Make Good Choices.

As I’ve stated in previous posts in this series, there is so much to cover on the topic of the orphan heart.

It’s causes, it’s long and short term effects on our physical and mental well being.

So it is no wonder that I cannot possibly cover it all here on this blog.

If the roots of our lives were rooted in soil that is angry, bitter, or fearful, then we have our work cut out for us.

We must begin to make different choices.

The right choices will begin to change how we think, see, and feel.

The best way I have found has been to begin to read and understand what the Bible says about who I am, and what is in my heart and mind.

Accordingly, I GET (it’s a privilege! ) to choose how I see myself.

Do I see my self the way I always have?

Or do I see myself the way God sees me?

That choice is my own, and beloved, it is also yours.

Your choice belongs solely to you.

God’s word says that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female created he them.” (KJV)

Do we choose to believe that, or do we choose to believe what others have said and done.

It all boils down to choices.

Do you know that I was 20 years old before I even realized that I HAD CHOICES?!?

But you? You can know it today.

We need to choose wisely; our thoughts, our deeds, our words.

We also need to guard our hearts.

Especially now, when these ideas are new to us.

Our old ways of thinking and being will certainly try to come back and overtake the new ground that we have just planted.

Guard our heart.

How do we do that?

We must continually nourish our new “plantings” by watering them; a lot.

In Ephesians 5, the Bible speaks of “washing of the water of the word”.

How we water is by always going back to what the word of God says.

Daily quiet times, or personal reading of verses, audio versions, or even devotionals can all be very helpful tactics.

There are so many ways to do this, we simply need to find out what fits our personality, our time schedule, our lifestyle.

Alongside the “watering” of our new soil, we need to be watchful for weeds.

As with any garden, the hard work of sowing can be overtaken by weeds, if we allow it.

What do I mean by weeds?

Well, the ones that I have had to overcome were old thoughts of insecurity, someone elses opinion, or maybe the toughest one, that enemy of my soul, who hates my guts, and wants me to fail tries to have this conversation with me;

• Enemy; (In his best snarky voice) Well why don’t you do that? (Think that, feel that)
• So I do what if feel God wants me to do
• Enemy; (In an even more snarky voice) Well why on earth did you do that?
• Then I simply feel defeated and used

I have an important thing to fill you in on about that!

God will NEVER speak to you in a way that will make you feel defeated, or cheated, or used.

If you hear THAT voice, it’s a lie from the enemy of your soul, the one who hates your guts.

HIS voice is always loving.

God will never ask you to do something that will cause you to feel abandoned after you’ve done it, or use a voice when speaking to you that will cause you to feel worse than when you began.

If this defeating voice happens in your head; RED FLAG!

Run (choose) very deliberately to go back to the word of God.

Seek HIS voice and council on the matter.

The Bible says that God will not ask you to do anything that will contradict His word.

We must forgive ourselves, and others.

We cannot forget our past, BUT we CAN forgive those who caused us pain, and then receive what we need from our father in heaven.

You’ve heard it said that “Hurt people, hurt people”.

This is so true.

How many of those hurt people had no clue that they were hurting you.

One of Jesus’ last words on the cross were “Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Imagine, the most evil behavior of all time, and the doers were unaware.

On page 122 of Healing the Orphaned heart by Casey Treat, Casey writes this – “Your job is to take heed of yourself and keep your self free. Keep your heart open through confessing (my note: Saying what God says about you) what is right and what is wrong. Forgive yourself. Do not stay mad at yourself or anyone else.”

Romans 12:19 (ESV) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Lastly, let God teach you how to live your life in a big way.

Whatever He has called you to do.

• Release what you cannot change -Don’t waste your precious energy on things that you can do nothing about.
• Take steps towards change – If you CAN change it, then take a step. Doing what you have always done will not help you to get anywhere!
• Tell your heart the right things- The world we live in constantly sends us messages that we are unhappy; We never have enough; We’ll never BE enough. It causes us to always be in a state of longing for something we don’t have, when really what we need is peace on the inside of us!
• Have a chat with God each morning – It does not have to be elaborate, or even very intelligible, because He can read you heart. It can be as simple as “Good morning God. What are we doing today?” Just make the effort, so that He can meet you where you are.

Don’t be afraid of failing, be more afraid of not trying!

Here are a few links/helps, in case you want to delve into this topic more.

I hope you have found this series helpful.

For verse look up, audio Bible, study helps – https://classic.biblegateway.com/

Excellent explanation of the Orphan Spirit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R0_VGrB5JQ&t=152s

Healing the Orphaned Heart: Renewal for the Misunderstood, the Abused, and the Abandoned https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2514612.Healing_the_Orphaned_Heart

Helps to dig deeper. https://significantencounters.com/2017/10/30/books-that-changed-my-life-7/

I look forward to seeing your thoughts in the comments.

Until next time …