Unbroken and Victorious!

"Louie dug out the Bible that had been issued to him by the air corps and mailed home to his mother when he was believed dead. He walked to Barnsdall Park, where he and Cynthia had gone in better days, and where Cynthia had gone, alone, when he'd been on his benders. He found a spot under a tree, sat down, and began reading. Resting in the shade and the stillness, Louie felt a profound peace. When he thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man that the Bird has striven to make of him. In a single, silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness, had fallen away. That morning he believed he was a new creation." Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

I love discovering a simple truth - you know, the kind that's right in front of you but you can't see because you over-do everything! Over-analyze, over-worry (is that a word?), over-prioritize ... just allow that part of your life to become over-grown! Okay, so I know I just wrote about control in my last post and needing to actually hand that over to God. But I also wrote I was resigned to some things taking the rest of my life to unravel the knots. Brokenness. There have been periods in my life that I sought to understand everything. Moments that I decided understanding wasn't essential - only restoration. And for years now I've lived in God's "more" - more than I could have forgiven, more than I could have healed, more joy, more hope, more love ... more than me.

The simple truth?

I am Unbroken.

I was wrong to say over-coming a past would be a work of a lifetime. It was overcome when I became a child of God through Jesus Christ. Living in anything less than victory means I'm letting someone other than God define me. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

I've discovered I'm drawn into conversations with people that work in mental health. I have a conversation and begin over-analyzing my life, my shaped responses to people and situations, my wholeness in Christ. Guess what?

I am Over it!

I do believe that we have an enemy. I do believe he works to capture our thoughts, for his influence spiders out to all we are in relationship with. He would like to remind all of us of our past with his whispered "sweet nothings." That's right - sweet nothings. The next time Satan reminds you of your past brokenness, remind him of his future. For you are a child of God, redeemed, restored, and with access to the very power that shaped the heavens and the earth. "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

I just read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I challenge you to read it. And when you're done, I hope you remember that you are no longer defined by the world, by your own view, by your past. Your obedience to Christ Jesus determines your future and has already redeemed your past. You are unbroken and victorious. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor. 5:17

Unbroken and victorious! Don't forget it! And remember, when "sweet nothings" are being whispered in your ear - just tell him to "shut up!"

Love you, Favored One!