Isn't God sweet? I don't want to use this scripture as a cop-out, but He definitely knows that I'm dust (Psalm 103:14). My personality functions so much better with structure, schedules and deadlines. Without them, I turn into mush pretty quickly.
So last week, I was posting and praying about consistent quiet time. That morning after my post, I got a sweet invitation from our women's ministry to participate in a summer Bible study. I felt like I had gotten an email straight from God!
I joined the group a week late, but I'm loving it already. We're doing Jennifer Rothschild's study Me, Myself and Lies. The study is timely on so many levels. First of all, Jennifer is speaking at She Speaks this summer. I got even more excited about hearing her after seeing the first video. She is an engaging speaker who captured both my imagination and my heart.
The study itself addresses our thought lives. It's already making me deal with some of the things that I tell myself without even thinking about it. It's shocking to tune in to some of my own thoughts. So much is habit and automatic. So many things are careless comments from others from my childhood.
One thought that a friend shared was how one comment can stick with us while many compliments or encouragements are ignored. That is so true for me. Is it true for you? Over the years I've received affirmation from so many people-- encouraging parents, close friends, a loving husband. There are still a few "labels", though, that I've allowed to stick.
Jennifer makes us write them down in our books. I want to tell you some of mine, but truthfully I also don't. Just being honest... I guess that means that there's still shame attached to them. When I deal with them and gain some victory, I'll share.
I guess the lessons I'm learning are these:
- EVERYBODY has some negative inner recordings that need work. Not a soul is exempt.
- God's truths are greater than the lies in my head. I need to focus on His truth about me as found in scripture so that the lies are taken captive to the obedience of Christ. (II Cor. 10:5)
- God doesn't want any name to stick to us except His own. Some of us label ourselves with our accomplishments and some of us with our failures. JESUS' is the name I want written on my forhead!
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4 comments:
I love these bullet point lessons you're learning. Those are so good for every woman!!!
Can't wait to see you soon dear friend~
Are you excited about meeting Jennifer? She's the best!!!
Sounds like a great study! I'm participating in Amy Blight's study this summer..its great to have a little "schedule" during these summer months!
So true - how after ten encouraging comments, we remember and dwell on the one negative one (I thought that was just me!)
Hope you gain much from your study - sure wish I was able to see you again at She Speaks this year :(
Amy, I just checked my email and received yours about being in your speaker eval group! I'm so excited... and then to come to your blog and read this post--God is so encouraging and inspiring!
I don't know if we're supposed to tell about our talks or not, but my 3 minute talk has to do with just this subject. The things we believe about ourselves because of what other people say.
'Life and death are in the power of the tongue...' is what Proverbs says. How true is that! We can speak life over ourselves, our marriages, our children--or we can speak death and that is the result we will get. And from my own history, I know how spoken words over me had an impact of death on my self-esteem.
I really look forward to meeting you! And I'm PTL that your boys are getting back to their normal selves!
In Christ
Amy,
Are you doing this through church or through the LPM Blog (Beth Moore's facilitating this same study this summer online)?
I'm doing it "on-line" and am amazed at how it's just what I need at this moment! :) Glad you are enjoying it too!
Blessings,
Cyndee
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