A guest post by Janet Eriksson . . .
Years ago, because of fear, confusion, and lack of wisdom, I made decisions that still have a profound effect on my life. I allowed myself to be a doormat, and the enemy took advantage. I’m still living with the consequences.
I’ve been through a lot of healing, repentance, forgiveness. I started on a journey to walk free of fear, and while I’m still in progress, I’ve come a long way. I have less fear, more wisdom, and I’m discovering that I don’t need to be a doormat. That’s not my true identity. It’s not who God created me to be.
But what about those consequences. Would I ever get free of those? Do I get a year of jubilee?
While my head keeps telling me things are getting better, my heart reflects the lies I still believe. That’s why I love doing prayer ministry in a community of like-hearted people who can help me recognize and break free of old lies.
Today a friend did prayer ministry with me. I never could have imagined where God would take it.
I lamented that I can’t seem to break free of consequences of key decisions I made years ago when I behaved like a doormat. How I wish I could go back and change things, but I cannot. So how do I move forward?
In this prayer ministry session, I shared my heart, saying I know in my head that God is a good father and provider, but why do I feel like I’m still being punished for the mistakes I made? When will that end?
The Lord brought to my heart a memory of sixth grade. Our class was hoping for a field trip to Venetian Pools (Miami natives will know what I mean). We had to earn tickets for good behavior in the cafeteria, and we were on our last chance to get that field trip.
The Lord reminded me how the class lost our last ticket for bad behavior, but our teacher fought for us and got the longed-for ticket. We had our wonderful day at Venetian Pools.
The connection was clear: If a human teacher would fight for kids who honestly didn’t deserve the field trip, how much more would God fight for restoration for His daughter, even though I earned my consequences by being a doormat? He has not forgotten me. He has heard my repentance. He is moving mountains for me. Just because I can’t see those mountains doesn’t mean they aren’t moving.
During our prayer time, I also recognized that the enemy took advantage of my being a doormat, and he stole so much from me. Granted, I allowed it to be stolen. I didn’t stand up for myself, and I allowed the ground to be taken out from under me. But the enemy took advantage, and he knew what he was doing. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy, and he certainly did.
Worst of all, in my fear and passivity, I lay down as a bridge and let the enemy trample not only me, but also move into the circumstances and affect other people. I did nobody any favors by my lack of confrontation and standing in truth.
After repentance, I asked God how to move forward from here. He brought to mind a message He had given me more than 10 years ago, called “Just Stand.” I had saved it on my blog, so I read it again. Amazing how God can give you a message that will speak directly to you 10 years later. The friend who was praying with me kept saying, “Wow” at how closely the message spoke to me today.
I felt like God was showing me to take back the ground that was stolen by standing firmly in faith on that ground … as if it were already there. And watch how God redeems and restores.
Through this revelation, God changed my perspective on every part of my life today. Where I get frustrated and discouraged, where I feel futile because of what’s been lost, given away, or stolen, God would have me see instead how every action that’s focused on Him is retaking ground.
Even small actions where I get frustrated because they are so limited, God showed me how in the spirit realm every small action is retaking massive ground for His purposes in my life.
This changes how I look at everything. If I choose to stand in faith, my daily life isn’t futile. I’m not lost or penalized by the past. I’m standing on the ground God is restoring right under my feet. As I claim that ground in faith, He is moving mountains that affect not only me but others as well.
Where the enemy has lied to me each day, telling me I missed it and I’m up a creek, God tells me He is building solid ground under me and I get to participate by faith. I can’t wait to walk this out and see how different my heart will feel, and what God will do with those changes, now that I’ve realigned my heart with His truth.
Do not believe the lies the enemy tells you, no matter how real or logical they seem. Let God speak His truth to your heart and tell you how He is moving mountains for you and restoring your true identity. If you need help (we all do) recognizing lies and coming into truth, Transformations offers prayer ministry sessions like the one I had today that can help you discover and step into your true identity in Christ.
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Janet Eriksson is an intercessor, writer, and teacher in Dahlonega, Georgia. She loves conversation with friends, front porch swings, sweet tea, and spending time on lakes and rivers. The author of nine books and editor of many more, Janet blogs and teaches online at https://adventureswithgod.blog/.
