Coming out of a movement or belief system can seem so daunting and at times we just want to focus on the pain, but what if the entire purpose of the ordeal was to get you to a place of understanding and victory? In this episode I share my personal walk and what I struggled with to find the truth found in one place, The Word of God. I know, so many "experts" and so many "teachers" out there, how do we possibly know how to navigate through it? This episode will share a few resources I found personally and hope that you will make it a goal to walk this thing out with me!

Resources:

Dawn Hill podcast: https://lovesickscribe.com/

Costi Hinn interview: https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/07/god-greed-and-the-prosperity-gospel-an-interview-with-costi-w-hinn/

Hello there, how about a heart check today? I was sitting here listening to Tim McGraw and his song, Humble and Kind...just kind of thinking of how pride really steals so much peace and joy from our lives. Here are a few verses dealing with that topic:

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:5 “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

I have been studying on one of the top arguments people have against believing in the Word of God. Do you know what it is? Yep, the problem of evil in this world and I sure can relate. I get it, now more than ever when I see all the things that children are going through and people that seem so undeserving for any challenge especially after just making it through one. Well, I came across a few interviews with a gentleman, Clay Jones. I was so intrigued that he took many years to study genocide and came to understand that the evil in many of the atrocities we know in history have come through the root nature we all look at in the mirror. It isn't until we are "born again" that we begin to "die to our selves" and then begin to live a life that isn't enslaved to sin but one that sees the beauty in serving Jesus. When we can look at ourselves without the spirit of pride, but be real and see that we are one choice away from becoming an adulterer, etc. do we begin to understand the need we all have to seek the freedom found in Christ.

Why would God detest the proud of heart? Think about a time you have done something wrong to someone, a look of disdain, a word of discouragement or revenge, an act of unkindness. Now, in your heart at the time, think how did that make you feel? Was a sense of I am in the right, they deserve to be treated this way...or even, nothing...no feeling at all, no conscious of the things done in times of pain and hurt and what repercussions may come? This pride builds a wall and distance that many times doesn't ever come down or even worse creates a sea of loneliness and separation from those we were created to love and cherish.

What is the solution to this then? Scripture is written for us to be able to see what was meant to be fruitful attributes in our lives and how living a life where we have set our own self interests and desires in a grave that we no longer visit. My friend, I ask that you begin to hope again and love again in a way that you can trust God, our Heavenly Father as one that has our best interests and knows what good really is. Pride keeps you bound to a life filled with many things, but not any that bring happiness or lifelong joy.

Resources:

Sometimes family can come with challenges and many times we tend to look for people around us to try and fit a specific role we may find lacking there. Can I tell you that there is one thing you should be careful with? That thing is trying to find a spiritual parent in someone that, well is everything but that. I am speaking from my own experience here. You see I followed all the women "preachers" looking for that "mama bear". Like I seriously thought I would find a woman that loved God and had such an "anointing" that they would see how much I hungered for God myself that they were willing to "adopt" me. I am half way kidding, I mean I did want a spiritual mom and well....I looked in the worst places.

Can I ask you something? Do you find peace to be something difficult to find? Is it something that you look for inside of yourself or do you find it within your environment? Perhaps you are one that manufactures your peace- you know, like creating an atmosphere with soft music or candles, etc. Well I have done many things to try and find this peace that seems to be on everyone's needs list. I mean I can't blame you, or anyone for that matter having a peaceful personality is pretty nice. The problem here though lies with our source.

Confession. I tend to be a type that overanalyzes and many times thinks of the worse case scenario. I didn't always used to be, you see I was jaded...like I am sure some of you have been. Many towards life in general, but more specific to security and boy is the current world scenarios bringing up those issues of uneasiness and all the junk that comes with that.

So, how do you tend to cope with all these issues? How do you deal with your own life circumstances and challenges that come your way? I used to always believe that every person was innately good, you know thought of others before they thought of themselves...rude wake up call came in the last place I ever suspected it would. The place my weary heart would find solace from a broken place called home. You see, I grew up going to church and all the wonderful teachings I received gave me hope. As I grew into a young lady, I became enamored with the idea of a peaceful life without challenges and hurts because I was hurt and abandoned. Spiritually, I was seeking help for my "orphaned spirit". Those quotes are more meaningful than just showing their supposed meaning, no they come with an entire experience driven, feeling seeking and next miracle high way of living. More on that another time.