I Can’t Help The Way I Am!

Have you ever said these words?
I know I have!
How do you respond to your child/spouse/friend when they say these words?
I pray that you respond with love and affirmation!

In my profession I meet with many people – of all ages (12-85) - from all walks of life – from all backgrounds – with different educational, cultural, spiritual positions... and invariably, most will tell me of why they are the way they are, and why they can’t be any different!

I’m here to say that I, you, we, they – can be different! Hallelujah!

Have you ever said any of the following? (to yourself or to someone else...)
· “You’re just like you’re dad/mom... they couldn’t hold a job; so why should you expect to.”
· “Your older brother/sister is lazy and you will be too.”
· “You have the same genes as your father’s/mother’s family – you’ll always be fat.”
· “Your parents never showed love so how can you?”
· “My parents were never affectionate so I don’t know how to be.”
· “All my life I was told that I’d never amount to anything so ....”

What about some of these:
· “I can’t stand this tiny house! Everything gets on my nerves!”
· “My job is so stressful! I can’t help but be irritable when I get home.”
· “Oh, it’s the hormones again!”
· “I’m so exhausted; I can’t keep my house clean.”
· “My ex-husband/wife put me down all the time; he/she destroyed my self-esteem.”
· “My family never confronted issues; I just can’t deal with conflict or confrontation.”

Now I ask you – have you ever been in any of these situations and come out of them?
I pray that you have! Because you can!
Again, I say “HALLELUJAH”!

I have probably believed about half of those lies listed above!
Praise the Lord – He has taken me to the truth of His word and changed my heart and my spirit... It was a CHOICE to allow HIM to do that; to cooperate with HIM; to be obedient to HIM; to plead with HIM when my will was getting in the way; to surrender to His will for me!
The implications of all those “things” (LIES) listed above are that someone else made us the way we are – that we are victims, reacting to the wounds inflicted upon us!

“I can’t help the way I am” is a lie straight from our adversary!
This lie makes us a victim with no way out!
This lie tells us that everyone else is responsible for who we are!
This lie tells us that we have no control – that we are like puppets on a string!
This lie leaves us without hope for a better future; without hope that we can be different!

Satan knows that if we continue to believe this lie we will live in bondage –
As long as we think we have no choice; or maybe even think that God isn’t able; or isn’t interested... we will not be changed!

WE DO HAVE A CHOICE!
We have a choice to believe God’s Word!
A choice to fall on our knees before God and ask for Him to change us!
A choice to surrender to His will and do as He calls us to do!
A choice to listen to the promptings from Him!
A choice to respond in a positive manner to these promptings!

Friends.... we have a choice!

We can be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us –
Once we know and embrace and begin to live the TRUTH... the chains of bondage will break – and we will be free.
I am reminded once again of the song by Chris Tomlin:

“My chains are gone; I’ve been set free,
My God, My Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy rains,
Unending love, Amazing Grace!”

Oh dear ones, I hope you can sing this song today and mean the words with all your heart!

You have been blessed; chosen; adopted; forgiven and redeemed –
Ephesians 1:3-8

He knew you before you were in the womb; all the days ordained for you were written in His book before one of them came to be – Psalm 139:13-1
God demonstrated His love for us -While we were still sinners Christ died for us!
Romans 5:6-8

Oh Father God,
I am so thankful this morning for Your love and grace... I don’t deserve any of it! But You love me anyway! Thank You Lord! I pray Father, for those reading this – that if they don’t already know Your truth they will find it today! May your Holy Spirit fill them and show them Your Way!
In the matchless name of Jesus I pray,
Amen!

Peace and Grace to you all!
Ruthie