How are you doing with tackling the process of ridding yourself of pesky defects?
How did you do with last week’s first three steps of demolishing strongholds and deficiencies?
Are you able to:
- Focus on ONE defect at a time, or do you get bogged down with every issue?
- Focus on obtaining victory over one defect issue?
- Focus on God’s power and not your own willpower to overcome and make those critical-to-a-successful and full life corrections?
I hope we’re all making headway with the process of acknowledging, confronting and dealing a punishing blow to our defects and hang-ups. It can be a lifelong process to conquer some of them. Yet every step forward counts toward healing and growing, so this week we’re going to cover four additional steps we can take to get the healing process moving forward.
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Focus on what you want and not what you don’t want.
One of the first things beginning writers are taught is to try to write in a positive rather than negative way. The same is true of effectively retraining your brain to master healthful habits. It has to do with reframing, or adopting a new perspective.
It’s easy to come up with a list of why you don’t want to do something, or why it’s hard to change. But try coming up with a list of all of the benefits you’ll receive out of making the change.
For example, some of your reasons, or excuses, for not going to the gym might be:
- I don’t like getting sweaty.
- It takes so long to drive there.
- I have to take the time to get ready to go.
- I have so many other things I need to do.
- I don’t particularly like to exercise.
- Other people at the gym are going to stare at me and judge me because I’m not in shape.
Try reframing your thoughts with comments like:
- The sweat will help rid my body of toxins and I’ll feel better.
- I can listen to uplifting music in the car during my drive.
- I can enjoy the preparation process and maybe purchase a special gym bag and workout clothes to use.
- Working out is important for me to have good health, and I am important—to myself, my family, and God.
- Getting into an exercise routine may be hard, but I could exercise with a friend or in a class, where I can meet new friends and enjoy the camaraderie and encouragement of working out together.
- I won’t be the only out-of-shape person at the gym, and others there started at the beginning like me. A personal trainer from the gym can help me get started and be the encourager I need to keep at it.
When you focus on the negatives, your thought life becomes a problem. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, stop and turn your resistance into a proactive, positive comment. Believe it or not, your brain will take notice and start thinking in a more positive manner.
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Memorize uplifting Scripture verses.
Having notecards in your bag, car, or purse and scattered around the house can remind you of good things the Lord has said and promised. Memorizing these passages or verses is even better because you renew your mind with them and affect your heart and spirit.
In fact, Scripture memorization is like good food for the soul! Feed yourself with as much of it as you possibly can throughout the day. And meditate on it at night before going to sleep. God’s word will permeate your thought processes and affect your actions.
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Focus on doing good things and acting in good ways not on feeling good.
I know, this is a tough one. But believe it when psychologists say that actions can drive feelings, just as feelings can drive actions.
It’s dangerous to wait until we feel like doing something to do it. When we live that way, we get stuck and often miss out on life. I can’t count how many times doing something I didn’t feel like doing ended up turning my feelings and emotions around to the positive.
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Focus on the people who help and support you in your recovery work and not on the ones who undermine or hinder you.
This step can be very difficult when it’s family members doing the stifling or resisting. But you must surround yourself with like-minded encouragers. Even more so if you live with people who tend to drag you down or feed your weaknesses.
Scripture is very clear about wisely choosing friends and NOT being unequally yoked (as in marriage or business) to an unbeliever. Unfortunately, so many people brush that wise admonition aside and end up living in pain and frustration for rebelling against it.
You are a precious being. Your time is a precious commodity. Pray about and choose wisely! You may find yourself having to pray about leaving a friend and drawing boundaries in order to protect yourself and heal.
Finally, wholeheartedly trust God to lead and change you. In our weakness He is made strong. Recognize and accept your current circumstances as they are and trust that God is working right now to help you overcome your frailties and faults; that He is working in you to finish your faith and help you run the race to a successful completion.
Don’t give up, because God doesn’t give up on you!
Until next week, list your steps, work your steps, take one step, one day at a time, and rejoice over even the smallest victories!
On a side note: I’m celebrating another complete revolution around the sun today and meditating on the year the Lord has given me. It has been anything but “normal.”
It has been full, it has been revealing, it has sometimes been fraught with snags and obstacles, and it has been life changing. I am spending the day reflecting on it and praying for insight into the next 12 months.
And I humbly request your prayers as I prepare for knee surgery this Friday, fallout from extreme athletics and my Camino journey. I’m hoping this is the last time I have to be cut open for a while!
Blessings,
Andrea
“Certainly there was an Eden….We all long for it, and we are constantly glimpsing it.” —J.R.R. Tolkien