RU Re-Programming as you walk with God?
Thriving in mid life seems to require an awful lot of intentional unlearning and re learning. The old ways of doing things, don’t work anymore. The personality that grew out of what helped you survive as a child, now stops you progressing. The old approach to diet and exercise, doesn’t have the same results. So I thought I’d share something I’m working on unlearning at the moment.
I became aware that I thought the people with very visible giftings and ministries, were superior to others. They were more important. When I actually said that, I knew it was wrong, it doesn’t line up with the bible, but it’s what I have been conditioned to believe by my experience of the church, and it’s not that easy to change. I knew I wanted to be sure to value the people who’s gifts were not high profile: the administrators, the hosts, the parent figures, the givers etc. So I made myself a ‘stronghold buster’ which is a concept from the Freedom in Christ course (developed from the teachings of Dr N T Anderson). That follows the template of:
“ I no longer believe the lie that _______________”
Followed by a positive statement of biblical truth, you want to replace the lie with.
The idea is you write this out, put it somewhere you see it every day, and read it outloud to yourself daily for 40days. Oh, and for the ambitious among you, we are advised to only tackle one area needing transformation at a time! You don’t think you believe any lies? Well not deliberately I’m sure, but if you start questioning why you think, what you think, you might expose some nasty one liners that sit behind conscious thoughts.
In the past I’ve used these to challenge my thinking, especially when our cultural values oppose what the Lord has said, and I need to immerse myself in His way of thinking and resist disapproval, in order to obey and stand firm. So here’s what I’m speaking out at the moment:
I no longer believe the lie that highly visible gifts, are more important than others.
We are all one body: every part, every gift, needed, to fully reflect Christ.
The same Spirit works through us all.
We must give every part dignity and honour without comparison.
We were not intended to have full revelation alone. (1 Cor 12)
As we join together, we rise to become a holy temple for the Lord. (Eph 2:22)
Whatever our gifts, we must live in oneness with the Lord, because apart from Him we can do nothing. (Jn 15:5)
We are the body of Christ, and each one of us is a part of it. (1 Cor 12:27)
Love is more important than any of the gifts. (1 Cor 13)
I’ve added the wording from the Message version of 1 Corinthians 12:19-24 because it was so striking:
But I also want to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place.
Lou Ray