My friend, mentor, counseling supervisor, Rose Marie Wrung, loaned me some teaching tapes on counseling from Elijah House in Post Falls, Idaho. I listen to them as I drive to work, because my older car has a tape player.
Last week I learned about something called the "sin of self-protection." It was more than an AHA moment for me. It has been in my thoughts ever since.
I grew up on self-protection: "Be careful." "That's too dangerous." "You might not have enough --- money, food, whatever."
Oh, in my house we talked about trusting God, read the Bible, went to church --- and went home to worry, fear, and protect ourselves.
This morning I sat down with my journal and got busy. I know these things:
1. If I believe something is "just the way I am" or something I got from a parent and I can't help it, that thing stays with me as long as I name it that way.
2. If I believe something is a sin --- which in New Testament means "missing the mark," getting close, but never hitting the bulls eye --- I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT!
I John 1:9 promises: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So today I tried it...I wrote as much as I could about how I self-protect. Those are my SYMPTOMS. And then I wrote: "I repent" --- turn around, don't want to go that way anymore.
I can't describe what happened next, but if you want to talk about it, email me or call me.
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