Change your Story

BE A LIGHT—Without Getting Burned

BY KIRSTIN LEIGH

Do you have a complicated relationship with someone you love? Do you get nervous before get-togethers and holidays just thinking of the “what-ifs”? Maybe you had an absent, abusive, or emotionally unavailable mom or dad. Whether it’s a rebellious child, a competitive sibling, or a friend who is making decisions you don’t agree with, most of us love someone who, at one point or another, is hard to love.

No matter what the situation is, the question remains: How do we brace ourselves in a godly way for the phone conversations, visits, and holidays? How can we be a light—without getting burned?

Before you embark on the tough conversations or the long road trip, here are few things to things to consider.

1. What are your motives? For instance, are you still trying to prove yourself? Is your goal to finally get them to admit they were wrong? Do you want something they are incapable of giving? Prior to “Changing My Story,” I wanted all these things and more!

   Our motives change when we fully forgive. But forgiveness is a process. There are many times I thought I had fully forgiven someone. And I had—to the extent that I could. But as we grow and heal, a deeper level of forgiveness is required.

   True forgiveness changes our motives. It changes the way we see people.

2. Ask God to help you see others through His eyes. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).

   We see who someone has become. God sees the person He created. Ask God for divine wisdom and, when possible, speak to the person God sees.

3. Remember, you are a change agent! Your presence can change the atmosphere. Don’t be led into the lion’s den. Lead the conversation. Turn it around when needed. Don’t go down dead-end roads. Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are (Proverbs 26:4 NLT).

4. You have a choice—sedate, medicate, or meditate on God’s Word. When preparing for conversations and visits that may be uncomfortable, do you sedate yourself with alcohol or binge on unhealthy food? Do you selfmedicate? Or do you meditate on God’s Word?

   Your answer doesn’t just Change Your Story. It changes others.

5. Dress appropriately. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people (Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV NIV).

   And when it comes to choosing your outfit, remember that love, humility, grace, and kindness always fit and look great!

Ephesians 2:10 says For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (NIV).

There are things in life that we choose. And there are things we absolutely did not and would not choose. Some of these things hurt much more than we ever admit. They have left scars on our hearts.

While scars are a part of our story, they don’t have to hurt anymore. Jesus can heal your deepest wounds. I promise. He can. But we have to let Him. And we have to work with Him. And when we do…

We can be a light without getting burned. We can be God’s hands and feet. His voice. His vessel. We can leave a legacy of love and changed lives.

After running away from her dreams and battling addictions for over a decade, Kirstin Leigh is now an acclaimed author, speaker, recovery coach, and the founder of The Change Your Story Workshop, a 9 week program that offers a faith based, holistic approach to Breaking Free from what’s breaking you, and Discovering how Purpose is the Key to Breakthrough. For more information or to enroll: www. thechangeyourstoryworkshop.com To find out more about Kirstin: www.Kirstinleigh.com

JESUS CAN HEAL YOUR DEEPEST WOUNDS. I PROMISE. HE CAN. BUT WE HAVE TO LET HIM.