Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Monday, October 5, 2015

Day 5 - Prepare for Spiritual Warfare

Yesterday, (Day 4) was about holding your thoughts captive.  Today (Day 5) is about the spiritual warfare that will come when you try to do it.  No need to fear though because God has equipped us!

In the video below, Simon Brace affirmed what I shared yesterday ... the warfare is largely fought in the intellect or the mind.  Take a moment to listen to what he has to say about spiritual warfare.

                                    
You must know the truth ... the truth is that God wants you to be free from your past if it is holding you in bondage.  John 8:32 says that ... "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Scripture reminders:
When thoughts of shame, guild or regret come to your mind ... stop them immediately and replace them with praises to God and positive affirmations about yourself:

I am forgiven
I am set free
I am redeemed
I am sanctified
I am holy
I am pure


If we can prepare our minds to hold captive any thought that keeps us in bondage to our past, we can move forward. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)




Sunday, October 4, 2015

Day 4 - Hold Your Thoughts Captive


One of the most valuable things I have learned over the years is how to hold my thoughts captive.  Sounds crazy, I know ... but God's word even talks about how it is possible to do.

Philippians 4:6-8
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.




The hardest part for me was figuring out how to do it.


So again, I prayed that God would teach me to capture any negative thoughts and remove them!  He is always faithful.

Just like the scripture discusses, above, the very second I realize that I am having a negative thought or I recall a bad memory ... I do one or all of the following:

  1. I immediately begin to praise God 
  2. I replace the negative thought with a positive one
  3. I cast the thought out in Jesus' name
  4. I say positive affirmations out loud.  For example: if the thought is that I cannot do anything right, I would reverse it and say something like, I am created by God and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We can control our thoughts, we just have to make a conscious effort.  Do not linger on a negative thought, capture it and remove it ... then replace it with a positive thought!

I am praying as you read through each day that you will grow stronger and more confident in your thought life.  







Saturday, October 3, 2015

Day 3 - Battle Plan - Stance of Victory

The next few days will be about how to fight the battle that goes on in our minds.  As you know, there is constant chatter in our thought life, so it is time to take control of it and send the enemy packin'.





Day 1: I shared a bit about the years I struggled with regret, shame and guilt.  It would invade my mind and heart when I least expected it.  Those thoughts robbed me of joy and peace.

Day 2: I shared how crying out to God set me free. Claiming God's promise of forgiveness set me free.  It took action on my part.  My heart-cry was heard and God covered me with His love.  I physically felt His presence, His warmth, His love. It was the closest thing to a hug from God that I have ever felt.

Day 3: I want to pass on a lesson that a sister-in-Christ shared with me ... well not exactly with "just me", but God brought her message into my life for encouragement and it fired me up to stand strong on God's promises.






"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1


Begin the Battle on Your Knees - Priscilla Shirer




Friday, October 2, 2015

Day 2 - Without God, You Cannot


So, what I want to share with you today is that learning to forgive yourself cannot be done without God.  Period.

For a long time I shoved all of my feelings about past regrets, shame or guilt way down in my heart ... I shoved them so far down that they would only surface if something triggered the memories.  Then I would have to fight it back down.  This seemed to work for years, but somehow those feelings would always find a way to resurface.  It was a constant battle.

Sure, you can find coping mechanisms: many people turn to drugs and alcohol.  Others, turn to prescription drugs which only mask the pain for a short time.  Once the prescription wears off, you still have the same problem.  Christian counseling is definitely helpful but again, it boils down to you still trying to fix the pain, shame, guild and regret.  You have to let go and let God remove it.

The turning point for me was the day I cried out to God to help me forgive myself.  I knew that He had forgiven me!  I accepted His forgiveness.  I needed to forgive myself and never look back.



That day, I was set free!  If my Heavenly Father can forgive me ... I can forgive myself.

Every time the enemy (satan) tried to make me feel bad again ... I would say out loud: I am forgiven, I am free, I am whole, I am healed, I am wonderfully made for God's purpose, my life will glorify God, I am chosen, I am set apart, I am sanctified, I am redeemed.


What Can You Do Today:

Ask God for help
Confess (tell) God about your shame, guilt, regrets
Ask for forgiveness
Repent (turn away and no longer repeat the same actions)
Humble yourself (put God first) and Pray
Read the Bible
Listen to praise music
Say positive affirmations out loud
Find a support group ... my church family is a blessing!



Take a moment to watch this video.

Here is a link to help you come to know Christ better: Click here



Thursday, October 1, 2015

Day 1 - Introduction


I want to take a brief moment to let you know a little bit about me.  I am a mom of 5 children, married to a great man.  The most important thing you need to know is that I am forgiven!  Not only am I forgiven ... I have learned how to forgive myself.



I want to share with you that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.   If you are not, I hope you will still follow along with me.  What I will share over the next 31 days will change your life, but only if you will have an open heart, listen and consider what I know to be truth from my own experiences.

If you do not follow the teachings of Christ it is important to note that his life has always been about loving and caring for others.   The Bible has so many positive truths to help with healing.  Consider it the best "self-help" book around.

I must not leave out my relationship with God through Jesus Christ on this blog, He is the only reason I am free from shame, guilt and regret today.  I tried to fix things myself, but remained in a dark place.

Since  I am sure you are wondering:  Why is this blog called "Forgiven Secret"?  Well, that part remains a secret.  I dealt with shame, guilt and regret, for years, over things from my past.  Once I learned how to forgive myself, I was set free and can honestly say that I am no longer in bondage.  I rarely even give them a second thought.  If something does remind me, I rejoice in victory over each and every one.  I smile and give God all the glory!

 So come back tomorrow or sign up to follow me ... I look forward to sharing what is on my heart.

Blessings,
Jennifer