Breathe in through your nose slowly, counting - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
Breathe out through your mouth, like you are blowing through a straw - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6....
Again......
Again......
Recently, I have been dealing with stressful situations that often left me feeling winded and intimidated. As a result, I am actively training my brain to choose hope, choose life, choose to focus on positive outcomes and to find solutions through each challenge. Breathing deeply and consciously, apart from replenishing the body’s oxygen levels which often get depleted when we are stressed, also provides an opportunity to refocus, take captive and challenge every negative and ungodly thought and replace it with a positive one. I can stop and remind myself of God’s promise that all things will work out for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purposes.
Yes - I am called to a purpose that I need to discover and take hold of. Many of my hardest times and situations are often a key to the solutions I can provide others from my experience and journey. When I overcome and get through - even while I am still on the way - I can point the destination to others: “The Promised Land is ours! We can take the land despite the giants we need to contend with.”
In the Books of Numbers in the Bible, the Israelites sent 12 spies to scope out the Promised Land that God told them He had given them. 10 of the spies came back with a negative report about their ability to take the land. They felt they were grasshoppers compared to the ‘giants’ that were there. They were fearful and ALREADY DEFEATED! Only Joshua and Caleb returned excited at the prospect and in the end, only Joshua and Caleb, of the older Israelites, inherited the land.
They ALL got what they believed..
In rising to the challenge of fulfilling God’s assignments for us, we need to transform our minds so we do not see ourselves as grasshoppers incapable of possessing what we have been given - there is absolutely no reward for burying our talents, whether we have 5 talents, 2 or just one. God expects us to be fruitful. Fear should not prevent us from fulfilling our purpose but this is often the biggest obstacle and giant enemy we will face.
“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
Transforming your mind is similar to renovating an old house. You don’t need to destroy the house and start with nothing, but you may need to pull up the floor, rip out cabinets, strip wallpaper and deal with the damp and mould. Open the windows and let the house BREATHE - clear the air of stale, deadly fumes. You might even knock down some walls, but the house doesn’t get destroyed in the renovation process and, when done well, will improve the way the house functions and looks.
To be transformed according to Romans 12:2, we need to take similar action. We need to strip off old behavior, rip out stinking thinking, and pull away from ungodly associations and spies with a negative report. You will still be you—only more Godly, more aligned with God’s Word, and more blessed!
We can take the land, friends!
We are not grasshoppers. We are beloved of God and able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We need to train and be diligent and disciplined. But we can take the land! Just don't forget to breathe...
SO: Breathe in through your nose slowly, counting - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... Breathe out through your mouth, like you are blowing through a straw - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.... Letting go of the negative thoughts and fears.... Replace them with a positive declaration Again...... Again......
#breathe