ECHO ECho echo

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. ~Anonymous

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from the old ones. ~ John Maynard Kynes

"Get out of my way you fat "#@$%@!"

I ran between a size 6 and 8 at the time. Hardly "fat" and I know I'm not the expletive he crudely suggested.

A passing comment spat out by an unknown fella who had tied on one too many. Passing or not, it weaseled into the far corners of my memory, taunting "you're fat.... you're fat.... you're fat...." at the most vulnerable times.

{Disclaimer: this is not a ploy for compliments... just building up to a main point!}

His is one of a menagerie of {negative} voices residing in the canyon in my mind. One hurtful shout can echo ad nauseum. So familiar are these redundant {negative} voices that they mix unhindered with my own thoughts until undifferentiated.

What {negative} voices prevail in the depths of your mind? Maybe a one time comment or perhaps it's repetitive verbal abuse. Maybe a

you'reuglystudidfatdisappointingannoyingunwantedloserfillintheblank

slur wraps like a vine around your mind, choking truth. Have you come to believe these lies? Maybe even bought into them and live life from their point of view? {Ex: Lie: you'll never succeed. Act: I won't apply for that promotion.}

I'm really sorry friend.

This train of {negative} thought might be especially hard to jump off. Particularly if the threads of insult have woven into our thoughts for a period of time, becoming second nature.

There is only one sure fire way I know to reject these trains of thought and that way is found in Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I'm about to go {Greek} old school on you.... Let's break this thing down together--
Conform: to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to)
Transformed: to change into another form, to transfigure
Renewing: a renovation, complete change for the better

Penetrating hurts and accusations do not define us. Yet often they do, running like a movie reel, depicting the story of our lives. That story is bogus though. As Romans tells us, we shouldn't conform our mind or character to what another person thinks. Instead, we are to be changed for the better into what Christ thinks of us and has called us to be.

Today, sit with Jesus, asking Him to reveal hurtful words spoken to you. Then, ask Him to cover them with His Truths that will ECHO ECho echo in the depths of your soul.

Tomorrow, I have a special idea in mind to give us a boost in this transformation. I need your help so I hope you'll be back! Thanks friends!!