Boxes

How much would you like to see yourself differently? Have you ever thought about words and expectations as boxes or walls? It could be the expectations of others or your own expectations. Once a thought has developed into an expectation it can be limiting. An expectation too high or too low can have similar results of anxiety, overwhelm, or discouragement.  

            When talking to the Lord about these boxes, I heard, ‘If people put God in a box, what makes you think that they won’t do the same to you?’ God is not limited by man’s word or expectations about him. If you are in Christ, neither are you. You can do anything that God says you can.

            I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil.4:13)

            You are who God says you are. His expectations are the only ones that matter. You are not just the sum of the mistakes that you’ve made or the choices that you’ve made in the past. If you belong to Christ, you are a new creation in Christ.

            16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2Cor.5:16-17)

            Spend some time reading the bible and ask God to show you who he says you are.

Prayer: Lord, show me who I am in you. Replace the lies with the truth. Help me to know and believe who you say I am and your expectations for me. Part of that truth is your love for me. Help me to see and know that love because that is where my strength lies. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

(The photo above is the dust left over from some pastel experimentations that I’ve been doing. I thought it looked cool.)