I was born into a family where violence and abuse had already taken root. At first, my Dad and I were the major recipients of it. As an example, the year I was 14, I was beaten every day.
While all the physical scars may heal, the visions of the violence and the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the abuse, burrow themselves deep into our hearts and minds. They affect every thought we think, every action we take, and every decision we make. Counselling and coaching aren’t enough to deal with these memories. It takes the full re-newing of our minds by the One who created us.
In my early 20s, I was to find the verse that would begin the re-newing of my mind. It’s the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
For me, God's plan for us is in that verse. God has not given us a spirit of fear. Think about it. He does nothing to make us feel afraid, nothing to make us think we aren’t good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or handsome enough.
He does everything for us to know that we are enough. Just as we are, we are enough for God to send His precious Son to die in our place so that we may have eternal life. That’s the truth!
We have a spirit of power, the power of the Holy Spirit living within us; a spirit of love – God is love. He created us in love. We have the spirit of a sound mind. When we surrender to God’s plan for our lives, our beliefs changes; He gives us a new heart; He carries the burdens of the bad memories. We are free to live under His wings, safely secure in His gentle hands. He gives us a sound mind. He is doing this for people all over the world.
Is it your turn?