“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
When raising my children, the biggest challenge I faced was to keep my fears from becoming their fears. I raised two daredevil boys. They had no fear, a high tolerance for pain, and a love for anything that required a release of liability form.
There were seasons in my life when I felt like I crawled around on my knees, unable to get up for being in constant prayer for them. I often cried out to the Lord, “God, You created boys. You understand them. Please protect them and give this mama peace!”
I knew the way I reacted to their natural zeal and discovery for life would eventually shape their mindsets for future adventure.
If you’ve had a chance to read my personal testimony (found on the bio page of my blog), I share the perspective of my childhood when I never felt I could rest my feet on solid ground. Day to day was unpredictable. Boundaries changed constantly, and it was difficult to make sense of my parental influence. So much so, I never did figure out how to bond with my parents.
Good or bad, our early years teach us to create a specific lens through which we view the world. What is modeled at home is how we learn to handle work, relationships, money, commitment, responsibilities, etc. Our early influences determine how we view all future experiences and opportunities.
The perfect family is one where everyone’s needs are met every time in every circumstance. I have never met nor have I ever heard of a family like that, so I can’t imagine it a far cry to think that not many of us get to adulthood unscathed.
There came a time in my life when I realized the way I had been coded was not working for me. With me at the wheel I had successfully run my life into a ditch, wheels up and smoke pouring from under the hood.
In my struggle to understand people and life, I became fully aware that the skill set I had been equipped with was nothing more than survival skills. I wanted to do more than survive; I wanted to thrive.
I could have played the poor-me card. Or moaned and groaned about how miserable a job my parents had done. But at some point, it simply becomes an excuse.
As adults we have the capability to recognize whether or not the choices we are making work for or against us. When we discern something is not working, we then have the option to choose various resources to change thought patterns, skill sets, or belief systems.
We have options and abilities that help us identify our weak areas and create a strategy to change the direction of our lives. We can make decisions, implement change, and follow through with the course of action. If we want to do better, we can do better.
As parents we try our best to shape the minds of our children in a beautiful way. We do everything within our power to discover their gifts/talents, so we can point them in the right direction. We encourage, coach, and cheer them on, but we’re still going to fall short because we’re restricted by our humanness. But there is One who can do all these things for you, His daughter.
Father God sees you as His child and He already knows your gifts and talents. With His own hands He intimately formed and purposely placed you in your mother’s womb. God’s love is the soldier in the battle for your heart and soul. He sent His love to the front line to fight for you. He has chosen you and true to a good Father, He is patient and loving as He waits to see if you’ll choose Him.
He’s the Father to the fatherless, Champion of widows, and Defender of the weak. He has no rival, no equal. He doesn’t play favorites, and His heart for us is such that He wants His daughters to live life to the fullest and abundantly.
He’ll help you do more than survive. He’ll show you how to thrive!
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take what you discover and hold it up to the Light to evaluate it against who God says you are.
- Is there an area in your life in which you’d like to see change? If so, what is it?
- List three things you could do to equip yourself to overcome in this area.
- What are some resources that will help you make the change?
- Where will you need to go to get the resources that will make you successful?
- What is the date of the day you are going to take action?
Use God’s word to take control over traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts, take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises found in His word.
Print, then cut and carry this Scripture with you and/or post it in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s word says to encourage you and to give you an example of His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” 2Timothy 1:7
When you read God’s word say to yourself: God has given me His strength, His heart, His courage, His power, and His mind. Because of God’s extravagant generosity I am strong, loving, brave, and smart!
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
