Often there are vulnerabilities in our lives that, looking back, we have had hints of along the way but they did not seem life-threatening. These vulnerabilities are exploited in different ways in different souls.
For some, vulnerabilities are exposed through rejection.
For others, through the offer of longed-for-acceptance.
For some, stress and pressure.
For others, time on their hands.
For some, disappointment and anger.
Yet others are most vulnerable following great successes.
How our vulnerabilities are exposed can give insight into how our vulnerabilities were formed.
When startled by our own vulnerability, it is a wise use of prayer space to ask Father God if we have struggled (knowingly or unknowingly) with a lack of mental discipline in the use of our imaginations. What I find personally and as a mentor is that we are all very vulnerable to using our imaginations to “relax,” to picture a different, better, more exciting, more peaceful…reality when the one we perceive ourselves to be expe
riencing.
We tend to think of these imaginations as harmless and perhaps even a form of stress-relief. But untruth creates deadly fault lines in our souls. If our minds are used to going places that are not within God’s current realities for us (which is a different matter than simply being visionary or planning for the future…), then when approached with a suggestion, our mental boundaries are porous–more like a colander than a fortress–and our past lack of mental discipline suddenly becomes a catalyst exponentially taking us down roads we never thought we would ever choose.
(For more on this theme, you may want to read Chapter 37 of Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years and Yours)
Thank you, Alicia, for sharing this thought with us. I often struggle wishing I had made better choices in the past. Dreaming of how beautiful my life would be if only I had lived differently. When I am disciplined enough to focus on Jesus instead of the waves crashing around me I am able to see clearly and make healthy choices for today. I never thought of it as having a disciplined mind. That idea gives a different perspective and refreshed purpose to my thought life, which is so very easy to ignore.
Julia L.
It’s so easy for all of us to drift to “what if.” Julia, your statement is powerful: “when I am disciplined enough to focus on Jesus instead of the waves…” Yes, Jesus’ presence in known in this present moment. He grounds us in grace for what is real. Peace to you.
Wow, this totally spoke to a place I’m in right now. Thank you for the example of a colander. So profound.
Thank you, Jessica, for taking the time to read and comment. Yep–just this morning I was feeling a little sad about a friendship and had to choose to keep my mind stayed on what actually is reality in the friendship (however painful) instead of what I wished the reality of that friendship would be (however beautiful). Reality is a friend of intimacy with God.