Have a situation you need to get through?

We all do, right? Each of us is walking through a different season in life. Each of our stories is peppered with different victories and vulnerabilities. If we gave each of you a mic and allowed you to share we would see many differences and also highlight many similarities. There are many things required of us through each season. Sometimes it is praying until breakthrough, exercising extreme measures of patience, changing lifestyle habits, cutting wrong soul ties or just riding it out while clinging to the Rock! All of the above can apply + more. However, I am not focusing on any of that here today. There is one thing we have to do no matter what the struggle looks like. There is one key that applies to each and every season. Want to know what it is? Great, I am so glad you asked!

The essential key to making it through is "Owning It". Yep, take a minute to write that down or take a screen shot. This is an essential key to healthy personal development that many many people are never taught. When things are calm or when things are stormy, we have to own the fact that this is our life and we are each responsible for our own lives. Even if the situation you are in is the result of someone else's bad actions--it's still your life, and you still have to own it. We have to come to terms that we are each accountable for our words, actions & reactions-- no matter what. Many of you have been dealt some crappy cards over the years and have had to overcome many obstacles what were UNFAIR! However, until you step up and own it, you can never get over it! You can't move forward, you can't receive healing and you can't truly forgive. This is huge for some of us. Own the good, own the bad and own the ugly. If you just worked your backside off for a new car or a promotion or vacation-own it! You deserve it. Stop feeling guilty that everyone in your family may not have what you have, or do what you do. That is a generational curse that needs to be broken. If you have had the worst 3 years of your life and have fought battle after battle and are exhausted-own it. It's your life, it's your fight. Decide to become better for it instead of bitter for it. 

I will be honest with you. If this isn't something you already do and is a new habit you will be creating, you may have to do what I learned to do years ago. I had to physically say it out loud (or in my head sometimes). "This is my life and I take full responsibility for it!" At that point, then you can decide what you are going to do about it. You can't live as a victim to others for the rest of your life. There is no victory there, there is no peace there. If other people hurt you, then shame on them! But if you let it derail your destiny then shame on you!! If this is a new concept to you, then welcome to a new level of freedom and accountability. Life is too short not to own it. Codependency is crippling and blame is a ball and chain. Decide today what you want for your life. Get in God's Word and let him feed you. Take big steps toward positive change and watch the Lord use you to help others. 

Be encouraged today. I dare you to put this verse on your bathroom mirror:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"They Hurt My Feelings!"

These words have echoed through my heart at times. It happens to the best of us. Often our expectations of people are deflated and we are brought back to reality. Things happen and for one reason or another, our feelings are hurt. So I want to share with you something I have to constantly remind myself of when it comes to interaction with family, friends, work associates, wait staff, retail cashiers, etc..... What you have to remember is that "what people say to you has more to do with them than it does with you!" When someone is short, nasty, hostile and degrading, it stems from something rooted in them and quite often has nothing to do with you! This is such an important point of purposed focus! Often we fall right into the trap of reacting to this nonsense and it really is just them highlighting a need, deficiency or hurt of their own. You may have heard the saying before, "Hurt people, hurt people."

It rings at timeless truth. So make up your mind along with me. We won't be quick to speak and get angry. We will be quick to listen [James 1:19]. We will step back from toxic conversations and encounters and see it for what it is. We are not required to react with haste or defend ourselves against nonsense that stems from a root of bitterness in someone else's heart. We are stronger than that, we are wiser than that. We are a generation who is better than that. We won't be defined by labels or stereotypes or drama. We will guard our hearts and in turn, guard our mouths. We will speak life in the midst of every storm and take every opportunity to show love to those who intend to provoke us or hurt our feelings. We will be strategic with the time and resources God has blessed us with and will use this focus to add to the legacy we will leave to our children.
If you have had your feelings hurt lately, forgive them. Turn your cares over to the one who cares for you [1 Peter 5:7] and know that it has more to do with them than it does with you.