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Change you heart and live free
17 Plays1 year ago
So many of us live stuck. Stuck in negativity. We feel like things can't change. Reading through Deuteronomy this week led me to 7 tips to help us live more free. The Israelites are no longer enslaved, but are they living free? As they wait to enter the promise land Moses is going through what the Israelites have been through. He is also encouraging them- something we all need! Listen to hear the tips, and really take in the hope and freedom there is in Jesus.
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Transcript
Introduction: Exploring the Bible and Mental Health
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fillingyouupwithhope
Hi, it's Abby from Filling You Up with Hope. I'm so glad that you're here for another episode where we go through the Bible, we explore it, we talk about mental health things, and we just find hope.
Moses' Journey and Encouragement to the Israelites
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fillingyouupwithhope
We started in Genesis, now we're in Deuteronomy, and Moses is kind of chronicling going through what has happened to the Israelites and he's encouraging them. This is before they enter the promised land. So there's so much good stuff today, and I think it's gonna make you feel more free, what which we all need. um so But I was thinking, so this is about that, how we can live more free and not as stuck.
Personal Growth: Lessons from Gran Torino
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fillingyouupwithhope
And when I was thinking about preparing for this,
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fillingyouupwithhope
I was thinking about who is someone who I feel like like is living stuck, just stuck in negativity. And I thought of a really, really good movie that I recommend. It's Graham Torino with Clint Eastwood. And my husband knows. I love movies where there's a change of heart. I love a change of heart.
00:01:28
fillingyouupwithhope
And that's what you get in this movie. And he starts out at the beginning, very grumpy, um grieving for his wife who died and just very stuck in his waist, very stuck in his waist. And there is personal growth in this movie. And that's what I love. And as like a therapist, I have to believe in personal growth. But as Christians,
00:01:56
fillingyouupwithhope
sorry my son just came in his tooth came out so he had to tell me that
Acknowledging Rebellion and Brokenness
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fillingyouupwithhope
but so he so there's personal growth and that's what like we all need and are looking for and these are just tips for that that we're going to go through that are based in Deuteronomy now the first thing and when we're starting in Deuteronomy well we're not starting in Deuteronomy we've been going through it for a few weeks we're in um in Deuteronomy 9 23 And 24 is the verses. But what it's about, Moses is telling the Israelites, look at the things you have done. Look at your hearts. Look at how you've fallen short.
00:02:39
fillingyouupwithhope
um Here we go. You disobeyed the Lord your God. The Lord your God's command. You didn't trust him. You didn't obey God's voice. You've been rebellious towards the Lord from the day I met you.
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fillingyouupwithhope
so it's
00:02:58
fillingyouupwithhope
It's kind of harsh, isn't it? But the first step, and I feel like with the gospel too, we need to know that we are broken, right? God did not come to help the healthy people. He came to help the sick people. If we've got it all together, then then we're kidding ourselves because we all have room for personal growth and we all need a savior.
00:03:27
fillingyouupwithhope
So, um and we've all been like the Israelites and had this heart problem, right? of And ah really from the beginning of time, from Adam and Eve and taking from that the the tree that they weren't supposed to, right? we We are rebellious and stubborn and selfish. And and we fell short. We can't stay stuck in this shame.
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fillingyouupwithhope
which so many of us are living in.
Shame and the Potential for Change
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fillingyouupwithhope
We can't stay stuck stuck in that. I'm doing a training about shame right now and it's so good. It affects our body, our mind, our soul when we're stuck in shame. And we don't have to live that way. Our brains are amazing. You know, it's when we're stuck and we're living like Clint Eastwood at the beginning of Gran Torino, the neurons are engraved in those pathways. They have been living negatively and stuck for a long time. And of course, because of that, it feels like this is just the way that I am. I'm stubborn. I am um whatever it is. ae and selfish i I am I like to complain. I like to gossip. ah Nothing goes my way.
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fillingyouupwithhope
whatever it is, it's all or nothing thinking, which we know is a thinking error. And we know that ah a lot of ah lot of us think this way, but it's it's not healthy, it's not good for us. And it's not when you know God's love for you, it's not your thinking, right? Because there is freedom, when and that's what we're talking about with these seven different tips to live more free, right? um When we really know his love for us, there is a freedom. And it doesn't mean that we're not gonna have this thinking sometimes, that we're not gonna have shame sometimes, and we're not gonna have those negative things. It means that we know deep down that there is a way out. There is always a way out. And um that's that's what the second, so the first one is,
00:05:52
fillingyouupwithhope
is that we need to acknowledge that we that we all fall short. We need to know that we need God, right? That's the first tip for living more free. The second tip is that we need to know that we can change, that we aren't stuck.
Believing in Personal Change: Spiritual and Scientific Insights
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fillingyouupwithhope
And we know this, Matthew 3, 2, John said, John the Baptist, change your heart and lives because God's kingdom is now very near. Change your heart and life. So he's telling us that we have that ability. And we do. And our bodies are made that way. Our brain is amazing. What they have learned with epigenetics that even our genes, even if you're likely, if you're, let's say you have the gene that predisposes you towards addiction, which is a real thing. Let's say you have, you have that, guess what? you It does not mean that that gene is turned on.
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fillingyouupwithhope
and you are destined to be an addict addict. No, environment and our attitude, like these things affect our brain, our body, everything. Our our body isn't stuck.
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there there like Change is possible. And we have that, and and and it's a renewing of the mind and spirit.
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fillingyouupwithhope
Like that is possible and we we really need to know that that we can change. And it's hard because we often, like we want to change other people and we want we want that we want that to happen. And obviously we know we can't do that. We can pray for them, but we what we we need to remind ourselves like we talk about what we do have control over.
00:07:48
fillingyouupwithhope
And what we do have control over is these tips, right, of um focusing on God and his goodness, no matter what we're going through. So, oh, and it goes down. Okay. So we we did do an around me nine 23 and 24, which was, you know, going through that we fell short.
00:08:17
fillingyouupwithhope
And then we go down to Deuteronomy 10 and 12. Now, in light of all of that, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you?
God's Constant Love and Personal Transformation
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fillingyouupwithhope
Only this, to the revere the Lord your God by walking in all of his ways, by loving him, by serving the Lord your God with all of your heart and being. That is what we have control over.
00:08:39
fillingyouupwithhope
Like what does God, that he loves us, no matter, even this rebelling spirit, because people hear that. And you know what we read at the beginning about from the day I met you, you have been so stubborn, right? So rebellious, so stubborn. And like I said, that leads to shame. That leads to shame um when we say stuck in that.
00:09:04
fillingyouupwithhope
So we need to, we need to know this freedom and we need to know that look, even in light of all of that, God still loves you. God loves you so much. Even though all of us, like we could write a novel of all of the ways we've fallen short, but there's, we, we have a loving God who wants us to walk with him and to love him. And we have that freedom. And so, um,
00:09:33
fillingyouupwithhope
And I love this, in verse, if we go down a couple verses to Deuteronomy 10, 16, so circumcise your heart. And it's telling us the whole theme, circumcise is a change, it's a change of the body, right? So change, change your heart, right? And if you don't know how to do that, which we don't, we have to call out to God and He will help us and He will guide us.
00:10:04
fillingyouupwithhope
But we need to know from what John is telling us that change is possible. Change is possible. And like I said, just look at the amazingness of the human body.
00:10:16
fillingyouupwithhope
um um So we have the first two. Now the third thing is that we need, and this and this is really going to help with living more free, okay?
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fillingyouupwithhope
We need to remember the amazing things God has done.
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fillingyouupwithhope
And we talked about this and last week about how the Jewish religion is amazing for this because on Passover, like they go through they go through what God did on that day and how he passed over um the Israelites and he' go and they go through the parting of the Red Sea, like they're remembering the amazing things that God has done. This is Deuteronomy 11, seven. Your own eyes witnessed each of these powerful acts the Lord performed. Like they have seen miracles firsthand, but God has done things in all of our lives.
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fillingyouupwithhope
all of our
Prayer, Thought Patterns, and Life Changes
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lives and we need to remember that. A lot of times he does something amazing and then we forget. And I like to write down answers to prayers in prayer requests, which I always talk about because it's been so helpful for my heart. And that's a good way to remember, look at what God did. um Here's one thing he's done in my life.
00:11:59
fillingyouupwithhope
we wanted a church in our community. And i you can see in my prayer requests, praying for a healthy Christian community, like, you know, over and over again for us to be a part of, that God wants us to be a part of. And it was it was one of my prayers for for months and um there's been a church that I've loved to watch online for years, starting I think during COVID is when I started watching it online. And um they opened up a branch right next to me. Literally, I have woods right next to me and you go through the woods and it's right there. And that is God and I need to remember that.
00:12:53
fillingyouupwithhope
Because he does amazing good and good things. And if we look at our life, there have been many things. And I've talked about this, this book that I i read that said, make a timeline of your life and put the different things that God had had done at different stages of your life. Because sometimes in that moment,
00:13:21
fillingyouupwithhope
You don't even, you don't realize it, but all things worked together for the good of those who believe, and they were all part of your timeline. So we need to remember these amazing works, no matter what negativity we are feeling. And we might need to, you know, 2 Timothy 1.7, for god didn't give us ah forgot God gave us spirit of freedom, of of power, love, and self-discipline, right? So we might need to discipline and remind ourselves of these, of, you know, make a list every day of have ah three things that God has done. And ah because those pathways are stuck, it's not going to feel natural at first, probably. Maybe it will, because God's amazing.
00:14:18
fillingyouupwithhope
Um, but the more you do it, the more natural it will be, and it will help you get those pathways unstuck and help you focus on good, which is what we're supposed to do. So. Oh, so we're going to go down to the, so that was the third thing that we need to remember the amazing things that got us done to live more free and also to live more free.
00:14:43
fillingyouupwithhope
He needs to be our identity, like we've talked about many times. And this is verse, this is Deuteronomy 11 verse 22.
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fillingyouupwithhope
um it's It's true. If you carefully keep all these all this commandment that I'm giving you by doing it, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in His ways, and by clinging to Him, and that's That's our verse. That's our our words, clinging to Him, cling to Him.
Choosing Love and Life through Scripture
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fillingyouupwithhope
um To live more free, we need to be connected to God. We can't expect this um if we're not focused on Him, if we're not turning to Him. And like I said, that takes discipline.
00:15:41
fillingyouupwithhope
It takes discipline. Like i I read the Bible with my kids at night, but some nights, like last night, I was i was really tired. I fell asleep on the couch early earlier than they did. And I i didn't read it with them. And I was thinking about today, like I i need to have self-discipline.
00:16:11
fillingyouupwithhope
And then that carries down to your children. Because we've we've talked about how um how it's supposed to, we're supposed to recite these things, as it talks about in Deuteronomy, reciting these things, and your children are going to hear it. And it's going to affect them. And like and i I really love reading the Bible with my kids. but and And I feel like that's a really good habit true That's a very important habit for them to have and for them to do themselves. And I'm exhibiting that and um with them, but I need to have that self-discipline. And that helps me cling to him more when I am in his word more and when I'm praying to him, praying without ceasing. So that is the fourth thing, to live more free. Cling to God, turn to him all the time.
00:17:10
fillingyouupwithhope
um Number five is so good. It is a choice. It is a choice. And we can see it in our brain. I love to picture Proverbs is all about like, what path are you going to take? Are you going to go down the good path like towards God? Or are you going to take the path to destruction? Right? And yeah it is a choice. But since we have a loving, forgiving God, it's It's not all or nothing, right? if When we fall short, we need to do what John the Baptist says and change our heart and life and turn to him, right? We're never stuck. That's the whole point. But we do need to know that it is a choice. Because when we feel stuck, it doesn't feel like a choice. It feels like we are just stuck in this mindset. and And as Christians, we never
00:18:09
fillingyouupwithhope
We never need to feel that way. So, this is the, it is a choice Bible verse that made me think of that. Deuteronomy 11.26, it starts with this, okay? Pay attention. I am setting blessing and curse before you. Right now, what the blessing, if you obey the Lord God's commands that I'm giving you right now,
00:18:37
fillingyouupwithhope
but the curse if you don't obey the Lord's commandments. And straight from the path that I'm giving you today. ah It is a choice. And we really need to remind our brain that we have that, but because there's freedom in that it's a choice. Even if you're feeling right now, it's not a choice. I've always been this way. No, if you have Jesus,
00:19:06
fillingyouupwithhope
then you, it is a choice. It is
Living Freely through Jesus
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fillingyouupwithhope
a choice. Like what path am I gonna take? When I start having these thoughts, I need to remind myself, be still and know that I am God, or whatever whatever it is about God that helps you get back on the path that leads to love and light and life. It it is a choice. And we all for fall short. And even if we fall down on that path,
00:19:37
fillingyouupwithhope
um We don't, the whole point is that we don't stay down. We have to keep running the race in front of us, like Paul tells us. And so don't ever feel stuck, even though, even if we're on that path, right?
00:20:00
fillingyouupwithhope
So remind yourself of that it is a choice that you are not trapped, no matter what. Right? That it is this choice and you can envision the path and what path um am I, are you going to take? Um, and so number six, the one thing that is necessary is focusing on Jesus. So this is Luke 10, 27, you must love the Lord, your God with all of your heart.
00:20:33
fillingyouupwithhope
all of your being with all of your strength and with all of your mind and love your neighbors as you love yourself. He's telling us how we live that it's loving God, right? That that is that is the key to this to this freedom in Christ. And so is not just is loving God and loving the people that he made and loving loving ourselves like not staying stuck in that shame like Like I talked about when we stay stuck in it it affects all of you the fix our body our brain everything and we are made new in Christ Which leads me to the seventh to the seventh and final tip for living free which is
00:21:29
fillingyouupwithhope
Galatians 5 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free so if you are living stuck stuck in negativity Right stuck in pain and you just feel like things aren't going to change You need to take it in that. That's not how God intended you intends for you to live that he he wants he wants us to to live free, deeply rooted in Him. And and we can examine our hearts if we feel like we're we're stuck on something. And we can pray about it and pray for God to change our hearts and open our hearts and give us more caring hearts and gentle hearts. And please break my cycle.
00:22:24
fillingyouupwithhope
and And the best thing that we can do to break our cycles is when we see this pattern is turning to him. And he's always there and loves you so much. So I hope that these little things that and which are ah kind of big things right that I talked about today helps you feel like you can live with more hope more hope because you are free in Jesus. You are loved. He plucked you out of slavery
Conclusion and Future Discussions
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fillingyouupwithhope
and he set you free. So you need to live that way. You need, you have an eternity with Jesus. So whatever's holding you back and holding you down in this life that is getting in the way. And that's not how God intends for you to live. He wants you to live free and
00:23:21
fillingyouupwithhope
Paul, Paul was so able to do this that he wrote these letters in prison. Like he knew the eternity that he um would have with Jesus and he wanted that for others. He wanted that for others. So I just, I pray for you. I pray that you take this in and that you are more free in Christ. All of us that we are living more free in Christ.
00:23:51
fillingyouupwithhope
And I can't wait to go through more of the Bible. um We'll get there with the Israelites finally going to the promised land. It'll be a few more weeks, but there's so much good stuff. And just thank you. I'll talk to you soon. Bye.