Transformation

Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When a person has been through so much abuse, especially in childhood, it is hard to perceive that things can change and be different. It is hard to even understand what “different” can look like. To have the abuse stopped is what our mind is so focused on, that it blocks out all other thoughts. Whatever it is going to take but for those who have no way out, this is not something we feel we can make happen. It has to be some miracle, but truth be told, many times we cannot even believe in miracles.

When day after day is the same, just more abuse, over time we lose hope. I was that way. God is not lacking or missing anything, but if we do not believe, He cannot help us. He will fight for us and do everything to defeat the works of satan in our life, but he cannot and will not over run our free will. That doesn’t mean He has given up on us, and He will never stop loving us.

His Word says we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind. After years of battling to be free of the abuse, not just physically, but emotionally, God finally was able to get me to understand the truth of His Word. As I started corralling my thinking, not allowing every thought to become a stronghold in my mind, and bringing my thoughts in line with God, I am seeing a transformation in my life that I never would have thought possible before.

What I mean by corralling my thinking is doing what it says in this Scripture. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Instead of allowing every thought that came into my mind to become part of my thought process, if it wasn’t something that God would approve of, I made myself stop thinking it. And then I start speaking out Scriptures that would help me, like Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

I can do this. Even if it seems overwhelming at times, I can still do this. Even if I mess up, I can repent and keep trying. Over time, I am seeing a transformation in my mind. I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind. Our thoughts are in our mind. Most of what I believed was from the enemy. Because of my circumstances, I believed there was no hope, and nothing would ever change. As I continued doing what the Word of God said, I have started seeing a change.

I used to be controlled by my past, what happened to me and the effects of what happened. I would think I was the way I was because of what happened. I was negative because nothing good seemed to happen in my life. I complained and blamed God for the abuse. God didn’t do it! Man’s free will chose to do what they did to me. I finally understood that, stopped blaming God, stopped the negative thinking, along with any other thinking that was not pleasing to God, and now I am no longer focusing on my past. I no longer believe that I am the way I am because of what happened in my past.

Now, I can start focusing on my future. I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder to see what bad thing is going to happen. Now I am learning what God has for me and who He wants me to be. This is a life-long process and there are times when it is one step forward and three steps back. But I keep going. I can focus on the Word of God, knowing it is truth and it is a double-edged sword that will cut the enemy and destroy his plans for me. I don’t have to believe the lies of satan anymore. Doesn’t mean he won’t continue trying. That is what he does best.

God’s Word is powerful. He spoke things into existence. And even when all we see is the devil’s carnage, and it makes it hard to believe, the truth is, God is still Almighty God. He loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” It has taken me too many wasted years to believe this. If I could change anything, it would be that I would have chosen to believe this years ago. I can’t get the time back, but maybe through these articles, it will touch and change somebody else’s life.

Please feel free to contact me, either through the contact page on this website or through email at Barbara@ehfm.org. God truly is who His Word says He is. Find the Scriptures that speak to you and hold on for dear life. Let God build a fire in you of hope and faith to believe Him.

2 Samuel 22:2-4, 2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

I researched these Scriptures, and it comes out to mean this; The Lord is my Rock (a stronghold of Jehovah), my Fortress and my Deliverer (You are my security, and You bring me into safety). You are my Shield (a buckler), the Horn of my salvation (my strength, rays of light), my High Tower (my retreat in You), my Refuge (a place of escape), and my Savior (You give me victory, You deliver and save me). You are worthy to be praised, and I am saved from violence and from my enemies.

Note that those who have abused us are not our enemies. The devil is our enemy. When the devil gets us fighting other people, he has won the fight because we are not fighting the real enemy. Those who are abusing us have chosen to live for the devil, but many times they are so deceived that they don’t realize this. Regardless, by fighting them, we do not win. We only become like them, and that is what the devil wants. I know. I did this for many years. That gave the devil a legal right to control me. By renewing our mind, it transforms us and stops giving victory to the devil. We then give God the glory.