"A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes"
Mahatma Gandhi.
I hope you are up for another look at boxes - because there is another set besides the ones we use to 'put' people in. These boxes can be hard to identify for several reasons;
they can look very beautiful - noble even,
they might not have a confining feel to them,
they can be subtle,
familiar - even homey,
it takes courage to be honest about them
These are the self made boxes. Built carefully, sometimes subconsciously over years and often with different materials, these boxes can be very strong and hard to break out of.
Here are few examples of what the building material might be:
Comparison
Fear of failure
Perfectionism
Low self esteem
Expectations
Negative words spoken into your heart
False self image
I held my box together as the judge, the prisoner, the guard!
Do you see why they can be hard to break free of? But Jesus promised that the truth shall set us free - and I for one believe that with all my heart. Because I have experienced this and continue to do so. Truth has been spoken to me by friends, and that has brought down walls, built me up and encouraged me greatly - it is powerful when we speak truth to each other, even if it isn't cake and roses, - spoken in love, truth can do amazing things.
Some of my self-made boxes though, have been so strong and tight that even when friends spoke truth to me in love, it simply hit the walls like rain on a window, unable to penetrate.
Are you wondering what this could look like in real life?
Think of people struggling with anorexia..... I was headed towards becoming anorexic when a friend told me that I was thin, - laughter was almost my reply - I did not laugh, but neither did I believe her, my mind told me different when looking at my own reflection.
-and let me ask you this;
Have you ever let yourself down?
Ever sank below the standard you hold yourself to?
Lower than what you ever thought possible?
Done/said something you never thought yourself capable of?
I thought I knew myself pretty well, but one act involving a lie - a dark and ugly one, rooted in selfishness - showed me different, sank me to the lowest point in my life. I fell - and shattered I retreated to a dark box.
I lied to those closest to me, who supported me, loved me, hoped for me, believed and trusted me. I lied in an attempt to keep what wasn't mine to have.
Judged by myself I build the walls to my box around me, confined myself in dark solitude.
Written on the walls were the words; ' Self-disappointment' - 'Not trustworthy'
Have you been there too? Are you there now?
Remember Peter and his triple denial of Jesus after his arrest.
Luke 22:54-62.
It ends with Peter weeping bitterly. Can you feel his disappointment with himself? His shame over what he had done? Would he not like Adam and us, hide from God, close friends, (and himself if he could) retreat to a dark box - because who would (in Peter's mind) be his friend now, after what he'd done? We don't hear much about him until Mary comes running in to report that Jesus is gone, the grave is empty. As fast as his legs could carry him, Peter ran to the grave - and I wonder what thoughts were running with him in his heart.....
We do get to hear Jesus speaking to him directly, drawing him out, smashing the box, restoring him -
" Do you love me?" "Do you love me?" "Do you love me?"
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love oh Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Did Peter deny knowing Jesus because he didn't love him? I wonder if Peter was questioning his love for Jesus - I wonder, because Jesus hones in on that, - not on Peter being fearful - Jesus knew Peter, but on his thoughts, his heart........ "Peter, do you love me?
There are boxes that can only be broken down by Jesus. He speaks truth to us, because he knows us best - better than we know ourselves. Peter was functioning again - he was with the disciples, part of the group - but Jesus sought him out because he needed restoring. Freedom
Gandhi said; "A man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes"
- if your thoughts don't line up with the thoughts Jesus has of you, I encourage you to replace yours and believe the ones from Jesus. After all, He knows you best, better than you know yourself and...
he is known to be truthful.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
-b
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