Sunday, April 27, 2014

Reflections4Life: "Taking a Second Look"


Reflections4Life  April 27th, 2014

“Taking a Second Look”

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.” Psalm 139:1-4 (NASB)

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29, Zechariah 9, 2 Corinthians 10…

Have you ever looked at your life and wondered why some things continue to happen over and over again? Why the constant struggles? Why the same mistakes? Why any of this when you have repented, confessed, and asked for forgiveness and moved on?

It sometimes feels as though you are in a constant cycle. Everything starts to get better, then at some point the past is repeating itself, and you seem to be right back where you started or worse. Perhaps it’s time to take a second look. A second look at your heart, at yourself, at the things you speak and believe of yourself.

I declare and decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow the love of God to fill your heart and open your eyes to that which you may have hidden within your soul, allowing it to cleanse you and free you from all negative strongholds and evil imaginations.

Did you ever stop to think about your inner dialogue? What is it that we are saying to ourselves on a daily basis? So many of us are not even conscious of the fact that we are continually speaking negative things to ourselves. We have accepted the lies and whispers of the enemy, and those he uses, to become our truth.

Sometimes it can be subtle. A thought here, a whisper there. But we didn’t denounce the negative thought. We didn’t pull it down or reject it. Instead, most of us cataloged it; storing it somewhere in our mental, where it has taken root and begins to sprout bad fruit. And the bad fruit is the way we see ourselves, the things we get into, the habits we cannot let go of, the opinions we have of ourselves, and the garbage we and abuse we accept from others.

Yet, I have to say, that many of us are not even aware of this. We do not realize this about ourselves, especially when things may be going well for a while. It isn’t until we find ourselves in a familiar crisis that we question what is going on.

Our mindset, inner dialogue, and held baggage have much to do with our current situation and experiences. There are things in our lives that we have yet to confront. There are also things that we may not even be aware of that are lingering in hearts and are a hindrance to the move of God in our lives. We must take a second look and search ourselves; search our hearts and be completely honest with ourselves. We must be willing to see and hear the truth and be ready to get rid of those negative strongholds.

I have learned throughout my life journey with the Lord that, what we do not willingly confront will continue to show up in different ways in our lives. It will continue to be a thorn, a stronghold until we face the truth, confront it, deal with it, and allow God to truly deliver us.

We cannot allow the opinions and thoughts of others to rule us. We cannot allow the hurt and pain caused by others to dictate our lives. We cannot allow resentment and un-forgiveness to reside within our hearts. These things obstruct our path. They muddy the road of righteousness. They keep us from breaking through the painful cycles that we often find ourselves in.

These negative things have become strongholds. They have a grip on our lives. And one of the saddest things I have witnessed and come to learn about many is that they have become comfortable with the cycle. They have become attached and acclimated to the dysfunction, hurt, pain, and abuse. Worse, they believe the lies of the enemy over the truth of God.

Beloveds, the world goes by what is seen. The way of the world is far removed from God. And if you are going to overcome, declare and stand in your victory, then you must fight the way God says to fight. There is no self-medicating here. There is no easy way out of a messy mind or destructive pattern.

It is a process. When you come to God and believe in Him, He has worked all things out concerning you. He has forgiven you and given you a clean slate. But deliverance is a process. A process by which we are becoming who God says we are, as we let go of the lies and the pain of what others have said concerning us, and our own mistakes.

In order for you to break this cycle; to rid your mind and heart of the residue of afflictions by which God has already forgiven you of, you have to do things God’s way. You must confess daily what the Father says about you. You must change your dialogue about yourself. You must search your hearts daily and become mindful of your thoughts and attitude. You must be willing to let go of some people, places, and things. One of the hardest things will be confronting your truth. It will be like looking into a mirror, bare before the Lord, and seeing every weakness, flaw, imperfection, and giving it all to God, and then seeing you through His eyes.

This is a fight that must be fought in the strength and wisdom of God. We must use spiritual weapons and know that whatever God has spoken concerning you, it is the truth.

I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in every area of your life. There is nothing too hard or difficult for God our Father. God will do just what He said. But you must be willing to do what He has called you. There are no shortcuts to your deliverance. It is a process that requires you to see the truth, accept the truth, and become the truth. In God, you will find your healing, deliverance, freedom, peace, and love everlasting. It’s time to break the cycle, pull down those negative strongholds, and let the mind of Christ dwell in you richly! You are Blessed. Now go…and Be a Blessing!

©2014. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

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