permission to break through
Well hey there, friend!
I don’t know if you caught this week’s podcast episode – Permission to Break Through (it’s Episode 002), but I’ll tell you who shows up – Tough Love Lisa.
Tough Love Lisa is pretty passionate about breaking through. And there’s a reason for that! It was (and continues to be) in the breaking through that I found just so much freedom to become the woman God created me to be.
Just take a look at Hebrews 12:1-3:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
The Message Version starts it like this:
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.”
The Passion Translation has a couple great pieces that I wanted to pull out as well. It says, “So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into.” And it says this about Jesus, “We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!”
His heart was focused on the JOY that YOU, yes YOU would be His. And that’s our example of how to do this work – and the why behind the work – for the JOY that you ARE HIS and are inviting others to be HIS as well! We’ve got to do the work!
Paul knew that a lot of junk stands in the way of us doing the work. It’s too hard. It’s too heavy. It’s painful. And that’s why he gives this encouragement. We’ve got clouds of witnesses cheering us on – rooting for us to run this race, but the work is hard. Not just the work of running, but the work of getting rid of our extra spiritual fat. Breaking ties with our parasitic sins.
That’s the work. Throw off everything that hinders – get rid of anything that’s slowing us down! What is it for you? What’s weighing you down? What’s tying you up, what’s keeping you trapped? “I would run, but it’s almost impossible running while carrying around this 100 pound pack of guilt and shame from my first marriage.” “I mean, I could walk a little quicker, but my legs are actually tied up with the regrets of making that pretty monstrous mistake back in college.” “I mean, I would start running, but I wouldn’t last because pretty soon it would be pretty obvious that I have a pesky little drinking problem.”
Throw off everything that hinders. You absolutely cannot stay stuck in sinful patterns of thinking, of doing, of self-medicating. Those are not meant to take up permanent residence in you. Do the work to break those chains.
What that looks like is different for each one of us, but you can start here:
1. Identify what is holding you back or keeping you stuck: You probably already know what it is…I mean, right?! It could be something “obvious” like addiction or something a little more sneaky, like grief, pride, vanity.
2. Sit for a while and ask God what’s keeping you from becoming who He created you to be. Just ask Him. Pay attention to those thoughts that surface. You probably already know the sin part (that was step 1) – but it’s just as important to get to the root of the issue and start believing what’s true about you than it is to stop a behavior that’s keeping you from your best.
3. Take action on a plan. What’s the very next right thing you can do? Make a plan with baby steps and stick to it! One tiny moment at a time. Celebrate every small victory and forgive any small defeat! Remember, this is hard work!!!
But do the work. And talk to those closest to you, so you’re never alone in this process. And then, even as you’re doing the work (because, newsflash, the work will be slow and continual – we’re humans, just FYI)…move on to becoming who you were created to be.
It’s just so important! We need you out there, sweet friend! And we need you running.
If you’re ready to have a conversation about this, let’s! First, be sure you’ve listened to or watched this episode of the Megaphone Podcast! And then, jump on social media or use the comment section below to ask questions and get some support!
Cheering you on!
Lisa
P.S. You’re going to want to listen to this podcast conversation below or find it on your favorite podcast platform. And if you’re in the mood to watch the shenanigans unfold, subscribe to the YouTube channel. You won’t be sorry.