The Fight for Freedom in Our Families

This girl. Her brain is like Velcro. She remembers everything. I'm trying not to exaggerate but I think everything is a pretty accurate descriptor. When she was 2 1/2 we went downtown for an allergist appointment for her brother. Many months later we were driving up Centre Street with a view of downtown. She says, "Mom, I see the town! That's where Jonah's allergist appointment was. Remember?" When she was almost 2 and Rebecca Black was having her hit, this girl had her own version, "Fiday, Fiday, Sam's tumin' ovah Fiday, Fiday!" Almost a year later we were talking about what day of the week it as. She pipes, up, "Is Sam coming over Friday mommy?" There are many more examples but I won't bore you. Velcro. You get the idea. 

On Saturday we were driving and both big kids were chatting. Almost every sentence started with, "Mom, on Secret Life of Pets..." Every sentence. 

Light bulb mom moment. Hey, since my daughter can remember EVERYTHING, why not teach her to memorize truth from God's Word instead of one liners from movies? 

I look in the rear view mirror and say, "Repeat after me. Ephesians 6:1. "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." Good one, right?  We've been repeating it for the last couple days and she's getting it.

Tonight as I'm stirring dinner, she comes up behind, me and says,"Mommy, I have to tell you something but I think you're gonna be mad." 

Me:  You know you can always tell me anything right? I won't be mad.

Her: "I always have this idea that comes into my brain that says, ha ha, you're not the boss Mom and Dad. Like when you say we have no stories or need discipline." 

(Did I mention she's my strong-willed child?)

I stopped stirring and said, "I'm so glad you told me this. Is the idea that comes into your brain the truth?" (She shakes her head no.) 

We had lots of good conversations this evening. We talked about the verse we're learning. We talked about why God would want children to obey their parents, and what God has made parents responsible for. We talked about how when an idea comes into her mind that is a lie, to say this isn't true, because God says... Truth is the only way to change your thinking.

I told her I'm so happy that she shared that with me even though she was scared because the Truth sets us free.

I marvel at how God can be teaching me and my 4- year old the same thing. 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ."

She was hearing a lie. I hear them too. She voiced hers. I can't even remember the first time I believed some of mine or why. 

The lies we believe can be so deeply rooted and ingrained into who we are that we don't even recognize that they are "arguments and pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God." They fly under our own radar because they're woven into our personalities.

We don't know any different. We've always been this way. We've always reacted that way. We've always been sensitive to that thing. We've always been afraid of that. But have we ever asked why? 

When we cannot even recognize the lies and false beliefs that are fueling our thoughts, words, actions and habits, how are we to take them captive? I've encountered many lies lately in my own heart and mind and in conversation with others. 

This has been my prayer: God bring to the light anything that is in the darkness. Thoughts, beliefs, fears, lies... anything that is fueling my thoughts, words, actions and habits. Anything that is hindering freedom and abundant life in You, bring it to the light.

When things come to the light, good things happen. Forgiveness. Healing, Correction. Freedom. Life.

I dare you to pray the same. 

I want the truth to be what sticks in her mind like Velcro. And mine too!