Hi :)
I used to believe a lot of lies. They were so woven into the fabric of my being that they became my personal truth. I believed that I was worthless, stupid, and unlovable. I believed that I was destined to be abused or abandoned by any male I ever cared for.
My life reflected what I thought to be true, because I made choices based on those deep false beliefs. In essence, my thoughts shaped my beliefs, and my beliefs dictated my actions and ultimately led to habitually poor choices in my early existence.
A long history of abuse had led me to believe that I was the kind of girl who somehow for unknown true reasons (other than a “feeling”) deserved to be abused. It shaped the way I viewed myself & the world around me and it subconsciously had me allowing bad treatment from others which held me captive to being someone I actually wasn’t; and often it had me stuck in only destructive relationships.
Transformation and healing often requires a “make-over” of the mind. Many of us spend a lot of time on our outer appearance as society has shaped us subconciously to.
Just to get ready in the morning, most women use an entire arsenal of equipment to do this - dryers, hair irons, lotions & sprays, body scrubs, and make-up. Men, don’t front, you too have razors, aftershave, soaps, scrubs & pomade for your hair & crossfit to boot!
But when do we really spend as much time “making over” our minds where it is most important?
The Bible tells us to ‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). It also says that we are to ‘take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to try to daily wear the helmet of salvation to defend against the lies and attacks of the enemy.
All of these & armor have to do with our head and our mind. There is a process of transformation that requires action on our part. It is up to us to actively identify and take hold of the lies we believe & replace them with the truth we’ve found.
Every time I found myself playing those old mental “tapes” that told me I was worthless & unlovable or will be abandoned, I redirected my thinking to the truth: that I am wildly loved by a faithful God who has a good plan for my life and not ONLY mine. That I have been saved that I can “become renewed”, that the “old things have passed away”. (Ephesians 3:17-19, Deuteronomy 31:8, Jeremiah 29:11)
I don’t know about you, but I want to be as diligent about caring for my inner-self as I am/was with my outer-self.
At the end of the day, I’ve learned (and mby you’ve seen too) that is what truly matters. People aren’t impacted by how straight I get my hair with the hottest flat iron on the market. But they WILL be impacted by how I live my life, the choices I make, the words I say watching the way I speak to others and the way I love (or don’t love) the people around me.
And ultimately, the way I live my life overall (my actions and habits) is a likely a direct reflection of the things I believe not just about me but also about this beautiful world filled with many beautiful people.
As we contemplate the kind of lives we hope to live, these are questions we can ask ourselves:
• What thoughts am I allowing to shape my belief system?
• How does my life reflect what I believe (if it does)?
• How could my life change if my thoughts were also to change?
• What are the truths that I can use TODAY, to combat the lies?
As you engage in the discipline of redirecting your thoughts to the truth of God’s Word, you are eventually bound to see healthy changes in your life! It is promised and I’m sure I’m not alone being living proof that it can & does happen. ❤️🩹
