Emotionally Healthy Woman Quit #3: Quit Dying to the Wrong Things

Intro:

Reflect on last week

Practice Truth scenarios

What are some descriptive words of many Christians today?

Tired, frustrated, resentful, burned out

Do you think this speaks of a happy fulfilled life?

Why do you think this is the experience of several Christians?

They are dying to the wrong things—we are going to look at our third Quit—Quit Dying to the Wrong Things

Dying to the wrong things means depriving yourself of God-given gifts and pleasures that nurture your unique life in Him.

What are some things people enjoy?

Music

handwork

boating

fishing

art

outdoors

When you set aside the things God has created you to enjoy, or devalue activities that cause you to feel alive—you’re dying to the wrong things.

Mark 8:34 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Mark 8:34 NLT

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

What are some ways we can lose who we are as far as personality and the unique individuals God has created us to be?

One way is the applying incorrect context to Scripture such as the verse we just read.

1—Never saying no

Have you noticed that God has set boundaries around every living things? What are some of them?

We need rest/giftings/age

Our bodies and minds need rest/sleep—we have limits

2—Must have an active social calendar

The more we have on the calendar the better we feel about ourself.

What is Jesus’ example in this area?

Matthew 14:23 ESV

23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Mark 1:35 NLT

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Mark 6:46 NLT

46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Luke 5:16 NLT

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 6:12 NLT

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.

3—Feel the need to juggle several things without complaining

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

What does this mean?

Galatians 5:25 NLT

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

In order to Quit Dying to the Wrong Things, we need to

Discover Yourself

I need to be aware that I exist in two worlds—external and internal.

The external world includes the people to whom I relate and the things going on around me.

The internal world includes what is goin on inside—my thoughts, feelings, values, loves, beliefs, motivations.

Many are very aware of the external world.

Few of us devote adequate time for the reflection required to cultivate awareness of this interior world.

How?

Know Your Heart

We have to pay attention to the many thoughts and feelings going on inside.

Dag Hammarsjold—former secretary of the United Nations--

“We have become adept at exploring outer space, but we have not developed similar skills in exploring our own personal inner spaces. In fact the longest journey is the journey inward.”

circle of self

Knowing the depths of the heart isn’t easy; it requires work, often painful work.

It calls for openness to the Holy Spirit and time for reflection.

**Make a list of your dislikes and a list of your likes.

What is important to me? What do I value? What are my hopes, preferences, joys? What brings genuine delight?

Failing to acknowledge what is going on inside your heart eventually results in losing connection with yourself.

If you lose connection with yourself, you can easily step out of dependency on the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual growth and loving well then become virtually impossible.

Know Your Story

Our family leave imprints on our lives.

We must hold on to what is good.

“If we say we are in Christ’s family but continue to perpetuate unhealthy ways of living, we are fooling ourselves.”

We need to consider people outside of the family who have shaped us—coaches, pastors, teachers, etc.

What life message did you receive from family and those outside the family?

What does God say about those messages?

Know Your Personality

What gives you life? What drains you? what are your defense mechanisms? What drives you crazy?

There are two significant factors in knowing your personality.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

What tempts you to substitute for God’s love in an effort to secure your self-worth?

Introversion/Extroversion are about what energizes you.

Extroverts are energized by the outside world and by being with people.

Introverts are energized by their interior world and by being alone.

What is the source of your value and self-worth?

This refers to how you experience lovability and acceptability, along with what gives you a sense of power.

Two questions to help you get at the source of your value and self-worth:

What do you rely on for significance and meaning?

What core fears motivate your behavior?