Welcome to Heartstrings

Fault lines, we all deal with them don't we? Many times, at least in my own life, they appear across my path due to the false beliefs Satan often used to undermine my sense of worth. As I prayerfully replace the lies with the Truth of God, those crack lines don't grow and grow.

John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

Read the whole chapter. It is Jesus prayer for His disciples and for us today. Jesus knew Who He belonged too and Who was in control. He placed His full trust in His Father.

So, here I am discovering His Truth for what ails me. Just when I think I am "over it" that fault line begins to widen some more. My flesh is weak. His Word is strong. Here are some ways I am taking steps.

There is the trap of performance. It is a trap in most cases. It comes when I think I must meet certain standards to feel good about myself.

The symptoms show like a graph on a machine to show when earthquakes are happening.  I loose my balance and I experience fear of failure; perfectionism, driving for success; trying to manipulate others. Even stepping away from others because it is risky.

Here is the Truth that sets me free..."Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." Romans 5:1.

Another false belief is, "I have to be approved by others, even family, to feel good about myself." It doesn't matter if it is how I kept my house, or if about my talents with a paintbrush or needle and thread. I was robbed by this lie for way too long. Although I longed for freedom.

The symptoms were as you may suspect. Fear of rejection; trying to please others at any cost; overly sensitive to any criticism; even to the point of withdrawing to avoid what I thought was disapproval. I hid the gifting God gave to me and was bound up in the lie.

Now the Truth from Colossians 1:21-23..."And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard..."

We can surrender our flesh to Jesus because He loves us!

Another false belief..."Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserved to be punished." I am grateful this one never brought me down to destruction. Although there are a couple of symptoms I can see I leaned toward.

These are the symptoms though...Fear of punishment; punishing and blaming others for personal failure; withdrawal from God and others; driven to avoid failure.

Oh, and I remember the shame that kept me from moving in the truths of God. Like trying to tiptoe around what my heart knew, trying to avoid what my mind told me. Complete confusion.

The Truth that set me free found in 1 John 4:9-11 IS..."In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent HIs Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Another false belief from Satan you may have encountered..."I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless."

I can say truthfully I have been there, done that. The symptoms look like this...Feelings of shame, hopelessness, inferiority; passivity; loss of creativity; isolation; withdrawal from others.

Wow, that would describe most of our world in the last two years! Especially driven to withdrawn from others. Either by choice, fear or the control of others in power. All of these have led to self destruction and away from the blessings of the Lord. 

Here is the Truth...Jesus words to Nicodemus..."Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3-6).

I know this a long posting but when I read these four false beliefs and the remedy for each, it touched my soul. The blinders came off and now my footing is on steady ground. My eyes and ears are open and I am set free from the lies of the enemy. I will continue to be on my guard and lift up a standard of truth.

This inspiration came from a man named Robert McGee in his book Search for Significance.

Did you notice that in each case the reaction is to step away from others. This is the opposite of what God has for us! WE are to be out there sharing the Gospel of Truth! The enemy will do all he can to dispose us and tuck us away from that wonderful blessing.

If you have experienced these weak areas in your own life you can strengthen those things that brought you down falling into the fault line at your feet. Turn your heart, your dependence upon Jesus as Your Lord and Redeemer today. Freedom awaits you. God bless you in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...2 Corinthians 5:17