Who Told You? (part one)

The scales continue to fall of in so many areas of my life.  It seems the Lord reveals lie after lie I have believed over the years that have heaped burden upon burden.

One question He asks me that has become instrumental in my freedom is,  “Who told you?”  Seems simple, but trust me, it is profound!  He asked Adam and Eve that same question in the garden.  “Who told thee that thou was naked?”  (Gen. 3:11)  (who else was with them in the garden?)

Let’s try a few ‘who told yous’ here.  I challenge you to begin to ask yourself this question, especially in the areas where you are perhaps feeling guilt, or just plain beat up.

There is great freedom in discerning whose voice led you to do something, Your Father or the enemy.  And, even more freedom in letting go of what is not from God.

Who told you that you never do it good enough?  Your mothering, your home keeping, your wife-ing?  Better yet, go deeper, who has been telling you your whole life you didn’t do it good enough? 

Who has told you that you are not tall enough, pretty enough, thin enough, quiet enough, speak up enough?  Who told you that nothing you do is ever good enough?

Who told you that you have to be 100% consistent with child training for you children to turn out okay?  Perfectly consistent!?  That is the message spoken in many popular child training authors, speakers and bloggers.  Really?  Does God expect us or ask us to be 100% consistent?  Wouldn’t that be perfect?  Last I checked, not one of us is or will be perfect or perfectly consistent at anything.  Who told you?  God or man?

Who told you that you need to use this particular curriculum and be this kind of mom?  Just because Sister Suzy and “everybody” else reads ‘all’ the classics snuggled on the couch all day, every day, takes nature walks daily, and does lots of fun unit studies all with great joy and organization does NOT mean that God is leading you to do these things!  Who told you that you have to do those things?  If your Father didn’t, why carry the burden any longer?

If you are bound by any dietary rules, even if you don’t quite see it as bondage (yet), I ask you,  “who told you that you couldn’t eat carbs or meat or grains?”  I am just asking, I know this one can be a ‘sacred cow’ for many.  Just ask yourself, ‘who told me I can’t eat {fill in the blank}, was it God or is it possibly a ‘doctrine of devils’? * see disclaimer at the end of post.

These are just a few “who told yous”.  I encourage you to seriously ask yourself this question in all areas of your life.  The enemy is so subtle, at times.  He somehow convinces us we just have to do something that sounds good and even Godly, yet may never have been from our Father.

 

* (Disclaimer:  most of you know some of my “beliefs” about foods and which might be better choices.  Even so, I am reevaluating these beliefs to see which ones line up with the Word and wisdom and which ones were based on fear.  When I have written on this topic, my goal has never been to put a burden on anyone.  I have encouraged you to seek God and your husband’s counsel before making changes.)