He Is Not Finished

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NASB

I find that my personal struggles center more in my thoughts and mindsets than in any other area of my life. No wonder Jesus so clearly stated, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” I have spent a life time gathering information and yet the bottom line still comes down to what I believe in the very depths of my heart. I have come to the place where I can now divide my thought patterns into three categories….what I believe about God, what I believe about myself, and what I believe about other people. For some people they would have other categories but these are mine.

Three years ago God began to help me see where my thoughts were untrue about Himself. He has led me on a progressive journey with Himself to help me come to know Him, His character, His heart, and His ways in a manner that is encouraging and precious. I do not view Him in the same way as I did for decades. Along with that journey He has begun to help me clear up some thinking pertaining to myself. This involves finding the root causes for self-condemnation, shame, and self-loathing. It has never been His intent that I would see myself any differently than He sees me. Although I don’t fully have these two areas transformed, He has also begun to help me examine my view of others.

This part is difficult because I am so use to interpreting other people’s words, actions, and absence through the grid of my own perceptions. The more significant the person the more condemning my thoughts seem to be. Again, He will begin to reveal to me the root causes for these mindsets. Relational issues can have us in as strong a bondage as any drug. Am I free yet? No. Will I be? Absolutely! Because He has promised to finish what He starts in my life.
I do not have to succumb to the thoughts that things will never change, life will never look different. Our God is interested in my progress, freedom, and change. He is my biggest cheerleader and source of transformation. And He is most certainly the One directing my heart toward Himself.

Father, You know where I still need freedom. If it were left up to me I wouldn’t have the strength or ability to free myself. I once again look to You to do Your work in me. Amen.