God Himself cherishes, maintains, and lives in us. The Spirit’s presence makes us holy, unites us, and strengthens us.
Rejecting the Lies of the Deceiver. How can we even think that Satan controls us? That thought is a lie, a deception aimed at undermining the power of the Holy Spirit within us and our freedom in Christ. Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. He speaks from his own character when he lies, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” We must reject the lie that Satan controls us.. Remember Jesus’ victory on the cross: “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15). Let us draw strength from the Holy Spirit who lives within us, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us to overcome the lies of the enemy. Understand and internalise that you are deeply loved and delighted in by God.