Last time, you saw my humbling misspell moment. It proves that God is rewriting my emotional script and I’m becoming more free to live as He designed.
About a year ago, I first realized, “You’re such an idiot” couldn’t control me anymore.
It happened the day I mailed a story to Good Housekeeping magazine. As I waited to turn into the post office parking lot, I checked the manila envelope for the umpteenth time and saw an error in the address. My self-talk slithered in on its slimy belly. But I caught it, mid-strike. “You’re such a … novice.”
The plain, simple truth that I’m a beginner and will make mistakes grabbed “idiot” by the face and squashed it. So, weeks later, when the magazine rejected my article, “You’re such an idiot” didn’t even twitch. I fought it for years, but it can’t discourage me anymore. It’s roadkill.
When a nagging thought shows up, I ask three questions:
1. Is it irrational?
Of course, I’m not an idiot. As Merriam-Webster defines it, I’m not a “very stupid or foolish person.” While I do enjoy my airhead moments, this label is unfounded, absurd even.
We are capable of doing foolish things, but they don’t define us. Our mistakes are not who we are.
We put the label on the action. That was dumb. Not, I am dumb. This may sound like silly semantics, but try it … and keep on whacking that mole … until you’re free from its power.
2. Is it imaginings?
Imagination can inflate a problem in a nano-second. The worse case scenario becomes the only outcome. And what was worse case scenario in forgetting the box number on the envelope? Delayed delivery, maybe. But, my brain saw the editors and mail people in New York discussing my lack of professionalism and pitching the unopened envelope.
Irrationality and imagination get us in trouble. Irrational thoughts are illogical. Imagined thoughts are inflated. Either way, they lie.
God promises we’ll be transformed as we compare and replace our thoughts with what is true.
My Texas pastor says, “take it all as information.” We recognize our wrong thoughts and actions and accept our weaknesses, so we learn and grow a little more like Jesus. Our identity is further rooted in Him. In who we are not what we do.
After all, we see in Genesis 1:27 that “God created human beings in His own image.”
Which brings us to the most important question when considering our thoughts and attitudes:
3. Is it true of God’s Image?
We’ll tackle that biggie another time. Until then, my friends, be aware of thoughts that shackle you from your full redemptive potential.
Enjoy the journey 🙂
Great job
Thanks, Edith 🙂 Grace and peace to you.
Love your perspective and that it helps to remind us of God’s perspective – that being to focus on what is true not the self-incriminating lies that try to envelop us.
Also, appreciate your honesty and value your words, “be aware of thoughts that shackle you from your full redemptive potential.” That’d be great on a mug! : ) I’m going to share it in a class tomorrow with its teaching based on Philippians 4:4-13. God is certainly FUN in how He orchestrates the timing of words sent out! May He bless you, Robin, in BIG ways!!
Well, Hello there! What a surprise to see my quote on Facebook! I couldn’t even remember where I wrote it:) Thank you for reading, sharing, and encouraging me. I’m delighted you will use this in a class based on that powerful passage of Scripture. You’re right, the quote would be great on a mug…a reminder every morning with our coffee. Yes, God does orchestrate His timing of things…How did you even find that blog post?
Blessings and peace to you, Melody. I look forward to seeing what you write 🙂