Practical Family Living

"He’s ablockhead!" "Superhippo!" "You're so ugly who would wantyou!" "Is she weird or what?" What are the messages that lingerin your mind? Words or behaviors expressed long ago but come back to haunt younow and then. People are cruel. People are also so afraid of feeling vulnerablethey would rather attack another than admit their own fear.

What to do with thelong-term results is the kicker. Just when you think you have it lickedsomething happens or someone says something and all the old feelings comerushing back. You know...sometimes I think we live as if those things are trueand don't even realize we're doing it.

One exercise that may behelpful in remembering as well as remodeling the assumptions we live by is totake a look at what God thinks of us. This doesn't mean there won't be sadnessor grief that surfaces. It is a part of life. This is true because there arethree levels in which we take in information about who we are and our value.

The first way is whatpeople tell us directly about who we are. Like the examples above they ofteninclude cruel statements that are false. Even if there is microscopic truthassociated in some manner, it is the fact that we are not thought well of thatwe remember.

The second level is whatwe overhear others saying about us. Again, this may be good or bad. Either waythese first two lead directly into the third level.

The third level has to dowith what we decide about ourselves. Now, we all know that as children we arenot able to reason through events like we do as adults. Even as adults this canbe difficult depending on the words and behaviors thrown at us.

When we come to the Lordthe battle begins as to who or what we will believe. Hebrews 10:35 states"Do not cast away your confidence which has great reward."

Not everything we haveoverheard, have been told, or we have assumed may be true. As it is impossiblefor God to lie, His definition becomes our foundation to which we look. Whatfollows is an exercise that may help you continue rewrite the origins of howyou think, feel, and act. I will insert my name for the example:

EXAMPLE:

I, Brenda, am forgiven.(What I tell myself?) Ephesians 1:7

She, Brenda is forgiven.(What I overhear?)

You, Brenda are forgiven.(What is told to me directly?)

Now take a minute andinsert your name in the above as well as the following:

I,_____________________,am set free. (John 8:31-33)

You,_____________________,are set free.

He/She,_____________________, is set free.

I,_______________________, am accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

You,______________________, are accepted in the Beloved.

He/She______________________,is accepted in the Beloved.

There are many differentscriptures that hold the truth of who we are and how valuable we are as a childof God. Our confidence rests first in God’s description of us. Using God’s Wordalong with each of the three ways gradually solidifies the truth of God’sdefinition of us. This is a life long process and one that brings the truth ofGod to our heart, mind, and spirit. Jesus states “You shall know the truth andthe truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Be encouraged to allow the truth ofGod’s word to sift through all the layers of words and experiences unique toyou. The reward is living freely as a forgiven, loved, and growing child ofGod.

For additional Scriptures see "Who I Am In Christ". 

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