WE ARE ALL THIRSTY

This will not be an easy blog post, but it will be an honest post.

Though our past experiences can contribute to shaping us, we are never defined by them. Through Jesus we have been set free! Then why do we still struggle with things that once held us captive? May I explore with you what I am learning? First off: "Being set free, and living in freedom." are not the same thing. Jesus has set us free but it is our choice to live in that freedom, or remain chained to the pain of our past.

May I be perfectly frank? I have, since very early in life, struggled with low self-esteem, feeling of unworthiness, and needing assurance from others that I did it right, said it right, etc. I have confessed and asked for forgiveness for having these thoughts, I have cried out to be set free. But honestly I don't know how to live without these thoughts. I know we are to cast down strongholds, I have done all of that, then I ask "Lord why am I not set free?" "Why do I still have thoughts that no one cares"?

I have already forgiven the ones who hurt me in my past, why do I still carry around the baggage that came with it? How many times do I have to lay it on the altar, pray burn it up God with Your consuming fire? Some of you, who are more spiritual, may not understand what I am talking about; yet others, though you may be experiencing something different than me have said and done the same thing. LET IT GO! I have said both to others and to myself. And just when you think you have let it go, there it is back to frustrate and torment you.

At times I would say "I need encouragement " then I would pray "Lord I don't need others encouragement,  I just need Your encouragement. "  Now I want to say it is good to encourage others in their walk with Jesus. But God was fixing to show me ENCOURAGEMENT was not what I was wanting, it was only what I thought I needed.

I watched a 55 second clip of a preacher, I do not know, he said one word and that word shouted into my soul. VALIDATION! !! I knew immediately God was speaking to me! God was saying "Validation of who you are in Me, you may know who you are in me, but you are looking for others to validate it." I have been praying, Lord reveal in me anything that breaks Your heart. Consume everything that is not of You and purify all that is. Hmmm is that smoke I smell?

We are all thirsty for something: Love, acceptance, forgiveness, prosperity, etc. What are you thirsty for?

The Samaritan woman at the well was thirsty, Jesus told her that water from that well would not satisfy her, only He could satisfy her thirst. So what well are you drinking from? Me, the well of "Validation" . 

So how do I walk in freedom? Recognizing the truth about myself is the first step, the woman at the well had to recognize the truth about herself. Secondly confess my sin of looking to others to validate me when He alone has done that. Thirdly do not allow the enemy a foothold in my thinking by for one moment of entertaining his whisper in my thoughts. Instead the word says "Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you".

"Take every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ".

Everytime the wrong thought enters my mind I must immediately cast that thought out, don't wait for it to take up residence in my mind, not even only for a day. Surrender my thought life unto God, the blood of Jesus covers and cleanses my thoughts and I must keep my thoughts renewed daily, seek to be closer to God, and watch the enemy flee. Each day that each of us do this; we will find ourselves walking in victory and living in freedom.

Oh and the reason validation from others only lasted (satisfied my thirst) until the next time I needed it, I was drinking from the wrong well!

Just another day growing in Christ.

Scriptures I used: John 8:31-36

John 4:1-19, James 4:7-8, 

2 Corinthians 10:4-6