What Is Broken Can Be Mended

Jesus is living proof.

So whether it's your heart that is feeling pretty empty and longing to be filled, a friendship or relationship that broke and you are praying to be mended, something that has become divided and desperately needs multiplied, or something dead in your life that needs to be made alive again. Friend, it can be. Don't let the enemy take your hope. Don't let him make you forget the power God has in your life. Because if he can keep you there, he'll rob your every day. If he can keep you there, you'll lose your way. But, if you can just get to the place where you believe again, and remember whose you are and who God is, you'll see again, that every single day holds the opportunity for Him to resurrect your situation. He can do it. And His Son is an example of the immeasurable power that He has to do so.

@sarah.jean.armstrong 

No Amount Self Love Will Erase Your Heart Issues

 

We can take all the baths, go on all the vacations, and read all the books we want, but the pain, hurt, and trauma that has been pushed down and stored deep down in our hearts won't ever go away until we finally deal with them. They will only get buried deeper and deeper, until it eventually, it becomes too much, and they start seeping out in our lives, and something in us, breaks. Until we finally cannot hold in or hide the pain anymore.

Jesus is the ONLY one who knows what we have been through. Every single thing. He is the only one who can go back with us, to each situation, and TAKE that pain FROM us. But, we have to go back. We HAVE to deal with each one. We have to acknowledge what has been done. We have to allow ourselves to FEEL the pain, and process it, to let it go and finally be free from it. 

When I went to a Christian counselor (which I highly recommend) for the first time, I didn't think that the issues I was having had ANYTHING to do with some of the things I had been through. Like, NO clue.  But friends, all of those things WERE the reasons I was having issues!

.

As we go through life, starting as precious children, we get hurt, and we will do whatever we need to do to survive the pain if we aren’t taught how to deal with it in a healthy way. Some of us harden to get through. Some of us, stuff and pretend these things never happened. Some of us turn to substances and would rather live in a state of numbing than feeling.

We were never meant to live in a state of survival. We were never meant to carry the weight of what's been done to us. That is why Jesus came. To take ALL of the sin of this world, that others have done to us, and, what WE have done to ourselves and to others. And to heal of us it. To rid us of it, and remove the imprint left on us, from it.

We don't need any more self love or self help books. We need the love of Jesus, to go in every crevice of our heart, and heal us, from the inside out. THAT love, changes things. THAT love, heals. And THAT love, has all the power in the world, to free you all the issues you want to change. Spend your time seeking THAT love, and EVERYTHING in you, and your life, will start to change.

Identity Always forms An Action

Chosen, redeemed, washed, adopted, set free, loved, forgiven, blessed, valued, and accepted. It’s who we are. The world tries to give us false and negative identities (ugly, worthless, unwanted, abandoned, etc.), but our precious Savior wants us to be firmly rooted in the truth of who we are in Him: pure, spotless, beautiful, special, wanted, loved, adopted, and much, much more.

Identity always forms an action. If we see ourselves as unworthy, our actions will follow, and vice versa. When we begin to see ourselves as Jesus sees us—precious and beloved—we start to choose to live and behave in our right identity, and nothing will bring you closer to your right identity than entering into a sweet place of utter and complete brokenness. It’s there that we can see how we have tried to cover up all the shame, dirtiness, and unworthiness, by trying to mask, look good, justify, perform, make up for, work harder, and/or earn God’s love—or, how we’ve been withdrawing altogether—and we encounter the sufficiency of the love of Christ displayed at the Cross of Calvary. I am beloved and made holy, not by any action of my own, but because of what Jesus has done for me. The moment we embrace this as our right identity, we are set free, and our roots of faith grow deep into the corners of our hearts, which will sustain, protect, and nourish us through the seasons of life.

The Prison of What Others Think

Or the prison of constantly thinking you know what other people are thinking about you. Both are as equally debilitating. Trust me, this used to be a big issue for me and if I am not careful, I can easily fall back into the chains of both of these prisons. The crazy thing is when I am fully looking to God each day, aiming to please only Him, I don't struggle with this at ALL. I am like a different person. In the past, if someone was in a bad mood around me, or said something to me, when I didn't do anything, I would try so hard to fix things and honestly think it was about ME. It was exhausting. Their struggles would become egg shells around me. Their heaviness or attitude, would become a problem that I thought needed solving. It's freedom when you realize that most of the time, what people do or say has nothing to do with you -- it has to do with what's going on in their own life. And all those times we imagine what they are thinking of us, hours or days later? They likely aren't even thinking about us at all. We are not as important in random people's lives as we think. Lol.

So be encouraged. If you have been spinning lately, over something you said or did, or over what someone might be thinking, take a breath. Bring to God. Who are you trying to please? If it's Him, do what He is asking you to do. in the situation. And if you didn't do a thing, but somehow are still struggling, release the need to please everyone except God. You have an audience of One. And friend, if you aim to please Him, He is well pleased. And when you can truly grasp that, it will free you. It change you. It will unlessh your mind to be fully YOU.

He Binds Up the Broken

 He Binds Up the Broken: Let this promise for the lost, wounded, hurting, sick and wandering fill you with hope. God fulfills His promise to those who cry out to Him. He pursues with His steadfast and unwavering love.

Understanding how He longs to mend, heal, and restore you will fill your heart with joy.

No matter what has happened in your life, what you’ve done or how far you have wandered, our Good Shepherd will find you, restore you, and bring you home.

Psalm 23:1-3 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; He leads be beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

John 10:14 

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Psalm 100:3

Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture..

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"

The Hardened Heart of Unforgiveness

Conflict can arise in the best relationships. People are flawed and often will do and say things that wound us. Holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness cause walls to go up around our hearts that separate us from God, self and others leading to intimacy issues. Give and receive forgiveness.

Don't let your heart get hardened. It will effect every area of your life. Are you carrying around a stony heart? Run to the only One who can soften, change, heal, and shape it. He will leave His fingerprints all over it. 

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

Mathew 15:18

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11:19‬ ‭

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14-15‬ 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:23-24‬ ‭

He Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You

 

Have you ever felt rejected, abandoned and unloved? Jesus will never leave you. He is incapable of suddenly deciding that He doesn't want you.

Nothing you can do will cause Him to reject you. Believe what God's word says about Him and about you. You are defined by the love and acceptance of the One who formed your inward parts - the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He thinks you are worth loving, cherishing and keeping.

Find your identity in Him. Apply His love to your wounded heart and let His word renew your mind and penetrate deep in your heart.

Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or 

terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; "He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Psalms 94:14

“For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance."

Isaiah 42:16

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I  will do; I will not forsake them."

Fear of What People Think

 .

Or the prison of constantly thinking you know what other people are thinking about you. Both are as equally debilitating. Trust me, this used to be a big issue for me and if I am not careful, I can easily fall back into the chains of both of these prisons. The crazy thing is when I am fully looking to God each day, aiming to please only Him, I don't struggle with this at ALL. I am like a different person. In the past, if someone was in a bad mood around me, or said something to me, when I didn't do anything, I would try so hard to fix things and honestly think it was about ME. It was exhausting. Their struggles would become egg shells around me. Their heaviness or attitude, would become a problem that I thought needed solving. It's freedom when you realize that most of the time, what people do or say has nothing to do with you -- it has to do with what's going on in their own life. And all those times we imagine what they are thinking of us, hours or days later? They likely aren't even thinking about us at all. We are not as important in random people's lives as we think. Lol.

So be encouraged. If you have been spinning lately, over something you said or did, or over what someone might be thinking, take a breath. Bring to God. Who are you trying to please? If it's Him, do what He is asking you to do. in the situation. And if you didn't do a thing, but somehow are still struggling, release the need to please everyone except God. You have an audience of One. And friend, if you aim to please Him, He is well pleased. And when you can truly grasp that, it will free you. It change you. It will unlessh your mind to be fully YOU. Or the prison of constantly thinking you know what other people are thinking about you. Both are as equally debilitating. Trust me, this used to be a big issue for me and if I am not careful, I can easily fall back into the chains of both of these prisons. The crazy thing is when I am fully looking to God each day, aiming to please only Him, I don't struggle with this at ALL. I am like a different person. In the past, if someone was in a bad mood around me, or said something to me, when I didn't do anything, I would try so hard to fix things and honestly think it was about ME. It was exhausting. Their struggles would become egg shells around me. Their heaviness or attitude, would become a problem that I thought needed solving. It's freedom when you realize that most of the time, what people do or say has nothing to do with you -- it has to do with what's going on in their own life. And all those times we imagine what they are thinking of us, hours or days later? They likely aren't even thinking about us at all. We are not as important in random people's lives as we think. Lol.

So be encouraged. If you have been spinning lately, over something you said or did, or over what someone might be thinking, take a breath. Bring to God. Who are you trying to please? If it's Him, do what He is asking you to do. in the situation. And if you didn't do a thing, but somehow are still struggling, release the need to please everyone except God. You have an audience of One. And friend, if you aim to please Him, He is well pleased. And when you can truly grasp that, it will free you. It change you. It will unlessh your mind to be fully YOU.

Are You Fear Based?

Fear is a normal strong emotional reaction to impending danger—whether real or imagined, rational or irrational, normal or abnormal. It was designed by God. However, living with a fear-based mentality or with a spirit of fear is not from God.

If you grew up in a home where fear reigned, and you didn’t experience love, safety, and security, you might have easily developed a fear-based mentality. This abnormal fear cripples and stunts any  personal growth or aspirations. It prevents a person from trying to leave a bad situation, even an abusive one. It can also prevent us from seeking help for fear of what will be uprooted. Fear can also be the driving emotion behind anger. This is bondage, and we need to be set free.

God’s Word tells us that “perfect love cast out all fear” (1 John 4:18). It makes sense, then, that if we are love deficient we are fear based. The solution is to get God’s love into us. As easy as this may seem, for those who have been crippled in their ability to love and be loved because of the wounds of the past, it is extremely difficult. Only the truth of God’s love can penetrate the hardest of hearts. We can overcome fear through faith in a loving God.

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