In the first part I outlined the defeatist mentalities that we can easily assume if we harbor this lie. Then I described two of the foundational truths we need to believe to overcome these deadly lifestyles. In this part 2, I’ll go into the meaning and practice of the third and final truth: that we must take up our own cross.
Lie: I am defeated.
Truth: We now share in the final triumph of Christ.
We’ve all felt defeated, either because of weaknesses or sins or failures or a general lack of achievement. The recording in our heads plays an endless loop: ‘you’re lame, worthless, useless, an all-around failure,’ and then the refrain follows – ‘and nothing will ever, ever change.’ Many Christians see no way to switch it off because, in most cases, the reasons for us to feel lame, worthless, useless and a failure, happen to be true. And simply trying to forgive ourselves or tell ourselves that we’re victims of the human condition or even ‘sinners saved by grace,’ doesn’t really help.
Inevitably, this defeated mentality produces some easily predictable lives . . .
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