Our environment and circumstances may have been handed to us without our consent, such as where we grew up, the relationships that surrounded our upbringing, or the type of sustenance and allowances we lived by. Some things, we made the decision for ourselves - what type of career we pursue, what kind of friendships we pursued, what kind of lifestyle we chose. Some of these were excellent paths, others are mistakes- stains that we try relentlessly to erase.
And all these things, as we look back at our years, cannot be changed. However, we make the choice how to react. Will we be full of self pity, disappointment, regret? This is our human response. It becomes a natural response to cringe, weep, and shrink back in fear from anything that could agitate the horrifying memories of failure.
Yet, to live by the Spirit is to live apart from condemnation- self-condemnation! - and to live in freedom. You were not meant to be a slave to regret. You were not meant to live your life controlled by the fears of repeating the effects of weakness. You were not meant to be paralyzed by bitterness, anger, or resentment.
You have the freedom to choose! You have the freedom to choose joy and peace and patience, you have the choice to walk away from negativity. Maybe you have that option to change your circumstances. Maybe these situations cannot be changed. And that is okay. Your mind can change, your heart can change, your attitude can change - all by the power of God.
Why should we burden ourselves? He means for us to live free.
The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
- Romans 8.6
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.
- Romans 8.15
xo
currently listening: Hillsong, A Beautiful Exchange
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