THE VOICES THAT SHAPED YOU;THE GOD WHO WILL CHANGE YOU

How did the things that were said to you when you were a child affect the way that you are now? You might, at first thought, think that those things did not affect you. You may not even remember them. But stop a minute and think.

What were the things that you remember your mother saying to and about you as far back as you can remember? In what tone of voice did she say them? Were they warm and loving things or were they cold and distant or even angry things?

How about your dad? What words did he speak to you? Did he even take time to speak to you or was he always busy? Or maybe your dad was more like “Father Knows Best” on the old television show.

Now broaden the scope of your memory and think of the kind of words you heard from your teachers in church and/or school. Did those words make you feel safe and appreciated or did they make you fearful and happy to leave that class?

One more thing to view through the looking glass to the past. What did your friends and classmates say about you? How did they treat you? Did they want to be friends with you or did they tease you for the way you talked, looked or acted? Were you part or the popular crowd, the smart crowd, the rowdy, always in trouble crowd or were you a loner?

It may not seem like it, but these are very important questions because the answers to them probably went a long way towards making you the person that you are today. The way you feel about yourself is probably related back to the answers that you gave to these questions if you were honest.

Some people will never break away from the hurt and negative pictures that were formed in their mind about themselves so long ago. Others have gone far because they were wrapped up in love at home and well-liked and respected at school by teachers and peers. Who we become seems to begin the moment we are born.

But that is not really TRUTH! Who we are began when the Lord God knew us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb. He had a plan for us and He still does. But the obstacles that some of us have bumped into kept us from following that plan and so He still looks at us, waiting, and saying, “I am your true Father. I am your Creator. I formed you and I am the One Whose words about you matter. I am the one Whose feelings toward you matter. And I love you with an everlasting love. I love you so much that I gave My only Son for you so that you would never have to be separated from Me in the future. I let my Son die so that you could have eternal life. If that isn’t love, then there is no such thing as love! My child, look at me, open my Word, speak to a friend who knows Me and find out how very valuable you are to Me. You do not have to stay in the prison where you have let yourself be locked by the enemy of your soul through his use of the words of others. I have the key. I will gladly open that prison door and envelope you in My arms. Come to Me. Lay down those burdens you are carrying. They are so heavy for you but for Me they are light. I will take them the minute you come into My arms and take Me into your heart. Come on! It’s been such a hard road. Let Me carry you from here. Don’t hold back. I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are infinitely safe with Me.”

Ah, to have a Father like that. Oh, to have someone who cares that much. But you do. You really do.

In Matthew 11:27-29, Jesus said, “Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest .”

He said, “I know the plans I have for you; plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a HOPE.” Jeremiah 29:11

Can you resist a love like that? I know I can’t! Do you want things in your life to change? I know I did…and sometimes still do when I hold onto things myself. You have Someone just waiting to be your best friend and helper. Won’t you come into His arms? He will give you all the love and worth that you were always lacking. Look! He’s waiting! You don’t have to wait any longer. Go on! Run to Him!