God Spotting: Words are Powerful

For the past month or so, a few home schooling moms and I have been getting together to work through Lysa TerKeurst's book and study Unglued.

Not only has the study been good, but I am thoroughly enjoying the time of fellowship with these women and learning more about them.

I thought I would share what I've learned!

• Imperfect progress.  I love that Lysa uses this term to describe the process for being re-shaped by God.  For me, it helps me to remember that the goal is to be Christlike, but recognizes the reality of my sinful nature -- that I often grab control back from God and try to do it myself -- and that I need to trust and persevere instead of giving up on the process.  I can so recognize when the evil one attempts to thwart my progess towards following Christ more intentionally and more closely -- and (I admit) I get discouraged often and sometimes feel defeated and less Christian, less loved by God, less connected to Him.  Of course, that is exactly what he wants me to feel!
• Triggers.  I have been able to reflect more specifically about triggers that make me lose it.  Now to be more deliberate about de-stressing my life (and perhaps being more organized) so that I'm not apt to lose it so often!
• Words.  Last night's video specifically talked about words that we all have heard in our lives that become part of the chatter that runs in our heads about ourselves.   This was a very convicting lesson for me, but not because of the dialog I hear in my head about myself, but the chatter that I am laying down in my precious son's heads.  What have I said in a fit of anger?  What messages have I given to them by my actions towards them?  My constant prayer is that God's mercy will wash over my children and erase the mistakes I've made, but it is my responsibility to be more Christlike towards them and mentor them better.  

Driving home last night after our get-together, I was very encouraged that I am listening what God wants me to hear.  The first song that I heard on Air1 was a new Hawk Nelson song called "Words."  It was like God was punctuating my evening with an exclamatory, "Yes, Alane, you got the message!" while at the same time, laying a prayer into my heart for me to meditate on:

Hawk Nelson - Words (feat. Bart Millard)
From the album Words (single)

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king
They've lifted my heart to places I've never been
They've dragged me down back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart
Or put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't want to say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
God, your voice is the only thing we need to hear

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't want to say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
Let the words I say
Be the sound of Your grace
I don't want to say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I want to speak Your love
Not just another noise
I want to be Your life
I want to be Your voice

How has God been speaking to you lately?