Fitness: Inside and Out

"Transformation is only valid if it is carried out with the people, not for them. Liberation is like a childbirth, and a painful one. The person who emerges is a new person: no longer either oppressor or oppressed, but a person in the process of achieving freedom. It is only the oppressed who, by freeing themselves, can free their oppressors.” - Paulo Freire

The above photo and quote was shared over 25 times on Facebook from Paula Hannah’s wall. (You ROCK Paula!) I shared it on my personal page as well. Not only were the “before” and “after” photos inspiring, but the words in the left image spoke to a place that, unfortunately, I personally dwelled in for a long time.

Rejection

Bitterness

Unforgiveness

Shame

I can go really deep on this blog to demonstrate my point, but I will say this: Dealing with the root of rejection, in turn sprouted bitterness, unforgiveness and shame. It popped up in various areas of my life, both internally and externally. It showed up in my disposition when I perceived ANY form of rejection. Holding on to bitterness was a barrier to developing meaningful relationships. Unforgiveness, in short, was my emotional prison. Shame was the fuzzy cloud that I walked in if that makes sense. Even after I gave my life to Christ I still carried a lot of these labels.

Let me tell you, GOD is a healer and restorer! This is not a catchy phrase. YOU have to be REAL with yourself and real with God. He sees all anyway so why try to hide?

God dealt with me over time in layers. When I believed that I was healed from one area of my life, He brought another one before me to confront. All of these offenses were interconnected and had hardened my heart over time. I also asked God for forgiveness and prayed for the people that I have hurt in the past as well.

I love the themes on the right side of the photo!

Empowered

Renewed

Rebirth

Planted

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

I can BE spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially healthy!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am a NEW creature in Christ.

Regardless of the lies spoken over my life.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

I can not continue to dwell on the world’s negative thought processes.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night. ³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3

Where are you planted?