Our whole
life consists of relationships with our loved ones, acquaintances, co-workers,
neighbors, authority figures, friends, family members and even with our self.
We have a
chance of receiving wounds and/or blessings from all of these associations; and
our past, even our subconscious conflicts, influences each of these
interactions as well.
Our
relationship with our self includes our body, soul and spirit. Our body has
internal and external influences, our soul includes our thoughts and feelings
and choices, and our spirit is either dead in sin or free in Christ (Colossians
2:13).
Events in
our life, involving this multiplex of individual influences, add flavor to or
diminish our joy in life. The way people react to us helps to form our concept
of our self. We learned to love or despise our self from their actions and
opinions.
Subconscious
memories of these interactions continue to create our self-concept and the way
we relate to people as an adult. We may live with a wounded, defensive attitude
or a carefree, happy outlook or an angry, combative defiance.
Trauma
changes the way we see our self and our future. We can diffuse and disarm these
subconscious memories and the way they affect our relationships today by
surrendering our life to Jesus Christ.
We do not
have to blame current issues on our self or anyone else. They usually occur from
woundedness in one or both of us. Issues in adult relationships often stem from
childhood suffering; but childhood wounds do not have to control our adult
life.
We can learn
a new way to set up boundaries, exercise discernment, stop victimization,
redefine our attitudes, change our behavioral patterns and gain a new
perspective on priorities and what is important to us by allowing God to expose
Satan' lies and to renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10). (
www.theophostic.com )
Prayer:
Father God,
You want to create a clean, pure, simple heart within us; one not tainted by
the world and painful experiences, but one of freedom in Christ (John 8:36).
You delight in setting our soul free from the pain of the past and giving us a
bright and promising future (Jeremiah 29:11). Teach us that when people are not
trustworthy, we can still trust in You.
As children
we were more vulnerable and had fewer choices in the actions perpetrated on us
by others. As adults, we can take a more active role by surrendering our future
to You and listening to Your Spirit each moment of the day. Thank You for
giving us Your wisdom in place of our human reasoning and for teaching us to
have boundaries and how to ensure that we have input into our daily
experiences.
Thought for
the Day:
Our past has
power over us only if we give it permission to do so; coming to Christ for healing
helps us to find freedom from the tyranny of the past.
