For example, I have a grace for working with children. I know that with everything in me and if I were to ever "forget" it, I have countless people that remind me over and over again. Telling me how great I am with children, how much their kids love me, etc. Now get this, even in knowing that to be true I still had this belief that I wasn't good enough to work with children for real. Playing with them, being around them and even babysitting here and there is one thing. But I could never be good enough to actually get paid for this. I could never be good enough to make this my career. And guess what childcare is not my career and no matter how hard I have tried it has not been able to work out. Why? Why is it that something I know I have a grace for is run down by thoughts of not being good enough? Did you know that your thoughts actually determine your life? It is safe to say where ever you are right now in life, your thought patterns and your beliefs put you there. Good or bad, you are where you are because of yourself! Childcare is just one example, this has been my problem for years. Knowing who I am in Christ but denying it because of circumstances or what others say/do.
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."-Proverbs 23:7(NIV)
As this Proverbs states, you are whatever you believe in your heart. The problem with most people is they blame outside circumstances and people for everything. Its so and so's fault for why I am the way I am. It's because of this situation that I am not where I want to be in life. You're not alone, I too took that approach for years. I didn't finish school because my parents wouldn't help me pay for it. I didn't finish because they made too much money for me to get financial aid. I haven't had a real job because I didn't finish school. I got kicked out of my house because my parents have a different truth than I have. I couldn't get on my feet because of everything I have been through. I have been mentally and physically abused. I have jumped from house to house facing being on the streets. I was molested as a child and almost raped a few years ago. I have had countless people walk out of my life. So on and so forth.
I had to list some of what I have been through so you guys could see I am not someone who has not been hit by life and its events. I have been hit time and time again. Am I saying I caused my abuse…ABSOLUTELY not! Please don't misunderstand what I am say. What I am saying is I am where I am today because of who I believe I am. For years I believed I was nothing more than the girl who got molested. I was nothing more than the girl who didn't finish school. I became my events and they molded who I perceived myself to be. So when the thoughts came that you're not good enough, you can't, etc…I believed them with everything in me. But the amazing thing about thoughts and being a child of the most high is, I now have power over them. BAM!!
"Do not conform 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)
"For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence
and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely
and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take
account of these things(fix your minds on them)."-Philippians 4:8(AMP)
"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind(both
its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You,
leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."-Isaiah 26:3(AMP)
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge
of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."-2 Corinthians 10:5(NIV)
These are just a couple of examples of how we can't depend on our minds. Continually throughout scripture we are instructed to renew our mind, pull down thoughts and in essence not to depend on our own limited thinking. So if we can be instructed on what to think(Philippians 4:8) and we can be told to pull captive every thought that comes agains the knowledge of God(Isaiah 26:3) I think its safe to say these thoughts will lead us astray every chance they get…if we let them. Which leads me back to what I stated above, I have control over them! I can choose to believe all that I have been believing or I can choose to believe the word of God. The choice is mine but I can NOT do both. I can not believe I am not capable and also believe I am an overcomer(1 John 5:4). I can not believe I am a broke and have nothing yet still believe I am His heir(Galatians 4:7). It is not possible to believe I am not good at anything and have no purpose yet his word instructs he gave gifts to his people(Ephesians 4:7).
You see, what we believe often is the exact opposite of what his word instructs. He tells us who we are, yet we don't take the time to learn of it. When you come into this life you must take the time to retrain your mind. You must spend time learning of who you are in Him. I have been spending that time lately. I have been retraining my mind to know and believe who He says I am. The best part about it all is HE CHOSE ME!!!! And truth is, that means I WAS MADE FOR THIS!! Everything He has me for, I am equipped for it. The key here is to know what He has for you, because trust you are equipped to do it. No matter your education, past experiences, financial situations, doubts and fears. The only thing that can stop you is YOU! It is so much easier to just believe God's word and submit to His will knowing that He will not leave you to figure it all out. I am all that He says I am and you are all that He says you are! Trust Him and lets take a stand to turn these minds off!
Until next time...
With love,
Kaitlyn
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