Do you feel at times like your mind, heart and spirit are under attack? Are you subject to a steady barrage of thoughts that include self-doubt, shame, self-criticism, unworthiness, worry and fear? Symptoms of being under attack look like: irritability, inertia, depression, pessimistic thinking, angry outbursts and addictive behaviors.
When we choose to fight this battle alone the results can be disastrous. We can say and do things that we regret. We play small in our lives. We don’t set goals. We live in fear. We live reactively. We don’t see the connection between our thoughts and emotions. We think that we cannot have the full life that God promised. We don’t allow God to transform our hearts. We turn off our hearts and live mostly from our minds rather than become a lover of life, God and others.
I’m sorry for being a “Debbie Downer,” but I’m trying to make the point that this is also what our teens face – on a pretty regular basis. Do they have the resolve to banish the living hell that they may have created or succumbed to in this battle for their hearts and minds? I have seen all three of my children (ages 21, 20 and 18) at some time or another, become a victim to “stinkin’ thinkin.” At times, it terrifies me to watch the struggle going on for their mind and heart.
A great metaphor for this struggle is found in the Native American legend of the two wolves which can be found at: http://www.egodialogues.com.
This war cannot and should not be fought alone as the forces of destruction are too pervasive and strong. Plus, we have been assured of God’s mighty power working on our behalf: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” ROMANS 8:31 When we put our trust in the Lord, we find victory and freedom: ” The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 CORINTHIANS 3:17
Let’s pray for freedom for our teens. True freedom from the emotional, spiritual and mental prisons that only our God, who is might to save, can offer.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday’s Prayers
Give ________________ the heart and the mind to see that though “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, You have come so that s/he would have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) and to seek out the Spirit for there lies freedom.
