People are the work!

Can you recall a time when you were being refined? Although for me it seems to be a constant, there are times in my life that the flames of my refinement are a bit more intense. Currently I am in one of those times. This year has been difficult for me. I cannot define or identify why exactly, but I just knew the way things were going was no longer working. This is usually a good indicator that some refining; or pruning if you will; needs to take place in my soul.

Enduring, persevering or basically surrendering to the idea of this can bring forth a multitude of "fruit" or maturity in ones life, this post will focus on just one moment I have had recently. It was when a friend of mine asked me to read through a list of lies that we commonly tell ourselves and pick a few to find a truth to. "OK! I can do this! I LOVE truth," I thought to myself. And this is true. Speaking truth into a persons life or a situation. The profound prayers spoken in so many song lyrics. Shattering a lie and claiming FREEDOM is such a warrior type thing to me, and we all know how much I love to warrior up!

As I stepped up ready to speak truth into these lies, a serious problem was revealed. I was not seeing a list of lies. "Well that's true. So is that. Um, that's not really a lie..." were the thoughts coming out of my mind; my heart.

I was lost, I have no idea what to do with this list of "true lies"? 

Being determined to pursue the breakthrough I knew I so desperately needed, I spoke a truth into my life and tried to read the list again. "Lord, help to identify which of these statements I tell myself the most, NOT rationalizing why I think they are true, but just admitting that this statement is an internal dialogue that is a part of me." As I read through the list again, I began to mark up the page pretty good. After a few more reads I managed to narrow it down to what I felt were my big three statements that are currently affecting my thought life, and therefore my actions.

The first one is a deep wound that I have known is a lie for some time. Still it echos in my soul as the world feeds it with its judgement and critical spirits on a regular basis. Honestly I am not ready to talk about it yet, as I have no idea what the truth is. Another one that rang out to me, prompted more and more questions. More of a hopeful quest that the first one, still just a lot more to think through before I can articulate any TRUTH over it.

"People's emotions and needs are messy and get in the way of work," was the last one I decided to write down. Seriously though, how is this a lie? Sounds true to me. Reaching out to my friend I asked her, "How can I find a truth when I don't think it is a lie?" That is when I remembered her clarifying, "just because something is true, does not make it THE TRUTH." Huh?!?

The next two days I mediated; searching my heart, and the word on what the truth could be. I asked God to reveal to me, what is this truth that I need hear to comprehend this statement as a lie? 

After about a day I came up with "People need to know you care, before they care what you know." A good statement for sure, but I could tell that my heart was not satisfied with this. This was something I had come up with to combat the lie. It was not THE TRUTH that was going to set me free. Then out of no where these four words hit my heart as I heard them spoken clear as day, "People are the work!" The statement forced me to stop and be still, as there was nothing left to rationalize, argue or clear away. The statement was a truth. Powerful, non-debatable, eye opening, soul quenching truth.

I am now working to speak this truth as loudly and as often as I can. Meditating on its deeply profound beauty. I praise my God for giving this me, and hope it will be used wisely to refine me. Stay tuned...