The Oracle
"I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Being The One is just like being in love. No one can tell you you’re in love, you just know it. Through and through. Balls to bones. Well, I better have a look at you. Open your mouth, say Ahhh."
Matrix
Once we discover God’s plan for us and his desire to establish a personal relationship with us and decide to submit ourselves to his guidance, we begin to discover our true identity. An identity that is founded in Christ and God's design for our lives. We start to view ourselves as the chosen ones. We are unplugged.
There is something in us that strongly testifies and confirms that we belong to Him. As we meditate on the truth of his Word, his promises and principles we begin to discover more about who we are and what we are called to do.
The Apostle Paul reminds those who have chosen to follow Christ, "you recieved the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:15b-16).
Having been unplugged from the world’s system, we find freedom to be what we were intended to be in Christ. We begin to realize that we are citizens of heaven, chosen by God, a child of God, born of God, a stranger and alien in this world, forgiven for our sins, loved by God, a minister of reconciliation, a new creation, God’s workmanship and a joint heir with Christ.
The more we identify with what is true of us in Christ the more we will exemplify him in our lives. But if we don’t believe the truth about who we are in Christ, we will not reflect Him in our lives and not fulfill our heavenly calling and purpose. We are products of what we identify with. Finding our identity in the wrong places leads to disappointment and dissatisfaction. Identifying with what is true of us in Christ leads to inner peace, everlasting joy, hope, and freedom.
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." – Colossians 3:2-3 (NIV)
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Know Thyself
The Oracle
"You know what that means? (The Oracle points to a plaque hanging above the door) It's Latin.Means 'know thyself.'"
The Matrix
There is no doubt that society, family and our environment plays a big part in constructing our initial self-image. Every human being has the potential to blossom a personality and self-image that is filled with grace and beauty but many times something goes awry.
Sometimes when love is withheld from a parent or emotional support is deprived a child's self-image and personality are affected in a profound way. Traumatic experiences where abuse is present or where there is abandonment or rejection can deeply affect a child's self-image as well.
For instance if a parent tells their child that he (or she) is a nobody, or incompetent the child will many times project this image as reality and embrace it. This image can affect the child's social skills, grades, and emotional temperament. Another example of a situation that can affect a child's self-image is if a parent is not present in the child's life. The child may interpret this absence by stating to himself, "I am not worthy to be loved" or "I am not lovable."
Other factors that can affect self-image negatively are traumatic experiences with peers or romantic partners or people in authority. What typically happens is that we see ourselves through the eyes of others. Many of us use these images others have of us to define our own self-image. Other people's thoughts about us act like a mirror for us but the mirror many times is distorted. So how do we clean the mirror?
We must dismiss and get rid of the self-images that have been built around untruth. Only by examining our self-image (the messages that we believe about ourselves) can we begin to see what uplifts us and what brings us down. There are pages and pages of messages that we have told ourselves to this date. Some of them are true and some are not. It is wise to write them all down whether positive or negative.
Ruth Myers in her book Christ Life writes that it is wise do an inner identity album and to put labels on the negative messages such as "Unrealistic" and "Do Not Use" and on the positive messages to use the headings "Realistic" and "Use Often." By doing this process we can come to know our true self (without any distorted truth).
These positive images can make up what we would call a "Life Raft." When we are questioning our self-worth or doubting ourselves we can go to these positive messages in our Life Raft and allow them to pull us through the waves of deception and distorted thinking that wants to regain control of our mind.
"You know what that means? (The Oracle points to a plaque hanging above the door) It's Latin.Means 'know thyself.'"
The Matrix
There is no doubt that society, family and our environment plays a big part in constructing our initial self-image. Every human being has the potential to blossom a personality and self-image that is filled with grace and beauty but many times something goes awry.
Sometimes when love is withheld from a parent or emotional support is deprived a child's self-image and personality are affected in a profound way. Traumatic experiences where abuse is present or where there is abandonment or rejection can deeply affect a child's self-image as well.
For instance if a parent tells their child that he (or she) is a nobody, or incompetent the child will many times project this image as reality and embrace it. This image can affect the child's social skills, grades, and emotional temperament. Another example of a situation that can affect a child's self-image is if a parent is not present in the child's life. The child may interpret this absence by stating to himself, "I am not worthy to be loved" or "I am not lovable."
Other factors that can affect self-image negatively are traumatic experiences with peers or romantic partners or people in authority. What typically happens is that we see ourselves through the eyes of others. Many of us use these images others have of us to define our own self-image. Other people's thoughts about us act like a mirror for us but the mirror many times is distorted. So how do we clean the mirror?
We must dismiss and get rid of the self-images that have been built around untruth. Only by examining our self-image (the messages that we believe about ourselves) can we begin to see what uplifts us and what brings us down. There are pages and pages of messages that we have told ourselves to this date. Some of them are true and some are not. It is wise to write them all down whether positive or negative.
Ruth Myers in her book Christ Life writes that it is wise do an inner identity album and to put labels on the negative messages such as "Unrealistic" and "Do Not Use" and on the positive messages to use the headings "Realistic" and "Use Often." By doing this process we can come to know our true self (without any distorted truth).
These positive images can make up what we would call a "Life Raft." When we are questioning our self-worth or doubting ourselves we can go to these positive messages in our Life Raft and allow them to pull us through the waves of deception and distorted thinking that wants to regain control of our mind.
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