Lies we believe: I know myself
I’ve always loved hearing this rather confident statement. I admire anyone who knows themselves enough to declare it. “I know myself, once I start eating marshmallows, I can’t stop.” “I know myself, all that guy needs to do is say the right words and I’ll fall for him.” It is good to know oneself, it can save us from disaster. I love personality tests, I have even scheduled one for later today and marvel at how eerily accurate these tests can be. I end up loving myself even more with each new discovery on why I do what I do. But, sometimes, knowing yourself or rather being rigid about what you know about yourself can cost you. There are situations we will get into and we quite simply don’t know how we would react. I have been so surprised by my own reaction to stuff that I get baffled at how much of myself I don’t know. And that gets me excited because even though I’m in my mid-forties, there are many adventures ahead as I discover more of who I am. I share this to say, don’t be so rigid that you rob yourself of the joy of discovering who you are. The truth is, you don’t know what’s on the other side of some decisions. If you have been unable to have a baby, for example, but refuse to consider adoption because ‘you know yourself’ and you think you won’t be able to love the child like yours, think again. You just don’t know. If you hold back from pursuing a life-long dream because you don’t think you can handle the trials that come with it, you’d be surprised at how resilient you actually are. We are in a state of constant growth and change. This means that what you couldn’t handle last year, you may well be able to this year. Wishing you a joy-filled day as you uncover more of who you are.
I Decided it Wasn’t Rocket Science, So I did It
This season, I’ve been paying attention to thoughts that I have internalised. Did you know we believe the thoughts that our feelings align with, whether they are true or not? In my previous post I wrote about the power of words and how they create the environment we find ourselves in. All thoughts have source which can be external, from our environment or internal, when the thoughts come from within. These are thoughts that we have internalised and believe and they may be true or false. This is where I found myself recently whilst addressing a business activity that keeps coming up to be addressed. I have hired people who couldn’t deliver, I have had meetings with those that could but I couldn’t afford, and more recently, those I could afford but they were not interested in the project. The reason I made so many attempts at getting someone to do it is because I didn’t think I could do it. Then one day I made a decision. I decided it wasn’t rocket science. So I went on YouTube, chose a tutorial and started learning the ropes. Guys, I cannot describe the feeling of liberation and empowerment I felt as I tackled this project. Sometimes, you have to change your beliefs about a limiting, internalised thought. For example, believing a task is too difficult, or even impossible. The more you say and think it can’t be done, the more you believe and therefore act like it. If something keeps showing up as a requirement for you to progress, it may be time to change your belief about it. Decide it can be done, then get to work doing it. I believe that whatever shows up on our path is ours to embrace, overcome or navigate.
Shifting the Atmosphere: The Power of Words
Jason Nelson’s worship song, Shifting the Atmosphere, declares that our worship breaks chains and shifts the atmosphere. Let’s talk about the power of words. Words create The words we speak out create an atmosphere whether we want it to or not. Words were the precursor to the creation- God said, “let there be light” and there was light. Words are seeds that will produce after their own kind. Remember this scripture, the tongue holds the power of life and death. We have all met people or may have been on the receiving end of discouraging words that were planted in childhood. Such words grow and bear fruit in adulthood. The woman who needs constant assurance that she is beautiful was probably told the opposite as a girl. The man who grows up to abuse women may have grown up in an environment where that was the norm. You and I are in the privileged position of knowing that the tongue has the power of life and death, therefore, we can either create life with it, or create death. Creating our world with words happens when we believe the words. In the fall of Jericho, Rahab told the spies that the people were fearful because of stories they had heard. They had their own gods which they worshiped, yet they obviously believed the stories about the Israelite God hence their hearts melted and their feet trembled. When we believe a negative narrative or thought, we will experience corresponding emotions like fear. The antidote to fear is not neutrality, it is creative, life-giving words that will shift the atmosphere. In such situations, I find it difficult to believe the positive words I manage to whimper. Speaking words of life when disaster is brewing does not mean you will automatically shift the atmosphere. You have to believe those words. One of my favourite quotes is from ‘The Art of War’ In times of peace, prepare for war. This means we have to believe the truth before we are faced with a challenge. Good words in a bad situation When you have physical evidence of the negative situation before you, it can be difficult to believe the opposite. The solution is to saturate your senses with the creative power of the word until you believe it. Jacob made his sheep stare at striped poplar sticks and the sheep produced what their senses had become saturated with. You can do this through the music you listen to, the words you read, the conversations you choose. This is not the time to call that pessimistic aunty as you know they will only make things worse. Do you permit soul-destroying words in your space? That which you repeatedly hear, you will eventually believe. Be intentional I am becoming intentional about the words I allow into my spirit. The movies I watch, the conversations I partake in and the news I listen to all have the power to shift my atmosphere. This move has meant cutting down phone conversations with certain people, and picking up the phone to engage with others. We cannot afford to allow just any words to saunter into our space. We must be intentional about creating the right atmosphere- not just for ourselves but for the family. Here’s an experiment. I created two word clouds with an online tool. Look at both long enough to read a few words. What effect does each one have on you? Can you add to this? How have you created or shifted your atmosphere? Any tips will be appreciated. In the meantime, here’s Jason Nelson’s song:
To every dream, there’s an equal challenge
Have you ever wondered how one can go from super-confident about a new idea, to completely deflated in a short space of time? We picture the fulfilment of the idea we have in our mind’s eye, yet when we take one step, the obstacles line up. One of the consequences of living in a fallen world is that our purpose now has a specific hurdle assigned to it. Adam and Eve were told to multiply and fill the earth. The babies would obviously come through Eve who had the womb. Undoubtedly, the process would have been smooth sailing had they not sinned. Her specific purpose wasn’t lost in the fall, but it now had the obstacle of great pain and labour. Adam was meant to look after and nurture the garden. They were to eat freely of every fruit and seed bearing plant. After the fall, he was still able to look after the land and eat from it but the obstacle of thorns and weeds showed up. It also now required sweat. Something that would have been pure joy became a challenging experience- and it still is. Abraham was called to be the father of many nations but had problems fathering the one child. Jesus was sent to save the world but the world rejected Him. Whatever your purpose is, there is an obstacle that is specific for it; enough to stop you from fulfilling it if you permit it. It is essential to know your purpose and to know its corresponding obstacle. Deception is having access to that which helps us navigate challenges yet refusing to use it. Thy word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 The word of God illuminates your path so that you can navigate the obstacles. Once I understood this, I stopped comparing my situation to others’. I stopped the mental bargaining- “if only I had more money, more contacts, a different location, things will improve.” The truth is there are hurdles on my path that are specific to my journey. I cannot cherry pick other people’s situation and assume each won’t come with its own problems. I also now know that just because I face a difficult challenge, it does not mean that God isn’t involved. The same way the trees carried on bearing fruit for man to feed on, is the same way every dream comes with the power to be fulfilled. The presence of that power does not mean the absence of the challenge. I share this for that woman or man that is discouraged because everything they try their hands at appears to fail. There are obstacles, but you can over come or navigate around them.
What do you do with the lessons you learn?
There are times on our journey we come face to face with an old lesson we learned. We get a stark reminder of what God told us to do- but we forgot. We are reminded of His faithfulness, His promise to us and His purpose for our lives. There are times we desperately need those reminders. It is important to set up an altar to God at the places He appears to you. An altar is a place of remembrance. I do this by journaling. Recently I learned that I must take immediate action on a new lesson I have learned. When God gives me a revelation, I tend to treat it as just that. I am excited, blessed and in awe of this new knowledge, but I don’t always change my habits to start to live in the new space. Sure enough, before long I find myself re-learning that lesson- because I didn’t put it to practice. When we get an understanding of the word, we should not only receive it, but also treat it as a commandment. We should build an altar so it becomes engrained in us. By doing so we avoid going round in circles passing by the same stone. “They pitched their tents…where they had camped before. The same place where Abraham built the altar and he worshipped God again.” Gen 13:3-4 NLT
Watch the Little Foxes
I started my day thinking about the certainty of the gift God has placed in me and the fact that my set of talents is given to me because it is needed to bring my purpose to pass. I also understand that the desires I have are in alignment with my purpose. I don’t have a burning desire or a need that drives me to want to become a classical pianist as that is not part of my purpose. I have a burning desire to write, grow my business to great heights and so much more. These desires exist because they are wired into my being. Now, my thoughts this morning went along the lines of ‘why” and ‘what’. Why am I struggling to fulfil aspects of my calling and what is standing in the way? The same answer came as it has always done. The little foxes. The little foxes are habits, people, behaviour or things that are not monumental, yet can detail your life. Like a tiny rudder that steers a massive ship. Or the little muscle in our mouth that can destroy relationships or even create a negative environment for failure to exist. This scripture tells me that the flesh is weak, and the law was not enough to tame it. So Jesus came to do what the law couldn’t do. Because of Jesus, the power of the life-giving spirit has freed me from the weakness of my flesh which stops it from doing what I instruct it to do. Because of Christ we can now follow the desire of the Holy Spirit which is one with our spirit, as opposed to following the flesh which is in enmity against God. The little foxes will always try to derail us, but we must use the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in victory. What little foxes are hanging around your vineyard trying to destroy your entire crop? And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:2 NLT
