As I begin to process championing myself I am talking and listening closely to the Holy Spirit. My two biggest strengths are passion and power. When I first did a strengths test I was terrified by these two together. The reason I was terrified is that I knew from history the amazing things I could accomplish, but I also knew the devastation and horror I could also inflict. I never ever wanted to be in the position of hurting those around me. I hold my words and actions very seriously.
In high school, my church youth group went to Sharing and Caring Hands. The founder Mary Jo Copeland spoke with us for literally a few minutes. She said, “You can build up or tear down, get better or bitter.” She passionately spoke with us about our ability to take responsibility to get better and build up. In the same spirit, I want to use my passion and power to God’s glory. As I rise to make sure I am always taking a hand or hands and empowering those around me to rise as well.
High schools around the United States are struggling. And I’m not just talking academics. I’m talking about bullying. I’m talking about death threats. I’m talking about school shootings. The adults that continue to stay on the front lines as teachers, administrators, janitors, and every position in these buildings. Praise the Lord for you!!
The answer I continue to get is what are you demonstrating? Am I demonstrating peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, and self-control? Am I demonstrating forgiveness? Am I demonstrating self-confidence? Am I demonstrating confidence in the Holy Spirit to empower me with words when I need to speak, gentleness when I want to explode, peace when I feel chaotic. Am I demonstrating a consistent dependence on Jesus?
Am I constantly angry? Am I constantly floundering? Am I fighting with my spouse? Does my self-image look like garbage?
Am I constantly whining on social media? Am I passively-aggressively speaking on social media? Am I constantly rolling my eyes on social media?
I recently opened a Tik Tok account. I have avoided it up until now. I just did not want to add another cesspool to my phone. But, I finally took the plunge because I wanted to listen. Scripture says out of the mouth the heart speaks. So, I wanted to know, what is coming out of the mouths of the world.
If we want to change the world we start in our own home. We start in our own hearts. We start in our own minds. We start with our own mentality, our emotions, and our physical.
How are you championing yourself? How are you loving yourself? What brave, hard thing are you doing for a brighter, joyful tomorrow. And I’m not talking about, poof your situation changes. It may not. There may not be a rescue. If there is not, what does tomorrow look like?
Does it look like leaving an abusive relationship? Does it start with speaking with a trusted person about leaving an abusive relationship? Does it look like getting a job? Talking a walk and changing how you’re eating? Does it look like learning to love yourself? To see yourself as beautiful, cherished, wanted, and 100% worth it? The powerful steps you take today to change your tomorrow will look different for everyone.
You are so worth it. Your children are worth it. Your family is worth it. The world needs you. The world needs your gifts, your talents, you! I am praying for you friend. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to speak freedom and breathe peace into your life. I am praying for him to speak in ways that you will know it is 100% Him guiding and directing you.