OVERCOMING THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION - Part II
We have learned that Satan’s agenda
is intensifying emotional struggles to produce long-term negative effects,
while God’s agenda is transforming our shortcomings into strengths and life-wisdom
so we are positioned to assist others who have similar life experiences. To offset any perceived ‘minuses’ in our
lives, God always grants unique and powerful ‘pluses’ for our balance today and
our achievement tomorrow. Our personal
discovery of these God-given pluses is mission critical to breaking out of the
‘rejection box’ and attaining fulfillment and success.
Even when others do not seem to GET
US, Satan certainly does. In fact, his
tactical portfolio on us is a work in progress from cradle to grave. Therefore, he is historically aware of OUR
EMOTIONAL BUTTONS, the best means of pushing them, and our probable response to
such pressure. I believe there are
specific satanic forces, i.e. SPIRITS OF REJECTION, whose primary mission is
PRODUCING REPEATED CYCLES OF SIMILAR REJECTION in our lives via those who are
closest and most capable of causing serious pain and damage. More often than not, these unwitting agents
are our FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Once you have identified your
GOD-GIVEN PLUSES, it is imperative to use them proactively as weapons to nullify
demonic attacks that are expressly formulated to reactivate feelings of
rejection. As you recall, the ‘minus’
that shaped my personal self-image was a speech impediment. My God-given ‘plus’ was academic ability. Whenever I felt LESS-THAN, I consciously
reminded myself of my potential to excel in the classroom. In other words, I might not be super at
hoops, but I could be superlative in history!
YOU too have GOD-GIVEN PLUSES! Find
them and focus on them whenever significant others become unknowing agents of
lowering your self-esteem and reviving those feelings of rejection. Please hear this with your spirit. It is imperative that you do so or you will
have the potential to BECOME that which you now abhor.
Kingdom Principle Number Two:
HARBORING UNRESOLVED FEELINGS OF REJECTION ULTIMATELY CAUSES YOU TO BECOME A
REJECTER OF OTHERS. The noted American
psychologist, Abraham Maslow, was convinced that childhood problems of
self-esteem are far more serious than commonly believed. He discovered that children who feel rejected have low rates of pro-social
behavior (difficulty with sharing), high rates of disruptive behavior
(aggressiveness), high rates of immature behavior (impulsiveness and
inattentiveness) and high rates of social anxiety (fears they will never fit
in). He believed that this basic lack of
self-esteem, if unchecked, ultimately manifests as adult depression. In
other words, our need for acceptance is so powerful that if is unfulfilled we
are motivated to act out the opposite of what we are in need of, that it, we eventually
withdraw from the love and acceptance of significant others who genuinely seek
our best. Ironically, WE BECOME PASSIVE
OR ACTIVE REJECTERS and eventually find it challenging to sustain healthy
long-term relationships.
Having outlined the problem, what is
the solution? First of all, since much of what we become is
influenced by factors in our environment, WE MUST AVOID TOXIC PEOPLE AND
RELATIONSHIPS. Carefully consider this:
Although most of us despise rejection, it is paradoxical that we are somehow
drawn to people who continually reject us. Why? Because HUMAN BEINGS ARE TYPICALLY DRAWN TO
THE FAMILIAR – even if those customary people or things are dangerous and
disastrous for us. Think about it. At this stage in life, I have embraced a firm
policy of zero tolerance for chronic
negativity, which means I refuse to maintain involvement with those who
do not speak positively into my life and into the lives of others. This is no easy task since it may require distance
or disconnection from persons whom I am naturally or emotionally inclined to be
close.
Here’s why this is vitally important:
WE TEND TO BECOME WHATEVER WE CONSTANTLY MEDITATE UPON OR ASSOCIATE WITH. Therefore, our sense-gates MUST be guarded! Association does bring about
assimilation. Solomon’s wise counsel is
in agreement with my own: “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) The alternative to guarding your heart, i.e.
not constantly hearing, speaking, tasting, touching, or seeing anything that
detracts from the image of God-in-you, is becoming a distorted and degraded
version of your destined and truest self. This powerful principle should have a direct
impact on your daily intake. Garbage
in…garbage out! WORD in…WORD out! To facilitate your long-term health and
wholeness, here a powerful scripture to live by:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth; but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8, NKJV)
Bottom-line: When you make the
decision to diligently guard your heart, you will also need to restructure your
relationships. Are you ready?
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