How are you defined?

There's nothing more aggravating than being told I can't do something. For the right or wrong of it, those words tend to bring out the rebel child in me and make me strive even harder to accomplish my best, regardless of the final outcome.

A little over a week ago, I was on the phone with a tech guy. I told him what I was attempting and that I knew what I was trying to accomplish could be done, I just didn't know how. He was helpful where he was legally obligated to help, but then his attitude changed and his sarcasm built an immediate fire within me... As he was hysterically laughing at me, he stated "you will never figure this out on your own" in a sarcastic tone.

Over the next 24 hours, his words repeated in my head over and over, and  made me feel defeated and dumb. I noticed I was beginning to accept his words of defeat before I had even given it a shot. To add insult to injury, my mind reflected back to the times I heard similar words over the years.

Then, something clicked in my head...

It was like a light turned on in the moments of my dark thinking...My friend asked me "What's bothering you Anna?"  As I started speaking words of defeat, confirming how this tech guy made me feel, I heard "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 3:27)" whispered within my own thoughts. I was thinking dumb, thus feeling dumb! Yeah, I said it! But, it didn't mean I was or am dumb!

I started talking to God, asking Him for help in this situation and asked myself, "who does God say I am?" I became very selective on what I was now allowing myself to accept about myself. I began quoting scriptures and reciting them over and over in my head. And whether I was ever able to accomplish this task by myself or not was no longer my concern... That I tried, and gave MY best is all that mattered to ME! This tech guy doesn't know me – but God does, and that's all that matters...

So yeah, there I sat in my comfy chair the next morning looking at the device that wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. As I looked at the task at hand, I knew I had a "way out" and could do the easy and more intelligent thing to do in this particular situation – call someone who knows what they're doing and just let them fix it...but, I choose to give it my personal best and see where that got me. Needless to say, 2 full days of reading countless web pages, several youtube videos and trial and errors and guess what... I FIGURED IT OUT! IT'S WORKING!

No, it doesn't always turn out like this and I'm ecstatic (and blessed) that it turned out as it did. I am convinced this was God giving me a big hug for remembering Him, and who He created me to be rather than continueing to allow the devil free reign in my thoughts and belief of who I am.

I could have continued to accept those words the devil tried to tell me through some random tech guy. I could have allowed to let his words beat me up and bring me down. I could have believed his inaccurate statement, let it ruin my day and possibly impact others around me...but as I have been taught, and believe in my heart, it's MY choice whether to allow this, or not.

I'm finding that the more I bring God into my moments, regardless of how big or small, the better the outcome. So yes, even in times when others think I'm being rediculous by asking God to help me with something others might see as trivial, I'm finding more and more blessings and favor...and this makes me smile!

How many times have you encountered situations similar?  How many trimes in your weight loss journey has someone came into the picture to ruin your momentum, stop your progress, or discourage you? 1 Peter 5:8 warns us that the devil is like a lion seeking who he may devour. A lion doesn't kill indiscriminately, nor merely because it's his nature; but only when it suits his purpose, and when he thinks he has a reasonable chance of success with minimal resistance. Without knowledge of who you are in Christ, you become weakened and game to our enemy.

I encourage you all to take the time each day, and throughout your day, to remind yourself exactly who God says you are and knowledge yourself in the Word. Know how you are defined. If what you're feeling, thinking, or hearing isn't in line with who God says you are, then I encourage you to bring those things in line with the Word and stand firm on His Word.

God promises to complete the good work He began in you... And as my Pastor says, God's word trumps all others!

Have a blessed and happy Monday!

Coach Anna

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* Individual results may vary.