Today, I am catching up on our study of Jennifer Rothschild's Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself as hosted by the lovely Lelia for Yes to God Tuesdays. In Chapter 3, "Choosing Wise Words," Jennifer focuses on the core beliefs that drive our emotional responses and behavior. She terms our core beliefs as roots and our reponses as the fruit of those roots. She rightfully asserts that only by addressing our roots can we see change in our fruit. As Christ said, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:24 and Luke 6:45),
For example, as a child I observed that when I showed sadness by crying, my parents became very agitated. This was quite a problem as I was born with a bent to melancholy. So I concluded, "Emotions are dangerous". For many years, I worked very hard to keep my emotions out of sight. I carried this pattern well into adulthood.
We who believe know my parents' agitation was part of living in a broken world. It is here that Satan entered my heart and inserted his distorted version of the truth. As long as I embraced Satan's lie that emotions are dangerous, I continued to invest my energies in keeping them well hidden.
It was only through embracing God's truth that I was able to dislodge Satan's lie. When I called on God to renew my mind, He gave me new fruit. He gave me freedom and a healthy regard for my feelings. This was NOT an overnight process.
In our reading, Jennifer describes the path that worked for me. My freedom came as a result of doing three things: requesting wisdom, revering God and receiving counsel. I had to desire and ask for a new way of thinking. I had to humble myself to believe God knew more about the world than I did. I had to seek out truth-speakers in my life, because I often hear better from what I call "God with skin on".
Satan is a busy little cuss; I have to practice requesting wisdom, revering God and receiving counsel on a daily basis. I find God's wisdom in His Word and through the precious believers He has placed in my path. It's a simple process, but remember, simple does not always mean easy. Today and every day, I must lift up my eyes to the Source of my strength, the Maker of heaven and earth. Mercifully, I know that He will never disappoint me.
May you feel His grace today,
Gail W.
The last Word:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12: 2, NIV.
10 comments:
I enjoyed your thoughts sweetie, love you.
Didn't find your ABC scripture....maybe I should go scan down further.
The whole revering God thing really struck me...if I rightly fear my God then my thinking might be in better order. hmmm
Oh, yeah - the ABC verse! Today's letter is X. How about:
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ unto all generations, forever and ever. Amen"
Ephesians 3: 20, 21, NKJV
Yep - tears got us in trouble too growing up! I guess that is why I still have issues with crying today - interesting but I just didn't think about that until just now.
I have some more digging up roots to do!!!!
Blessings, Cind
It was only through embracing God's truth that I was able dislodge Satan's lie. When I called on God to renew my mind, He gave me new fruit. He gave me freedom and a healthy regard for my feelings. This was NOT an overnight process.
AMEN sista!!!
Also...thank you for your encouraging words on my blog. God is soooo good!
Blessings,
Lelia
My parents became agitated at any emotion that was not neutral. I remember my mother telling people I was high strung. She thrives on worrying about her 3 children, even though we're all adults.
Just today, on the phone, she asked me if I'm OK in her worried voice. I asked her why I wouldn't be. After we hung up, I got to thinking that she may have been reading my blog. If so, she would have disregarded all the things I said on the blog about how God is working with me, and forgives me, and I am so thankful for his love, and would have honed in on where I wrote of any problems or where I said I'd been feeling down one day. I'm going to have to be careful what I write. I think God led me here so I could safely vent, and ask for prayer.
I came over because I saw that you are following my blog. Thanks! You are so right that it's a daily thing, seeking wisdom from God. I also like the way you write, "The Last Word" after your posts.
I wasn't signed in before, so am writing here in order to click the box to receive follow up comments. God Bless!
My time is limited today but I wanted to say thank you for your kind words and prayers. I am enjoying reading your posts. We seem to have a lot in common. Thank you again for your kindness. I look forward to getting to know you through the bloggy-world and the Bible Study that we are both particpating in. God bless!
Hey Sue - I hear ya, Baby. About a month ago, I finally gave my mom my blog address (six months after I started it). I just have to let go of what anyone does with what I've written here, sometimes easier said than done. Thanks for coming by!
Hi Gail, I understand very well what this author is saying, and thank you for sharing. If you have time, you may want to visit my blog and read my post for January 24. It's related to what you wrote. God bless!
Post a Comment