by Texas Stready
I’ve spoken 4Xs this month, and all of them have been productive events. Still, comparing the last 30 days to the previous—15 engagements in 52 days—I guess you can say it’s been a little slow. No complaints here. I’ve been cool with the downtime if that’s what you want to call it.
Since September the Lord has had me on a different sorta mission. This month I can honestly say, “I’m not just talking about it.”
I don’t think most of you have any idea what goes on in my world. The horrific tragedies, violent abuses, and heinous decisions I hear of daily. I’ve been to the courtroom twice this month and spent countless hours walking people over, around, and through distinctive and harmful behavior patterns. I’m seeing monumental changes in people who didn’t think change possible.
I can’t promise you that nothing in their lives will be the same—because that is a daily and personal choice—but what I can say is, “Wow, have I learned lessons that will forever impact my life and ministry.”
Do You Mind?
It’s easy to think of this question as an “excuse me” kinda phrase. But it’s so much more than that. We do mind. We mind what we’re told—meaning we obey what we’re conditioned to believe. This truth should make us realize that any repetitive refrain that is spoken to us, over us, or reverberates through our own skull, comes to life in our behavior. Proverbs 18:21
This can be a good thing or a very bad one.
Our automatic reaction to this idea is to assume someone else is programming us. But, no one has as much power over you as you do. Don’t get me wrong, we can be influenced by outside voices, harmful ideas, or wrong beliefs, but none of those are as damning, or as difficult to gain freedom from, as what we tell ourselves.
Let it Show
All wrong concepts create problems, and some of our issues take longer to show up than others. Today’s society is very good at keeping their hangups in the dark, but I’ve come to understand that the hush-hush is what gives the problems their power.
Why? Because talking about things exposes the truth, and truth always carries with it buckets of unadulterated freedom.
It doesn’t take very much intellect to reason—the stronger something is, the harder it becomes to break free from. For instance, if you’ve spent 10 years in an abusive relationship or strung out on drugs and nobody knows about it, it’s easy to keep up the charade. However, once the facts are exposed your self-truth begins to shift.
Get Lined Up
The truth is true whether you believe it or not, and getting to the place where you can see things with accuracy is definitely a process. One that, unfortunately, can’t be determined by some set formula.
We’ve all had different life experiences, and every response and decision we make is filtered through said incidents. But once change becomes a must, the steps taken to continue on your journey to wholeness become precise.
- Recognize the incident that birthed this untruth.
- Renounce the lie and all its effects.
- Replace the deception with God’s truth.
Counselors, mentors, and real friends are priceless on our endless trip towards new depths of freedom. You can’t do it alone—most often going it alone’s what got you here in the first place—but it can be done. Not only can it be, but the God of the Universe is also warring on your behalf. He goes before you to prepare the way, beside you to give you strength, and behind you to watch your back. He’s ever-present, cheering you on, giving you a moment by moment, heads-up, list of dos and don’ts. Isaiah 52:12
- Will you listen?
- Will you learn?
- Will you be made new?
As always—the choice is yours…
I love the blogs you write. I have time to chew on every word. You have become not only an overcomer but a mentor. The Lord has directed you to the right place at the right time for those who are ready to begin their own long journey into the loving arms of Christ Jesus. I continue to pray for you and your ongoing ministry. Go Girl! Blessings and prayers.