It say's in John 10:10 "That the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy." One of the ways he does this is by placing lies in our head. He wants those lies to take root so we believe those lies. It is a daily choice to CAPTURE those thoughts and REPLACE them.
I have some very brave and courageous people who are going to share the thoughts that creep into their mind and how they are choosing to replace those with God's thoughts of them....
Meet my sweet friend Ashley. Ashley has been in our life since our son Holden was born. She has become like a sister to me. She works in corporate America, has been married for 5 years, and loves others with a compassionate heart and soul. BUT the thoughts of......
ITS ALL ABOUT ME," still creep up in her heart and soul.
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“It’s all about you… how you feel, what you desire, what you think…”
Some of you may read this and think that’s a pretty obvious lie and if you really loved God then you would not get stuck in that lie because clearly it’s all about Him… how He feels, what He desires, what He thinks…
I would have said the same thing too at one time. However, it didn’t happen overnight for me, it was a gradual slide in to that mindset. I’ll be honest; it’s a hard mindset to undo.
I allowed what others were saying about me to marinate in my mind. I became set on what others think of me rather than what God thinks of me. I did things to please me, not God, because after all it’s all about me right?
Wrong.
· “You are so sweet. You are so helpful. You are so encouraging. You are so funny.” I would hear this at work often, but then go home and be the complete opposite to my husband.
· “Oh you run marathons? Wow, that’s so impressive.” So marathons are what I did for a season.
· “You always wear such cute clothes.” So I bought clothes and jewelry to make myself feel better and recognized.
· “You eat so clean all the time and make such good recipes.” So I ONLY posted pictures of my best meals I made, when really just yesterday I totally screwed up a recipe and it was a complete fail. Also, I would secretly pig out on junk food, but only Facebook and Instagram saw my healthy meals and snacks.
This is just a very small frame of reference for a season in my life that became so self-focused. When the blinders were removed, I could see the mess I created and look at it and say, “I did that? How could I do this?” I put myself in front of God, I put myself in front of my husband, I put myself in front of my family, I put myself in front of my friends, I put myself in front of my job. Remember it’s all about me… what I want… what I desire… how I feel. Again, so wrong.
I am learning that I am so very human and I absolutely cannot depend on myself to make right choices. The more I focused on myself the easier it is to listen to Satan’s lies. Also, God created a void in me that can only be filled by Him… not my husband, not my best friend, not my mentor, not anyone… only Him. The more I depended on myself and what I thought would fill that void, the less I focused on God and that’s where the downward spiral of poor choices and selfishness set in full force.
Here’s the beauty. I am not defeated. I’m learning to refocus my thoughts to be Christ-centered and not Ashley-centered. It’s a new beginning that I must remember, it’s not about me. It’s never been about me. It’s all about Him.
Luke 10:27 “He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.”
I believe if I’m loving the Lord my God in this way, and not loving myself in this way, then that’s the place where transformation begins. It’s not about me. It’s all about Him.