Eu faço novas todas as coisas

Eu faço novas todas as coisas

Eu faço novas todas as coisas
Por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas Espirituais

 

Referências bíblicas: Revelação 21:1–5, Efésios 2:8–9, Efésios 3:14–21

Revelação 21:1–5
Agora eu vi um novo céu e uma nova terra, pois o primeiro céu e a primeira terra já passaram. Também não havia mais mar. Então eu, John, vi a cidade santa, Nova Jerusalém, descendo do céu da parte de Deus, preparada como uma noiva adornada para seu marido. E ouvi uma voz alta do céu dizendo, "Contemplar, o tabernáculo de Deus está com os homens, e Ele habitará com eles, e eles serão o Seu povo. O próprio Deus estará com eles e será seu Deus. E Deus enxugará toda lágrima de seus olhos; não haverá mais morte, nem tristeza, nem chorando. Não haverá mais dor, porque as coisas anteriores já passaram.”

Então Aquele que estava sentado no trono disse, "Contemplar, Eu faço novas todas as coisas.” E Ele me disse, "Escrever, pois estas palavras são verdadeiras e fiéis.”

Deus me deu, e aqueles que servem comigo neste ministério, um privilégio especial caminhar ao lado de vocês, mulheres corajosas e corajosas, em sua jornada de cura. Vimos você ficar arrasado e com medo de compartilhar seus segredos de trauma de abortos e abusos anteriores. Você tem medo da condenação e do julgamento. Deixar de lado seus segredos não é uma coisa fácil, especialmente para aqueles que os carregam há muitas décadas.

Mas nosso misericordioso e amoroso Pai não quer mais que você faça isso sozinho. Ele quer que você seja curada para se tornar a mulher que Ele criou você para ser.

Eu vi Deus em minha própria vida quebrar, deprimido, suicida, mulher atormentada e me levante do chão, e me mostre Seu grande amor, abrindo meus olhos espirituais para ver que eu era um pecador indo para o inferno.

Minha vida foi transformada quando ouvi pela primeira vez o Evangelho de que Jesus nasceu de uma virgem, viveu uma vida sem pecado, foi crucificado, morreu, sepultado e ressuscitou ao terceiro dia, para derrotar a morte e Satanás. Ele tomou meu lugar na cruz, Ele pagou minha dívida de pecado. Corri para Jesus para me resgatar do tormento de uma vida que eu estava vivendo 34 anos. Eu nunca poderei retribuir a Ele pelo dom da salvação que Ele me deu.

Efésios 2:8–9
Pois pela graça você foi salvo por meio da fé, e isso não vem de vocês; é o dom de Deus, não de obras, para que ninguém se glorie.

Nosso processo de cura é uma jornada para toda a vida. Fiquei surpreso com o quão quebrado e disfuncional eu estava quando comecei minha cura lá atrás. 2006. O tempo todo o inimigo me enganou que eu estava bem, não há necessidade de olhar para o meu trauma passado porque foi há muito tempo. “Eu estava bem.”

Isso não poderia estar mais longe da verdade. Você vê, o maligno quer nos manter isolados sentados na escuridão sendo atormentados por ele porque então ele nos tem exatamente onde nos quer.

Mas Deus não quer mais que Suas filhas sejam atormentadas. Ele quer que sejamos curados e libertos do inimigo e da nossa visão distorcida da verdade. Ele quer que tenhamos a coragem de dar um passo à frente e confiar que Ele nos guiará. Ele quer que usemos nossa voz e nosso testemunho para ajudar outros a dar um passo também. É um processo difícil, mas é tão lindo porque Jesus nos conduz gentilmente pela Sua destra justa.

Jesus me deu uma nova vida, uma nova música, e um novo propósito. Ele fez novas todas as coisas para mim, e eu sei que Ele pode fazer isso por você também se você se humilhar diante Dele e confiar Nele. Ele te ama mais do que você pode compreender.

Minha oração por você:
Efésios 3:14–21

Por esta razão me dobro de joelhos diante do Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, de quem toda a família no céu e na terra recebe o nome, que Ele lhe concederia, segundo as riquezas da Sua glória, ser fortalecido com poder através do Seu Espírito no homem interior, para que Cristo habite em vossos corações pela fé; que você, estar enraizado e fundamentado no amor, possa ser capaz de compreender com todos os santos qual é a largura, o comprimento, a profundidade e a altura - conhecer o amor de Cristo que excede todo o conhecimento; para que você seja cheio de toda a plenitude de Deus.

Ora, àquele que é poderoso para fazer muito mais abundantemente além daquilo que pedimos ou pensamos, de acordo com o poder que opera em nós, a Ele seja a glória na igreja por Cristo Jesus, por todas as gerações, para sempre e sempre. Amém.

 

Se você está se perguntando como você também pode ter esta nova vida em Jesus:

Primeiro, devemos ter um relacionamento com Jesus, nosso Salvador. Ele é nosso curador. Não há verdadeira mudança de vida sem Ele. (Salvação)

Segundo, devemos ter coragem de sair e confiar Nele. Isso é difícil de fazer, mas devemos confiar Nele neste processo. (Confiar)

Terceiro, devemos gastar tempo diariamente lendo a Palavra de Deus e orando. (Devoções Diárias)

Quarto, devemos ser responsáveis ​​perante os outros. (Responsabilidade)

Quinto, devemos continuar a querer ser curados em todos os nossos lugares quebrados. Este é um processo que dura a vida toda. (Perseverança)

Sexto, we then go out and share our testimony so other women will have the courage to step out and be healed. (Sharing Our Testimony)


Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. Where are you in your healing process? Salvação, Confiar, Devoções Diárias, Responsabilidade, Perseverança, or Sharing Your Testimony?
  2. Are you ready to go to the next level in your healing?
  3. How can we encourage you on your healing journey?

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. Please reach out to me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,

Toni

 

“You Make all Things New”
Big Daddy Weave

https://youtu.be/4_2aX_i4qpM?si=bJrJBO7ppX2n4j2Q

 

Como Superar Traumas

Como Superar Traumas

Como Superar Traumas
By Toni Weisz/Abuse Recovery

Referências bíblicas: Salmo 147:3, Salmo 27:10, Salmo 100:5

“Trauma can be more than a dark pit of despair or a spiral of depression. It has the potential to be our deepest source of empathy, strongest point of connection, and most forceful impetus (stimulus) for growth if we bravely choose to let others into both the brokenness and the mending. My brokenness becomes beautiful when I see trauma as an opportunity to grow.” (Excerpt taken from the devotional, Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything, by Katherine and Jay Wolf.)

Salmo 147:3
He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.

Salmo 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Salmo 100:5
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

It takes courage to face the trauma from our past. This is not an easy process. Na verdade, it is quite painful at times, and it is not for the faint of heart. That’s why many people don’t do it. They would rather live in their dysfunction because they know what to expect—it’s familiar.

Change can be hard, scary, and unpredictable. But it can also be beautiful, especially when we are able to come out on the other side of our pain and see the miraculous work God has done.

When I first started this ministry, the Lord encouraged me to be real.

When I am open and transparent with all of you, it gives you permission to share from your heart too. I have experienced tremendous healing as a result of doing these conference calls for the past 11 anos. The work of the Holy Spirit, self-examination, and a safe community in which to share are the most important elements for true healing and the ability to break dysfunctional patterns and spiritual strongholds. This group gives me the courage to keep stepping out.

You’re only as sick as your secrets.

When I share my secrets in a safe and loving environment, it helps me to begin the healing process. It brings that secret thing into the light, and the devil no longer has power over me in that area. I am praying that each of you experience true healing in all of your broken areas. You are safe on our conference calls, dearly beloved of the Lord. What secrets are you still hiding?

I also needed to practice what I preached.

If I was telling you to stand up to the bully and use your voice, then I needed to do the same thing. This group has helped me to stay accountable and move forward in my own healing journey.

Say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.

God has shown me how to stay calm, to allow the other person to speak, and try to stay on topic. Then when it’s my turn, I share my perspective but in a way that honors God.

I apologize when I need to, but I don’t allow others to just dump on me or yell at me. I walk away or hang up because that’s not an acceptable way to communicate. I don’t allow others to be verbally abusive to me. By sharing with you, it also helped me to practice those same principles in my life.

God showed me He wanted to be first in my life.

Once I put God first in my life, then what others thought of me didn’t matter so much anymore. I was trying to please them so they would love me, but that never worked anyway. It only left me feeling empty, não amado, and depleted of my energy. I realized I could never make someone happy or sad; I didn’t have that kind of power. Only God can love me completely. então, I go to God when I need something because most people are not able to give me what I need anyway.

They cannot give what they don’t have.

Only Jesus can meet all my needs. Jesus is the answer to every situation or problem I have. When I go to Him and ask Him to help me, to show me what’s going on and why I am struggling the way I am, He gives me wisdom and shows me what I need to do.

Perguntas:

  1. What burdens are you carrying right now? Is it health, finances, solidão, relationships, loss, sadness, or something else?
  2. Are you able to share how you are feeling right now?
  3. Como podemos orar por você?

Remember: When your father and your mother forsake you, then the LORD will take you up. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. He binds up the brokenhearted and heals all of your wounds.

Please reach out if you need prayer or just want to talk. Envie-me um e-mail para: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,

Toni

 

Leia mais sobre os blogs de Toni AQUI.

Ferramentas que o inimigo usa para nos manter em cativeiro (Parte 1–3)

Ferramentas que o inimigo usa para nos manter em cativeiro (Parte 1–3)

Ferramentas que o inimigo usa para nos manter em cativeiro (Parte 1): Temer

by Toni Weisz/ Recovery Tools

 

Referências bíblicas

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given me the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

 

Question: What is preventing me from recognizing I have a problem?

 

Fear is a tool the enemy uses to keep me in my dysfunction: the fear of change, the fear of the unknown, and fear that if I do change, I will lose a relationship.

What are your fears? Make a list of them all.

What is preventing you from truly looking at your life and asking God to help you change?

When I truly ask and seek the truth, God shows me my wounds and the lies I believe about Him, myself, e outros. Once He shows me those areas, I accept them and seek His wisdom to change the things I can.

My areas of woundedness were once fear of rejection and abandonment, and believing the lie that if I was perfect, I would be loved. These fears caused me to become a people-pleaser and made me think I had to earn love from others and God.

I believed God would not forgive my sin of abortion, that my sin was too great. Now I know that was a lie from the enemy to keep me in bondage. I also believed I deserved to be emotionally abused because of my sins.

All this unhealthy thinking kept me in emotionally abusive relationships, isolation, depressão, and hopelessness. But God in His mercy and grace filled my heart with His unfailing love, giving me the courage to step out of the darkness into His beautiful transforming light.

He helped me recognize the root causes of these lies and how to shred those lies to pieces using the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

 

Como podemos orar por você?

I pray this topic has helped you to discover and conquer the fears and the root causes in your own life. Please reach out if you need prayer or a word of encouragement. Email: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,
Toni

Tools the Enemy Uses Blog Toni Weisz Post-Abortion healing and recovery support group

Ferramentas que o inimigo usa para nos manter em cativeiro (Parte 2): Negócio

by Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

 

Referências bíblicas:

Salmo 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.

Efésios 2:8–9
Pois pela graça você foi salvo por meio da fé, e isso não vem de vocês; é o dom de Deus, not of works lest anyone should boast.

Romanos 8:15–16a
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Romanos 8:38–39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

I was always busy with so many things that I didn’t have time to think about the toxic relationships I had with some close family members. I was so involved in my children’s school and after school activities, teaching and serving at church, and raising my family that I did not have time to look at myself and recognize that I was enabling unhealthy behavior.

It was fall of 2001, and I was pushing myself hard physically so I could compete against 24-year-olds in tennis at the age of 42. I would be exhausted, but I forced myself to work out anyway.

We attended a church where obeying the rules was the most important thing. It was all a show, e in the meantime, my épirit was so grieved I could barely feel the Spirit of God in me.

Then came September 11, and my husband was flying that day from Philly to CA. For many hours, I did not know where he was or how he was. When I watched planes crash into the Twin Towers, I just remember going into shock. John’s family was calling, and I had no information on his waquiabouts.

Shortly after that in October, I fell on the tennis court and hurt myself so badly that I had a huge bulge in my right hip area. As time passed, it got worse, and I could not walk after a while because the pain shot through my entire body. From Thanksgiving through New Years, I was confined to laying on the couch because I was unable to stand or walk for long periods of time.

I couldn’t do anything for several months. For the first time, I had to allow others to do things for me. It was very humbling. I had a complete mental, físico, emotional and spiritual breakdown. My children were in high échool at that time, and they would sit at my feet on the couch and do their homework. I thank God for that special memory.

It was during the time of my confinement that God whispered to my heart, “I love you regardless of whether you serve me on all these committees at Church or you lay on the couch for the rest of your life. I love you the same. My love for you never changes. My love for you is not based upon your good works or being worthy to be loved; My love is based upon My Son’s death on the cross for your sins.”

God knew I was working for acceptance from others and Him. I was raised in a works-based religion, and I felt because of the sins from my past—all the drugs, álcool, sex outside of marriage and my abortion—that I needed to make an atonement for my sins somehow. I didn’t understand that there was nothing I could do to earn salvation; it was a gift from God (Ref. Efésios 2:8–9).

It took 10 years for that truth to finally make ité way to my heart. But once it did, it changed my whole world forever. I finally felt loved and accepted by God. I didn’t have to be good enough or check a box to be loved and accepted. I realized I needed to believe God’s Word. I can now say with confidence that I have been adopted by God, I am His child, and nothing can separate me from His love (Referência. Romanos 8:15–16uma, 38–39).

 

Questions to Take to Heart:

  1. What are you doing to keep yourself so busy that you are not dealing with your stuff?
  2. What are you running away from?
  3. How can/did you stop the busyness in your life?
  4. Como podemos orar por você?

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. Please reach out if you need prayer or a word of encouragement. Email: toni@myahsestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,
Toni

 

 

Ferramentas que o inimigo usa para nos manter em cativeiro (Parte 3): Pontos cegos

by Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

 

Referências bíblicas:

Salmo 119:18
“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of Your Law.”

John 8:31–32
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you will be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

 

Blind spots are areas in my life in which I have been wounded and where I cannot see my character defects, sins, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

My life was filled with destructive choices, all of which contributed to my woundedness and blind spots. Only God could show me these blind spots and help me to see what areas in my life I needed to work through and change.

No passado, a blind spot for me was being overly protective of my children. When I was a young mom and not a believer yet, I was fearful that God would punish me for my past abortion and take one of my children. I remember when my children hit três years of age, Eu pensei, “Oh good, I don’t have to worry about that.”

But I still parented out of fear because I didn’t want my children to make the same mistakes. They were not permitted to participate in many activities their public school friends participated in because of the church we were attending at the time.

God’s Word shined light in these dark areas that were hidden for so many years. This light set me free from my fears, helping me to trust Him to release my children into His capable hands and allow them to make their own choices.

Later on, I had to apologize to my children for not allowing them to do certain things but also for being way too protective of them. They knew my heart, and they forgave me.

Another area que I had a huge blind spot was in my relationships with others. I did not see how I was allowing others to take advantage of me by manipulating and controlling me. I never developed a voice because I was fearful of rejection and abandonment, which caused me to accept this unacceptable behavior.

I felt I deserved to be abused because of my past sins, which was a lie from the devil. I hated myself and did not respect myself. So, how could I expect others to love and respect me? I allowed others to control and manipulate me because I put their opinions above God’s in my life.

Meu povo–pleasing was out of control, and I could never say no because I didn’t want to disappoint others. então, I ran around like an idiot, exhausted physically and emotionally drained and all along feeling very empty and unloved inside.

Why was I doing these things? Oh, yes, so others will see value in me and love me.

Well, that never worked. The only one who ever saw value and worth in me was God.

Over time, God was removing the blindness, and I started seeing my unhealthy thinking. As I was seeking Him more and the truth about my past, He started revealing things to me that I did not see before.

I am so thankful for the day when God filled me with His love so completely that I finally stopped looking to humans to approve of me or love me. I was content solely in my relationship with the Lord. He was the only one I needed. This perspective changed my life forever. I am so grateful for God showing me my blind spots so I could know the truth, confess my sins, repent and be set free.

Ask God to show you what your blind spots are.

Perguntas:

What areas has God revealed to you that were blind spots?

Can you share them with the group?

Como podemos orar por você?

I pray this topic has helped you to discover blind spots in your own life. Please reach out if you need prayer or a word of encouragement. Email: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

 

In His love and service,

— Toni

Leia mais sobre os blogs de Toni AQUI.

Expectativas não atendidas

Expectativas não atendidas

 

Expectativas não atendidas
by Luci Boudreaux/Spiritual Insights

Referências bíblicas:

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Salmo 27:13–14
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage wait for the Lord!”

 

After I surrendered my life to Jesus at age 25, I was so excited to go with God and live for Him. After years of mental and physical abuse by others and by my own poor life choices, which included abortion, I was anxious to start fresh. And I dared to dream for a normal life with God at the center.

I attended church, studied the Scriptures and hung out with other like–minded believers. I had great expectations about how God would fulfill my dreams to be a wife and a mom. And seeing all the young families at church intensified my longing to have my own family.

Years passed as my hopes and dreams went unfulfilled, in spite of my prayers. I got tired of waiting on God, so I took control and started dating a man who said the things I wanted to hear, but he turned out to be the opposite of the godly man I wanted to be with. You can read the whole story about “The Angel of Light” on MyAshesToBeauty.com under Luci’s Blogs, UMAônibus Rrecuperação.

After three years of abuse and separation from God, I ended the relationship and surrendered my singleness to the Lord. And not long after this, I met the man that I’ve been so thankful to be married to for 21 anos! In this difficult experience, God taught me that waiting on His timing and trusting His wisdom brings the best results.

Fast–forward to today, and again, God has me in a place of learning to trust and believe His promises. I have been physically suffering for years with GI tract and stomach pain. You might say, I carry stress in my gut! In the last few months, it has become debilitating. I’ve been aggressively reading and applying what the experts tell me to do, but nothing has brought relief. I also searched for a healthcare professional that could help to heal me. But as I prayed for guidance and searched for months, the doors continued to close.

My hope was fading as I questioned God, “Chy? Chy all this suffering? Chy all this waiting?” In my weakened state, I believed the lie that God would not bring healing e that He wasn’t hearing my cries for help.

In this process, God showed me that I needed an adjustment in my perspective because I had lost sight of what He was and is always doing in the life of His children. He was helping me see that I was allowing the cares of this world to affect me, that I was anxious about many things, and it was manifesting in my body breaking down. Além disso, he was preparing the perfect time for me to meet the right doctor. UMAnd as an added bonus, which I know was part of His plan, I not only met her but was também able to minister to her very precious mother who happened to be visiting.

God is not in the business of meeting our desires and needs in what WE believe to be the perfect time. He wants everything to be for our ultimate good (heart, mente e spirit) and for His glory. Just like Job, we can’t understand the mind of God, nor can we see the incredible plans He has for us. We have to trust that He loves us beyond our wildest dreams.

God has had His hand on my life circumstances this whole time! But He was waiting for me to give Him control and to trust His promises for me, as Scripture guides us. And one passage to emphasize is Psalm 25:9: “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.”

 

PUESTIONS:

What are you hoping and waiting for in your life?

Do you have a testimony of how God has answered your prayer in a way that surprised and blessed you beyond your expectations?

Como podemos orar por você?

 

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. You can reach me at: overcomer982@icloud.com.

 

Bênçãos,

Lúcia

 

 

De volta a blogs da Luci

Pensamento fedorento: Minha visão distorcida de mim mesmo

Pensamento fedorento: Minha visão distorcida de mim mesmo

Pensamento fedorento: Minha visão distorcida de mim mesmo


por Toni Weisz/Stinking Thinking

 

Referências bíblicas: Isaías 43:18–19, Salmo 62:6-8, Salmo 27:10, John 8:32, and Romans 5:9

Pensamento fedorento refers to the negative or disturbing thoughts that torment us, especialmente quando estamos HALT (Hsem raiva, UMAcom raiva, euapenas ou Tirado). We will be looking at our distorted view of self. Aprenderemos a discernir a verdade das mentiras em que acreditamos durante toda a nossa vida. Nosso objetivo é equipá-lo para que você possa ter vitória em todas as áreas da sua vida.

Isaías 43:18–19
“Não te lembres das coisas anteriores, nem considere as coisas antigas. Contemplar, vou fazer uma coisa nova, agora ele brotará; você não saberá disso? Farei até uma estrada no deserto e rios no deserto”.

Salmo 62: 6–8
“Só ele é minha rocha e minha salvação; Ele é minha defesa; Eu não serei movido. Em Deus está minha salvação e minha glória; A rocha da minha força, e meu refúgio, está em Deus. Confie Nele em todos os momentos, vocês pessoas; derrame seu coração diante dele; Deus é um refúgio para nós.”

Salmo 27:10
Quando meu pai e minha mãe me abandonam, the Lord will take care of me.

John 8:32
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Romanos 5:9
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

I was the oldest of three and came from a strict second-generation, Italian-American family. My father and his two brothers and sister ran a family-owned construction company started by my grandfather.

My grandfather had a drinking problem. And my dad acted like an alcoholic even though he did not drink. I refer to his behavior as a “rageaholic.” He worked extremely long hours and was dealing with a lot of stress and family drama. Ele não foi capaz de se comunicar de maneira saudável sem ficar com raiva e levantar a voz. He had a very short fuse. então, quando ele estava em casa, Eu literalmente gostaria de correr e me esconder.

My mom tried her best to control our home environment as not to cause my dad any stress. We had to be very quiet and obedient when he was home. The slightest thing could set him off. When my dad was at work, my mom had her own way of dealing with the chaos in our home. She yelled a lot too. It wasn’t a very calm or peaceful environment. But I believe they did the best they could. They were preoccupied with putting out fires that my sister and brother were starting. It was easy for me to hide in the shadows.

As a young child, how was I supposed to get the love and attention I needed? Depois do “bom, quiet one” persona was not working anymore, I started sneaking Scotch whiskey from my parents’ liquor cabinet at 12 anos. Now I was really hiding because of all of my secrets, which now were piling up, and it became even more difficult to keep up my façade. Por 13, Eu estava ficando chapado e usando outras drogas. No 16, I was having sex; then the unthinkable, my abortion at 21. My life was a disaster, one poor decision after another led me down a very dark path. I was very alone in this pit even though I had friends; no one really knew what I was suffering with because I wore the perfect mask. I was right where the evil one wanted me. Isolated, sozinho, and hiding in my secrets.

Now in my early 30’s after many years of destructive choices, mecanismos de cópia prejudiciais e vícios, minha auto-aversão estava no auge de todos os tempos. My depression would last for weeks at a time, and it was preventing me from functioning normally, and all the pain I had been stuffing all my life was coming out sideways. Eu não tinha controle sobre isso. Eu era como um vulcão ambulante. I literally just wanted to end this torment of a life. But God gave me two children, and I wasn’t going to leave them without a mom. então, I decided I needed to do something different because what I was doing was not working. I was tired of putting my mask on every day and pretending.

Eu senti que não era digno de ser amado. Na verdade, I thought I deserved to be emotionally abused by others because of my sin. Eu não me via como uma pessoa de valor para ninguém, nem mesmo para Deus. Esse padrão destrutivo continuaria até que eu estivesse 34, quando pela graça de Deus, Eu ouvi o evangelho e dentro 4 semanas fui salvo e pedi a Jesus para perdoar meus pecados e ser meu Senhor e Salvador. O dia mais lindo e memorável da minha vida é fevereiro 6, 1994, quando nasci de novo.

Mesmo depois da minha salvação, I felt I had to work for love and approval from God and especially from others in leadership at Church. My people-pleasing was consuming my life, e Deus me mostrou que isso é idolatria, that anything that I put above Him is a sin.

Over the past 20 anos, God has slowly been showing me my character defects and areas of sin, my codependency, people-pleasing, and lack of clear boundaries and how I was enabling unhealthy behavior. I didn’t love or respect myself so how could I expect others to. I allowed people to walk all over me, to manipulate and control me, but slowly over time, I started putting up boundaries and using my voice.

God helped me to see myself through His eyes of love, care, and compassion. Back in 2015 when struggling with rejection, I wrote out these words of affirmation that I read out loud to myself every day: I am worthy, I am loved, I belong, I am accepted, I am adopted, I am confident and competent, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I am a child of God, I am victorious in Christ, just to name a few. This is my Spiritual Armor; I put this on every morning to protect myself from the fiery darts of the enemy. Our battle is won and lost in our minds. What we believe about ourselves and about God matters. God’s word is truth, and the truth will make you free.

I hope I never take for granted the miracle that took place in my life 31 anos atrás, when I received the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for me.

QUESTIONS TO TAKE TO HEART:

  1. How has your distorted view of yourself opened you up to all kinds of abuse and sin as a way to cope with your pain?
  2. How did you see yourself?
  3. Who does God say you are? Give examples of Biblical truth.
  4. What do you do to put your Spiritual Armor on daily to protect yourself from the enemy?
  5. Como podemos orar por você?

I pray this topic has been helpful for you if you need to talk, you can text me or email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado, Toni

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