No More Shame

I first read this phrase in a book. I talked about it with a friend. I began to be intentional about it… “sitting in the uncomfortable”

No exit plan, no strategy to reinvent the narrative.. just sitting in an uncomfortable situation, circumstance, or state of mind. A place where I need to stay, running is not an option.

I’m not talking about the creepy situations, when red flags are going off…. listen to that inner voice: run and avoid like the plague.

However; when the Holy Spirit begins to prompt and you just know… It’s time to grow, and growth is never easy.

Uncomfortable: -as in – I don’t like it – My inner self is being exposed in a way that is vulnerable… this might hurt…. I just might grow…

Two things I’ve learned through this:

#1 It will not last forever. This too shall pass. It will end. The pain of the uncomfortable has a time limit, God won’t keep us there forever. He always has a purpose.

#2 Growth only happens if I sit quietly before the Lord and wait for Him.

Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of Justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.”

No matter what “uncomfortable” I’m sitting in, whether it is a bad choice I made and now I must “sit” in the consequences, or something totally outside of my control. I can confidently “sit” in all those uncomfortable feelings, questions, and unknowns and wait quietly before the Lord. Not wishing the pain away, but rather trusting that He works all things out for my good and His glory.

Blessed because I have – One. More. Day!

These thoughts of mine, they come along subtly; whispering untruths like:

failure

unworthy

useless

I know the drill by now, “Take every thought captive We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5

What does it mean to make my thoughts “obey Christ”?

it means I need to read, memorize, meditate on, and KNOW God’s Word.

I have to apply what I read to where my mind dwells….

it means that I compare my thoughts with the truth found in scripture

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.“

most of the time I can stop right at “is it true”

really….. is it true? is IT true? IS it true? IS IT TRUE? is it God’s Truth?

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

The truth is my mind is pretty much free to roam however I let it. Yes, the enemy does throw fiery darts and they can be catastrophic if I don’t see them for what they are -LIES.

However, I’m free to think…. God gave me a big beautiful brain and HE has also given me this beautiful, precious life. SO… Where will I choose to let my thoughts dwell? Will I allow the thoughts that I dwell on help me? Will I allow the thoughts that I dwell on build up (myself and those around me)?

There’s this verse in Isaiah (my personal favorite book of the Bible) that says, “And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”;
    the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.” Isaiah 33:24

I choose to dwell in a place of forgiveness of sins. My sins made me ‘sick’ for long enough.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1