The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 21
Transformed By A Renewed Mind!
… but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…
– Romans 12:2
My mother went to live in a different home when I was around six years old. After a while my two younger brothers went to live with her and I remained in the family home with my father and older siblings. As a child I thought that I was responsible for my mother’s leaving. I did not understand why she would take my two younger brothers and leave her little girl behind. Therefore, for years I carried around that burden of feeling it was my fault why my mother left.
I had a close relationship with my second brother. He made me feel special. Then when I was in my early adolescence he migrated to the USA and I felt that he left me just like my mother did.
I had one friend from primary school. We lived in the same community and attended the same Church. Even though we did not attend the same secondary school we saw each other often at Church or at our homes. However, when she finished secondary school she migrated to Canada. Again, I felt that she too left me. Hence, I made up my mind that I will not let anyone in my life again because the track record showed that everyone I loved always leaves at some point. I did not want to go through the pain of feeling neglected all over again so I kept to myself and I was intentional about it.
Then, there was another young lady in the Church I attended as a youth who was relentless in pursuing a friendship with me. I resisted for a long time but eventually we became friends. We did not live in the same community so I only saw her on Saturdays at choir meetings and on the days we had Church. She was like a big sister and because I was always so quiet and reserved, she looked out for my well-being. She too migrated to the USA.
As though that was not enough, when I was working as the secretary for Youth for Christ I met a young lady who befriended me. I was afraid to let her in because I had already made up my mind that I do not want to have any friends. She was relentless in her pursuit of our friendship. Before I realized it, we were praying together every day, then I met her family. They accepted me and treated me as their sister. I went to youth retreats with the youth ministry at their Church and I began to socialize with other youths. Then just as I began to change my mind about letting others into my life my friend migrated to the USA. I was broken emotionally. I was angry at myself for letting her in in the first place because I was already convinced that everyone who gets close to me leaves.
I thought then that maybe God does not want me to have friends or something is wrong with me why everyone who comes into my life leaves. Thus, I isolation again. It was easier to keep to myself than to invest in relationships just for people to leave. That mentality was not healthy for it only caused me to sink deeper into the sea of depression and anxiety. You see, isolation is one of the strategies the enemy used to prevent me from becoming all that God intends for my destiny.
The truth is that all the persons mentioned above leaving had nothing to do with me. I understood that later, and I have come to accepting that their leaving was not of any fault of mine. I also realized that no one is an island by him/herself and that God created us to be in communities so everyone needs someone. Therefore, I needed to change my mind-set. For transformation to have taken place in my life I needed to renew my mind.
Have you developed an attitude in which you are confirming to the lies of the devil? Is the condition of your life a reflection of your mentality?
Paul mentioned in Romans 12:2, “… but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
You can transform your life by renewing your mind. You may ask, how do I renew my mind? You renew your mind with the Word of God. What does the Word of God say about you? Think on those Scriptures, believe them, confess them over your life daily and be encouraged. The more you fix your mind on the Word of God, the more your soul and spirit will be healed and your life will be transformed. It’s a process but if you stick with it you will be victorious.
Shalom!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father when I think about how my mind was overwhelmed by strongholds of the enemy and how You have healed my mind with Your Word, I give You praise and glory. Thank You for Your Word. It is indeed powerful. I declare today that my mind is being renewed daily by the Word of God, as a result my life is being transformed. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
