"When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate."
This Represents our exchange for the new "us" from the old. The example that the woman who wrote this gave, was a morning that she woke up and it was just one of "those" days. We've all been there at some point in our lives, when that alarm clock goes off and we just wanna stay in bed and hide away from our daily responsibilities. One of those days where emotionally you feel like the whole world is just hanging out on your shoulders and saying "hey carry me around today would ya?" I've been there more times than i would like to admit and didn't know how to get out of it.
The woman goes on to describe how her negative thinking came into play:
"As I started my run, old thoughts poured into my head. You are not beautiful. You are not special. Your life doesn't count. After years of reading the Truth, studying the Truth and even teaching the Truth, it was hard to believe I still struggled with these dark thoughts. I guess I shouldn't have expected the enemy to lie down and give up. He knows my weaknesses and all my buttons to push."
I have SO been in this place, and unfortunately I've been there alot. Sometimes I feel like the biggest hypocrite because I'll tell someone in my life who is struggling w/ thoughts like these that God loves them and God created them perfectly in His image and all that good stuff yet when I find myself in that place I can't listen to my own advice. I guess in most cases its beneficial to hear someone say they have experienced the same and share how they got through it. Which is why I LOVE this email I received because these thoughts are something I struggle with almost on a daily basis. I have always been a person that when I have these thoughts I seek out words of affirmation from other people. That will never fulfill me in these dark moments. Only God and His word is fulfilling to my spirit. I have been shoving my nose into my bible A LOT this year and I can't even begin to explain the impact it has on my thoughts and way I live out my life. I have never felt more fulfilled than I have in the past month or so. Its like no matter what the world throws down on me it won't break me and it won't consume me.
Another thing to keep in mind is trying to be aware of what triggers these negative thoughts. For me its rejection, feeling like a failure, and sometimes being alone for too long. But because if I become aware of these things then I can learn to head them off and turn to Jesus when I start feeling this way. What triggers your negative thoughts? Can you head them off?
I don't think I could share with you the closing statements any better than what this woman said so I'm just gonna copy and paste that awesomeness right now!!
"As lies poured in, I retrieved scriptures stored in my mind and heart. He sees me as beautiful. He says He is wild about me. He is more than enough for me. He is all I need.
Mulling over these precious chunks of God's Word, tears began to pour. This is what I needed. I didn't need more words of affirmation from my husband. I didn't need another pat on the back from a friend. I needed a new outpouring of love from my Love. I needed to be reminded of who He says I am, to give up the old lies and replace them with His Truths.
When we come into His presence, He fills us. The Lord changes us so that we are not the same as we were when we came to Him. Ezekiel 46:9 represents this exchange of old for new. The people of Israel were told when they came into the temple area to worship, they were to enter through one gate and exit through the opposite gate. So the same should be true with us; we are "not to go back as we came, but more holy, and heavenly, and spiritual" (Matthew Henry). As we enter into our special times with God, we need to come out the "opposite gate," different than the way we went in.
After an hour of running, crying and praying to God, I returned home a different woman. Now, I was ready. Ready to be the wife and mom I needed to be. Ready to be God's vessel to pour out. Being in the Lord's presence restored me. I had been filled and changed.
Dear Lord, I need You today. Living this life sometimes drains me and leaves me empty. As I come through Your gates and into Your presence, change me. Pour Your life and heart into me so that as I leave through the "opposite gate," I am not the same woman as when I came in. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Great stuff, I hope that this could be a source of encouragement for anyone who reads this as it has clearly been for me. Funny thing is God totally knew I needed this after last night and he provided, so hopefully he's doing the same for you by filtering his message through my rambling blog :o)
Ashleigh, remember whose you are and who the fight is really against....when you completely understand this it opens up a knowledge of understanding of yourself. The stronger you are in Christ , the stronger your fight against satan is. This is a continual cycle that you must arm yourself against. Remembering that all sin is great in God's eyes, no matter what it is , giving it all to him shows faith and maturity, a testimony of our Christianity. You must surrender all. Easier said than done, but only He knows your heart. I Love You...Uncle Todd.
ReplyDelete