Beloved, as I was praying for you…there was a word concerning “crisis” (crisis only means turning point) and it was stirring in several life areas: Family, finances, intimate relationship and career…I sensed an awareness that whether it was our relationship to family members or our relationship to finances, it is all centered around how we relate to ourselves, to G-d and to His Truth…
What we believe is Always at the core of it all…
As the prayer time flowed there was a sense of deep inner brokenness of how greatly these areas of our Being are under attack. Truth and Lies were colliding. The inner conflict was from what we are choosing
to believe. There is a crossroad before us…it’s a time to step back and examine the lies and choose the Truth about who we are in Christ and what we now possess because…
He has made us His
And it isn’t a time of just reflecting but to reflect and then to do. Doing a process that has been so very important to my own growth that I wanted to share it with you. This process is about embracing Truth deeply within and then going forth in the Truth by faith. In a most simplified statement, embracing Truth and then acting as if it were true of me, from my heart first and then letting it flow naturally outwardly into the fruit of my life. This “acting as if” walking by faith and not by sight was unfolding in layers, as well.
Let’s take an example: we can’t go from believing I’m married to someone I can’t respect, to “I’m married to the perfect spouse”. The mortal mind doesn’t shift gears that fast and the Word of G-d is a seed and seed life has a process and grows beautifully and quickly when nurtured in a heart brimming with Love, hope, faith/trust. But you don’t get a mature oak tree from an acorn overnight.
So what we want to do is unfold Truth within us in small steps at a time so it becomes more believable and embraceable with each day. Just for an example, we would want to meditate on a scripture about wives found in 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. (Read all of 1 Peter 3:)
But this will work in every area, finances, career, calling, you can google topically for any scriptures that will fit your situation…
I was aware as I prayed for you that some things we were doing was simply how we had learned to survive and overcome in life and our life in Christ wasn’t to function in those ways of Being and doing…so there has been conflict. Especially in the area of relationships, whether that was our relationship with family, intimate relationships or our relationship with money and how we handle our calling or career.
Once we entered the arena of challenges, let’s say from the enemy, our old ways of handling things kicked in…either we forced things, controlled things, dominated, manipulated, all because fear came to the surface and was provoked.
Belief Always Dictates Behavior…
We can trace back what we truly believe by looking at our behaviors prayerfully, with tender love, acceptance/forgiveness, compassion, in the Presence of G-d, laying our cares before Him while reading His Word and letting His Word read us…
It appeared in my prayer for you as a Labyrinth…an inner maze of tranquility, peace-filled reflection, to walk on a journey to our inner most Being (Ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom). Reflection brings Wisdom…To pause. Allow ourselves to ponder, soak in something deeply. Without rushing. Without shame, without hiding, but transparent, open, child-like.
In the concept of the Labyrinth or journey inward towards our center, our heart, we will soak and savor G-d’s Truth, His Word, an appropriate to my need scripture…then walking, as it were, deeply, meditating upon, carrying that scripture into our innermost Being…and then journey back out, by inwardly thinking about how we live this Word in a completely practical way…I would see my worse memories, when I responded poorly, using these memories as object lessons, but now altering them.
I see myself responding according to the Word, According to how G-d would have me to respond. All the while feeling His tender love, acceptance, compassion towards me. Here He is mentoring me. Reparenting me, per se. In my mind I am renewing the proper way of responding to a situation where I responded poorly
before.
Now beholding Christ Who is The Word, becoming more like Him…to Behold is to become…my life transforming more so into the Image of Christ. Before I would grieve my poor responses. Bury them in shame and try to forget my regrettable words and action…Burying and blocking the thoughts about these memories is never the way…and shame is not from G-d.
But now, I am allowing Love to reshape me from within. Allowing myself to be open, child-like before Him about my heartache, my offenses and renewing my mind to envision a new, true response the next time the situation presents itself (and we all know that it will)…We are so mindful that we grow in the Light and we grow because we are Loved without shame…Bring all our life experiences into His Light, His Love, His beautiful mercy…and be transformed…our mind is not renewed unless we see ourselves from within responding in Love.
If I ruminate on how horrible I have been I will only be renewing my mind to continue in that poor knee jerk reaction. But when I use the past, redeem the past, to see myself having a Christ like response…I become more and more Christ like…learning from all our experiences…let Love redeem all our wounds and wounded ways…as they say hurt people, hurt people…the healed become healers…Here you are allowing Him to rebuild the ancient ruins. The old ways of Being and doing.
Know that I am here beloved…praying for you and for all those you love…
How has G-d been speaking to you about changes you want to make in
your life? I’d love to compare notes with you! Let me know!
You are continually in my prayers and forever in my heart.
