An honest look.

An Honest look at your heart
 Have you ever taken a moment to see what your heart is full of?



 We all have a concept on how we view God. These concepts may come from things we were taught as a child or from life experiences that left a negative lasting effect on our emotions. A wounded heart can cause us to struggle with how we perceive God, and how we think He sees us. As we go through life, we pick up on so many negative things that add to the way we feel about ourselves, and although many of these things are not true, we tend to listen to the enemy when he tries to tell us who we are. Why is it easier to believe what the enemy says about us and not God? The bible says in John 8:44 that Satan is the father of lies, but yet, we somehow easily believe what he says about us. If left unchecked, this can harm our self esteem as well as hinder our walk with the Lord. Unresolved issues will always rear their ugly head if not dealt with, and it will definitely hinder you from being all God called you to be. Do you believe that you can be all who God called you to be? Are you willing to dig deep into those issues and gain freedom? We must take an honest look at the issues that gave us a wounded heart to begin with.




Damaged Goods

  Jane was a beautiful woman who did not know her self- worth. Like many women, Jane had endured much abuse in her life, and even though she was no longer in a dangerous situation, the effects it had on her emotions lingered.  Jane had a tough exterior, but just behind those thick walls was a soft heart, delicate and beautiful as a flower, Gods master piece. She had a good heart, but unfortunately, she gave it away many times to others who just used and abused it. A lover once told her she was “damaged goods”, and she believed it.  She soon started to wrap her beautiful heart with barbed wire. She was so hurt that she wanted to make sure no one would ever get in, no one!  Eventually, the walls Jane put up to keep others out, soon became a prison that kept her in. Isolation and loneliness became a very common thing in her life, even though on the outside she managed to keep it together with a fake smile on her face. She became an expert at wearing masks all while feeling the pain of not being able to be her real, authentic self. The fear of being rejected was all too real, so she continued to wear these masks. Although Jane was a Christian who read the bible, her heart just wouldn’t allow her to see past her wounds to see herself the way God created her to be.

Unresolved

  Many women have endured all kinds of abuse.  Physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse are all things that can leave a lasting effect on our hearts. This can cause a struggle in our walk with the Lord. Deep seeded wounds can drown out the voice of God in our lives. We might read the word and even memorize scripture, but it never gets in our heart because it is too full of unresolved issues and wounded emotions. It can also hinder us from believing and receiving from God, and it can keep us from moving forward in all He has for us.  Hebrews 11: 6 states that ”Without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We must resolve the issues in our lives because "hurt" people hurt people.

Moving Forward

  Many can relate to Jane’s story, but not many know how to move past this emotional baggage. If you’re experiencing setbacks caused by damaged emotions, you may be asking, “How can I overcome this?  “How can I start taking God at His word?” and “How can I move forward into all that God has for me?” As I prayed about this issue, the Lord reminded me of some practical steps that helped me on my journey to healing. If you are struggling, I pray that these steps help you on your journey.

• Meditate on His word until it begins to take root in your heart.
• Develop a life of prayer, and learn to sit in His presence, this one is important because it's how we communicate with God.
• Allow the Holy Spirit to highlight areas that need healing…where he reveals, he heals!
• Surround yourself with positive people who will support you and speak life to you.
• Find an accountability partner whom you can be transparent with, someone you can trust who won't judge you. If you can’t find one, pray that God will send you someone.
• Forgive, let go, and let God work in you. Stop fighting it out of fear.
• Ask God to begin to show you your identity in Him.

  Over all, we must remember that even though God loves us just the way we are, He also loves us too much to leave us that way. Having heart issues can definitely affect our walk with God. We must meditate on His word daily until it begins to take root in our heart. We must also allow Him to bring healing to our heart so that we can start taking Him at His word, and believe that we are who He says we are.  Start today by reflecting on some scriptures that talk about whom God is and who He says we are.


(God of Forgiveness) "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them." Nehemiah 9:17

(Everlasting Love) "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."  Jeremiah 31:3

(More than Conquerors) "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37

(Gods Workmanship) " For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

(New Creation) " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  2 Corinthians 5:17