We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
“Because… because I’m not good enough”...
Multiple, unrelated meltdowns that morning had led us to this point. On the couch, in my arms, she finally unloaded what was really troubling her precious heart. And I cried… And tried not to completely fall apart when the old, familiar words that had ravaged my own heart echoed back at me from hers. And I felt like a failure, and I felt like I didn’t have the right answers to give her, and I felt the paralyzing grip of those words trying to scrape out a place to take root in both of our hearts.
But the Holy Spirit joined with my spirit in some of those wordless groanings that went straight to the throne of my Father. (Romans 8:26-27 & 33). He heard all 4 of us. And the Holy Spirit, the great Reminder of Truth (John 14:26), reminded me of the truth that I had learned. So looking into my daughter’s eyes and joining my voice with His, I spoke to both of us:
“You are altogether lovely. There is no flaw in you.” (Song 4:7).
“You are perfectly and wonderfully made.” (Ps 139:14).
“You are complete in Christ.” (Colo 2:10)
He redeemed the moment. He worked it together for good (Romans 8:28). We talked about how we can capture our thoughts and examine them to see if they are true. We read 2 Corinthians 10:5. And I had her imagine stopping that thought and putting into a jail cell. “Standing on the other side of the bars, let’s look at it. Does it sound like what Jesus and the Bible say? If not, we don’t let it go any further.
We can change that thought (aka make it obedient) by choosing to believe and remind ourselves what Jesus says instead.” We talked about what to do if we don’t know if it’s true or not (look in the Bible, ask a parent or trusted mentor). And I shared how, when our thoughts are true, we can let them out of that cell and embrace them.
This I know personally and all too well: Romans 8:6 NIV “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
That day, God took the enemy’s lies and discouragement and transformed them into life and peace within both of us. I helped her write out Ps 139:14 and taped it to the wall next to her bed. Later, I pulled out my old notecards and scrolled through some of the old lock screens on my phone. And I praised God for giving her a strategy that she will use her whole life, and for reminding me of His love and the power of His Spirit and His Word.
Your fellow Able Mom,
Emily Assell
Thank you, God, for Your Spirit and Your Word. I choose to believe Your Word in all things. Holy Spirit, when I forget or get lost in my own way of thinking, please, remind me of the truth and help me to teach it to my children as well. In Jesus’s name we ask and believe for these things, Amen.
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