Barefoot Devotions, The How To Series

How To Overcome Rejection: The Life Killer

At some point in our lives, we have all experienced a form of rejection.  This could be early in life by a parent, a friend, a breakup, or simply not being allowed to sit at the cool kid’s table.  Rejection has shaped and changed us and in some cases, it has prevented us from becoming who God called us to be!

Here is part of my story: My Story | Rejected To Perfection

Rejection hurts but the way we confront this action is crucial in order to live a happy and healthy life.  If we do not confront rejection then it hides in our heart waiting for the next chance to come out and wreak havoc on your life.

Here is part of my story: Stronghold Discovery: Rejected To Perfection

The longer we spend believing the lies of rejection and allowing them to dictate our decisions,  we waste our life that God has given us to live happy, free, and healthy.  We will live in a reality that is based on lies from the enemy and we survive on coping mechanisms instead of relying on God’s truths.

YOU ARE HOPELESSYOU ARE USELESSYOU CAN'T DO THISYOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH YOU WILL FAILYOU ARE NOT A NEW PERSON

Have you ever made a decision based on the fact that you are afraid you will fail? Or people will laugh at you if you mess up? Instead of stepping out of your comfort zone,  you decide that you will make the decision that will make you the most comfortable without fear of being rejected.

Do you overreact or lash out in anger during certain situations? Have you ever found yourself wondering why you act in such a way?

If so this is for you!

Here Are Some Examples Of Rejection:

  • Being dumped by a boyfriend/girlfriend
  • Being left out of a group of friends
  • A parent that was not in your life
  • Divorce
  • Infidelity
  • Death of a loved one

Fruits Produced As A Result Of Being Rejected:

  • Rebellion – Aggressiveness, Stubbornness, Defiance, Abusive Behaviors
  • Pride and Arrogance
  • Feeds fears, anxieties, worries, and negativity.
  • Self Mindset: Rejection – Low or No Self Esteem and Inadequacy or Protection of self: Self-centered, pity and selfishness.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 | We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. 

Steps To Overcoming Your Fear Of Being Rejected:

  • Repent, Pray and Seek God for deliverance and healing.
  • Accept and Act what God reveals to you.
  • BELIEVE and CLAIM God’s truth for your life
  • Learn scriptures and believe what God’s word says. You’ll need these to fight the lies that will keep popping up in your mind!
  • Forgive those who rejected you and move on!
  • LIVE in God’s truth and WALK in God’s truth (this is putting His truths in action when the time comes – we are bound to be rejected again).
  • Get out of your comfort zone and do something daring for God! Ask Him and He will show you the way. 

Colossians 1:14 | For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

You are redeemed and you are free from your bondage. Don’t live in it! Step out of it and into God’s truth and flourish! 

2 Timothy 1:7 | As I battled my fears, I knew I had to stand on God’s truth, and you do too. The fear I felt was not from God, so every time it crept into my thinking, I had to remind myself, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

P.S. Did you enjoy this post? Be sure to share on your social media feeds to help those who may benefit from this How-To guide.

You might also enjoy this How-To Guide pertaining to strongholds of the mind:

How To Slay Your Mental Strongholds

Be sure to let me know what you discover about yourself or tips you may have, I love hearing from y’all!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Barefoot Devotions

My Story | Rejected To Perfection

Three Days Ago

It’s Friday, everyone should be happy right? I have felt off all day but I kept telling myself that it was because my mom was having surgery and I was uneasy since I wasn’t there.  Then the enemy popped in and reminded that it is because I can’t control the situation in case something went wrong.  As he placed this thought into my mind,  I kept thinking of every situation that could go wrong.  Luckily, my sister called and let me know that my aunt and uncles were at the hospital with my mom.  Immediately, I was relieved because I knew they were praying and would be there for my mom.  I prayed and submitted my concerns to God and told Him it’s better that He has the control instead of little ‘ol me.  Done. Submitted to God.  Let’s get this day started!

Wrong. I guess the devil didn’t like that I didn’t open his package.

The day continued with screaming kids – wilder and louder than normal.  Figures.

I thought that getting “ready” would make me feel better.  I put on real pants that you can wear in public, makeup, and was about to curl my hair.  Then I looked into the mirror.

As I looked at myself,  I didn’t feel good about what was looking back at me. My make up didn’t go on smoothly, my blemishes were still there, and my flaws were showing.  I was not on point.  If you know me,  you know this is out of character for me.  If I leave the house,  I am always dressed to impress, makeup perfect, hair perfect, and completely accessorized.

All I wanted to do was make a video and talk more about strongholds and get “ready” for the day.

One minute in and I turned the camera off.  It was turning into an unknown testimony that I didn’t know I even had.

I said, “Screw it, I’m scrubbing my face.”  Yes, out loud as I stomped to my bathroom.  I scrubbed. Harder than I should have but maybe the harder I scrubbed the flaws would fade.  I was angry and upset that I was struggling with the blemishes on my skin, with my weight that I allowed to get out of control, with my hair color that has faded, and my overplucked eyebrows that are now growing in gray.

I entered into a conversation with God, “Why do I cover myself with makeup? Why at this very moment do I hate everything about me? Am I really this flawed? I thought I was supposed to be fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The Revelation

He revealed why I dress the way I do and why everything has to be perfect. He revealed why I was so unhappy with myself at that moment.  Then came the cause.

It’s an illusion of being perfect that I strive for because somewhere along the way of living with an addict,  I thought that if I sit pretty, look pretty, and act pretty then maybe my dad wouldn’t leave me for the next binge or the next prison sentence.  Maybe if I was pretty enough and made everything perfect enough then I could mask our dysfunctions and everything would appear to be as a happy and functioning family.  I didn’t realize that I spent my whole life trying to cover up every flaw that came up in life because it was learned at such an early age it appeared to be normal.

At this point, my flesh wanted to run and say, “Nope, not today!” If I was at any other stage in my life, I probably would have.  This is why God chose this moment in my life to reveal this to me because I was at a point of needing freedom.  At this moment, John 8:32 became so real to me – the truth does set you free indeed.  I’ve surrendered my life to Him because He gave His for me and if this is what He needs to me to do to move forward, then I will.  Now that I am aware of this action that comes so normal to me,  I can act when certain situations arise because I know the enemy will throw this back in my face.  When he does, I can say, “Nope, that is a lie!”

John 8:32 | “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Truth Sets You Free

When you look in the mirror and acknowledge the person who you didn’t want to become, the person you don’t like then we can then confront the issues, then confront the underlying strongholds with the truth.  It isn’t pretty but once you accept what it revealed to you,  and surrender to God then you can be changed.  Don’t live in the lies, there is bondage.  Acknowledge the truth and you will be set free!

Previous blog mentioned in the video:

How To Slay Your Mental Strongholds

 Raw and Real Footage After My Revelation: 

VIDEO: Stronghold Discovery: Rejected to Perfection

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

P.S. Be sure to share with your friends across your social media networks to pass the word.

Barefoot Devotions

Stronghold Discovery: Rejected To Perfection

I have recorded and uploaded a raw and real video regarding strongholds that I struggle with.  I would love for you to check out this VLOG and see if it resonates with you as well.  I was prompted to do a video after my last blog but my plan was replaced with this instead.

Here is the Slayin’ Mental Strongholds Blog: How To Slay Your Mental Strongholds

Here is what God has revealed to me since then:

My YouTube Channel

 

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions, The How To Series

How To Slay Your Mental Strongholds

I am going to be writing about my experience with mental strongholds and how I overcame the chains of anxiety and depression that ruled my life.  This is a very sensitive subject but after many weeks of talking myself out of writing this, I am doing it.  This comes from my experience and how I decided to battle these strongholds with the word of God, prayer, and a relationship with Jesus.  After years of depression and anxiety,  I realized that it was my outlook on my circumstances and the perspective that I had.  That perspective was steaming from the enemy and the lies he told me about me.


Lets Start By Defining A Stronghold:

Biblically speaking a stronghold is a belief that is a lie and has taken root and overpowered your ability to think or see clearly according to God’s view and what His word tells us.  This effects you emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.

Lets Look At The Cause Of Strongholds:

It is so easy to get caught up in negativity, a false belief system,  doubts, fear, and our circumstances.  We are trained by the media, by people, and the ways of the world to live and think according to their standards.  We must accept that we fight against unseen spiritual forces of the dark world and that this world is ruled by the dark forces.  Yes, that means demons and malicious spirits that are causing affliction in your mind, on you, and to you.  They have stealthily found a way inside of your mind and they are trying to take over.  Perhaps they already have.

For a cause to take place, there has to be a sin or a circumstance that negatively affected you.  Therefore, that leaves you dealing with the effects.  This could be your sin or even someone else’s sin that has altered your way of thinking and your way of doing things.  If you are unable to let things go, the memory that haunts you can have a negative impact on your life.  If we allow a certain thought to replay in our mind, we start to believe that thought.

Here is an example:  As a child and young adult, I experienced rejection from my dad who was an addict.  Although it was not intentional, his addiction stronghold was the cause of my rejection stronghold.

Ephesians 6:10 | For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Identifying Your Strongholds:

Identifying the areas in your mind that are strongholds require you to take examine your life – the past and present.  It can be uncomfortable at first but as we know from God’s Word, the truth sets you free! Once you begin to identify and see the parallels, you will rejoice in knowing the cause of your afflictions and reasons of why you think or do something a certain way.

Here is a list of the most common strongholds relating to the mind:

(Be in prayer with the Heavenly Father, ask Him to reveal yours to you, and be open to listening to His answer)

  • Rejection
  • Fear
  • Doubt
  • Shame
  • Hopelessness
  • Worthlessness
  • Negativity
  • Anger

Lets Look At The Solutions:

Now that we have identified what a stronghold is and the cause, let us start taking a look at how we tear down the strongholds and replace them with God’s truth about you.

First, you must repent and turn from any sin that is unconfessed.  Once we have done so we will be able to break free from any sin that is causing negative effects.  You must remember that God has already won the battle and you must have faith to fight through.

Second, you must know and accept that God is sovereign.  He is the supreme authority and all things are under His control.  Without Him, you can not win. You need Him to fight a supernatural battle.

Third, you must believe and accept that you are forgiven, our sins and past are washed away by the blood of Jesus! You have the power to live free in Christ.  This is His desire for you!

2 Corinthians 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Fourth, you must act!

Great! So, how do you act?

This will require you to put your faith in action and when you experience the enemy placing thoughts or past memories into your mind, you must exercise your authority in Jesus Christ to reject your past way of thinking and replace your thoughts with all good things that are of Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 |  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

Accepting The Past Is The Past

Unfortunately, the enemy knows about who you were and all the things you have done and said that you are not proud of. There will come a day when he is smearing it in your face and putting every sordid detail back into your mind.

When you start remembering the past, you must stop replaying past memories. You can not allow yourself to be controlled by your past – no matter how painful and haunting it is! It happened and it can not be changed! Get your head out of the past and strain your neck to look forward into your future! Your past is not there!

Philippians 3:13-14  | Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Renewing Your Mind

Romans 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

You must ask the LORD to guard your mind and to help you keep your mind focused on what is right in the eyes of Him.

Every day you have to wash and bathe in God’s living word.  It refreshes you and each day you will learn something new about the characteristics of God and how he truly feels about you! To renew your mind is to spend time with the LORD, read the Bible, and pray daily!

Taking Every Thought Captive

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 | For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Every thought that comes to mind must be tested. Ask yourself – is it from our loving Heavenly Father or is it from Satan who is set out to steal, kill, and destroy?

With God there is life.

With Satan there is death.

With God there is truth.

With Satan there are lies.

With God there is hope.

With Satan there is hopelessness.

With God there is a future.

With Satan there is a past.

With God there is confidence.

With Satan there is fear and doubt.

With God there is boldness and bravery.

Life TruthHopeFreedomFutureConfidence BravenessBoldness (1)

Ask yourself, does this thought come from God or Satan?

If it comes from Satan, then you need to hold that thought captive, pray and ask God to slay this thought and replace it with His truths.  Seek His word and learn what He says in scripture.  Rejoice and praise God for the truth that He is replacing in your life.  Slowly, you will see just how each thought, especially thoughts that seem to be on repeat can cause depression, anxiety, and fear!

Xoxo,

Hannah B.

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this blog and if you did be sure to leave a comment down below and share across all of your social media feeds!

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor and encourage you to seek professional help to determine what is best for your situation and I am not encouraging you to stop current treatments.  I do believe that with physicians and the hands of our great physician, you can be healed! Almost always, there is a root cause and I do believe that we need to get down into the roots to properly heal.