1 00:00:02,630 --> 00:00:06,570 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey friends, Heather Creekmore here. Thanks for listening 2 00:00:06,590 --> 00:00:09,049 Speaker 1: to the Compare To Podcast today. We are in a 3 00:00:09,130 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: series called Over the Influence. And today we're talking about 4 00:00:15,100 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: how influence has been there since the very beginning. I mean, 5 00:00:19,460 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: if you're around my age, perhaps you remember having a 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: swatch watch or having to shop at Benetton or wearing 7 00:00:29,460 --> 00:00:33,270 Speaker 1: a certain brand of jeans or or standing in line 8 00:00:33,450 --> 00:00:36,410 Speaker 1: for a Cabbage Patch doll, which, okay, let's be honest, 9 00:00:37,409 --> 00:00:40,610 Speaker 1: they weren't the best dolls ever, but everyone had to 10 00:00:40,690 --> 00:00:43,270 Speaker 1: have one. There's no question, no matter what era you 11 00:00:43,290 --> 00:00:45,990 Speaker 1: grew up in or where you grew up, you are, 12 00:00:46,090 --> 00:00:51,450 Speaker 1: you have been influenced. It's unavoidable. In this series, I 13 00:00:51,470 --> 00:00:56,070 Speaker 1: wanna encourage you, even though it's pretty much impossible to 14 00:00:56,130 --> 00:01:00,590 Speaker 1: live completely influenced free, and in fact, and we'll talk 15 00:01:00,630 --> 00:01:04,750 Speaker 1: about this in today's show, we do want wise counsel 16 00:01:05,069 --> 00:01:11,300 Speaker 1: and healthy outside voices speaking into our lives. But the 17 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: way scripture prescribes us to live is a life that 18 00:01:15,459 --> 00:01:19,270 Speaker 1: is spirit-led. And the reason why I'm doing this series 19 00:01:19,290 --> 00:01:23,450 Speaker 1: is because I believe that so many of us Christian 20 00:01:23,510 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: women are are hearing those outside voices around us louder 21 00:01:28,860 --> 00:01:32,700 Speaker 1: and more, shall I say, instructional than we are able 22 00:01:32,740 --> 00:01:35,940 Speaker 1: to hear the Holy Spirit. And so through today's episode 23 00:01:36,060 --> 00:01:38,310 Speaker 1: and the rest of this month, we're going to just 24 00:01:38,350 --> 00:01:41,229 Speaker 1: be looking at what it means to be spirit-led and 25 00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:44,770 Speaker 1: how we can be over the influence, right? Instead of 26 00:01:44,790 --> 00:01:48,030 Speaker 1: living under the influence of all these pressures, all these voices, 27 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: how can we live a spirit-led life? I'm praying that 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,980 Speaker 1: This series will encourage you. If it does, would you 29 00:01:54,020 --> 00:01:57,420 Speaker 1: consider leaving us a five-star review wherever you listen to 30 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: your podcast? Even just subscribing, following the show is a 31 00:02:01,140 --> 00:02:04,580 Speaker 1: huge encouragement to us, and it helps the algorithms show 32 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: this episode and this show to more people. Hey, thanks 33 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: for listening today. Let's get right to today's episode. Hey there. Well, again, 34 00:02:19,980 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you're here today. And if you are 35 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,500 Speaker 1: new to this show, let me invite you personally to 36 00:02:24,540 --> 00:02:29,279 Speaker 1: go to improvebodyimage.com. We've got lots of great resources. I've 37 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,510 Speaker 1: got free Bible reading plans on the YouVersion app. I've 38 00:02:32,530 --> 00:02:36,490 Speaker 1: got several books and new ones coming out soon. I've 39 00:02:36,530 --> 00:02:40,370 Speaker 1: got so many podcast episodes and blog posts. Like if 40 00:02:40,550 --> 00:02:45,060 Speaker 1: body image comparison, the Christian life is of interest to you, 41 00:02:45,070 --> 00:02:49,100 Speaker 1: then I hope you'll connect with us at improvebodyimage.com. So 42 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,419 Speaker 1: in the last episode, we talked about this truth that 43 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: everyone is influenced by something. The question is, who or 44 00:02:57,380 --> 00:03:02,010 Speaker 1: what influences you the loudest? And today we're going to shift. 45 00:03:02,150 --> 00:03:03,910 Speaker 1: So I gave you a homework assignment if you listened 46 00:03:03,930 --> 00:03:05,890 Speaker 1: to the last episode, and that homework assignment was to 47 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:09,510 Speaker 1: just pay attention to what's influencing you. I would love 48 00:03:09,550 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: to hear how that went. Drop me an email, heatheratcomparedtoyou.me, 49 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,820 Speaker 1: or connect with us on Instagram, social media, and tell 50 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: me How that went. Did you notice? Did you notice 51 00:03:21,100 --> 00:03:23,940 Speaker 1: all the voices of influence? But today we're going to 52 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,190 Speaker 1: shift it a little bit. Not from the question, are 53 00:03:26,210 --> 00:03:28,310 Speaker 1: you influenced? Because I think we all know the answer 54 00:03:28,340 --> 00:03:32,190 Speaker 1: to that. But to the question of when did this start? 55 00:03:32,389 --> 00:03:35,370 Speaker 1: Did you actually ever get a vote? Did you get 56 00:03:35,410 --> 00:03:38,970 Speaker 1: to choose this? You really didn't. And so today we're 57 00:03:38,990 --> 00:03:41,530 Speaker 1: going to talk about where the influence began. And how 58 00:03:41,550 --> 00:03:44,490 Speaker 1: it began before we were really aware. And then what 59 00:03:44,550 --> 00:03:49,330 Speaker 1: it means to be spirit led. And how that's different 60 00:03:49,410 --> 00:03:52,500 Speaker 1: from just being less influenced. Because here's what I hear 61 00:03:52,510 --> 00:03:55,340 Speaker 1: a lot. Like, oh, I know I'm overly influenced. So 62 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to cut down my social media time. I'm 63 00:03:57,900 --> 00:03:59,500 Speaker 1: going to spend less time on Instagram. I'm going to 64 00:03:59,540 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: take Facebook off my phone or TikTok off my phone. 65 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: Like those are all good, healthy choices. But it's not 66 00:04:06,660 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: the same as choosing to be spirit led. That's choosing 67 00:04:10,260 --> 00:04:13,110 Speaker 1: to be less influenced. influenced. And oh goodness, I mean, 68 00:04:13,150 --> 00:04:16,609 Speaker 1: there's so many other ways that we can be influenced 69 00:04:16,690 --> 00:04:21,550 Speaker 1: that just putting, shall I say, heavier, tighter controls around 70 00:04:21,589 --> 00:04:25,100 Speaker 1: influence doesn't necessarily fix it. So one of the most 71 00:04:25,140 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: fascinating things that happens when I work with women one-on-one 72 00:04:28,620 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: in coaching or when women join our coaching groups is 73 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: that we do have to talk about your family of origin. 74 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:38,220 Speaker 1: And we are so careful because when we talk about 75 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: the families we came from, We never want to shame 76 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:47,180 Speaker 1: or blame our parents. We can't blame our parents for 77 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,700 Speaker 1: the issues that we carry with us today as adults. Now, 78 00:04:51,180 --> 00:04:56,570 Speaker 1: they might be able to shift some light on the 79 00:04:56,650 --> 00:05:00,130 Speaker 1: ways that we struggle and perhaps the why we struggle 80 00:05:00,170 --> 00:05:05,430 Speaker 1: with particular things, but we never blame. We are adults. 81 00:05:05,670 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: All the women we work with in coaching are adults. 82 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:12,110 Speaker 1: And so we name things, but then we take responsibility 83 00:05:12,170 --> 00:05:15,930 Speaker 1: and ownership for our response to those things. But here's 84 00:05:15,970 --> 00:05:20,230 Speaker 1: what's so interesting. We think about influence and being aware 85 00:05:20,330 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: of the influence. The family you grew up in taught 86 00:05:25,020 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: you things that maybe they didn't even intend to teach you. 87 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: You just learned something. a definition of normal from the 88 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,100 Speaker 1: family you grew up in. You learned what normal communication 89 00:05:39,140 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: style is, normal conflict style, what success and failure means 90 00:05:44,380 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: according to your family. You learned how to handle emotions, 91 00:05:49,260 --> 00:05:54,230 Speaker 1: whether or not it was okay to express emotions. You 92 00:05:54,330 --> 00:05:59,469 Speaker 1: learned what is valuable. Now, Some of these things are 93 00:05:59,790 --> 00:06:03,010 Speaker 1: like silly, right? You maybe learned the correct way to 94 00:06:03,050 --> 00:06:06,630 Speaker 1: load the dishwasher or you learned that mopping always has 95 00:06:06,650 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: to happen with soap and water and a certain kind 96 00:06:09,660 --> 00:06:13,220 Speaker 1: of mop. or mopping has to happen with a sponge 97 00:06:13,339 --> 00:06:16,260 Speaker 1: and certain cleaning products, right? Like we learned how to 98 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: do household chores. We learned how to cook things. We 99 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,270 Speaker 1: learned what constitutes as a lot of spice in certain recipes. 100 00:06:26,410 --> 00:06:30,430 Speaker 1: We learned what arguing sounds like. I heard the funniest story, 101 00:06:30,910 --> 00:06:33,210 Speaker 1: and it was about a man who was so careful 102 00:06:33,250 --> 00:06:37,030 Speaker 1: to never raise his voice with his children. And He 103 00:06:37,070 --> 00:06:40,350 Speaker 1: was really upset with one of them and just whispered 104 00:06:40,450 --> 00:06:43,510 Speaker 1: like in, you know, the very loud whisper, like, I 105 00:06:43,550 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: can't believe you did that. And the son was like, dad, 106 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,060 Speaker 1: why are you yelling? I mean, I don't know what 107 00:06:51,180 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: you grew up with, but that would not have constituted 108 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: yelling in my family of origin, right? We all have 109 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:06,710 Speaker 1: different definition of normal and that's influenced us. And maybe 110 00:07:06,750 --> 00:07:10,370 Speaker 1: you experienced this as you perhaps got married and you 111 00:07:10,390 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: realized that your husband's definition of normal is very different 112 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: than your definition of normal. And there's lots of kinks 113 00:07:17,740 --> 00:07:20,220 Speaker 1: to work out there as to which way is quote 114 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:25,020 Speaker 1: unquote right. But then we also have this greater influence 115 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,980 Speaker 1: of just like the culture, environment, like the geography, the era, 116 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:33,130 Speaker 1: the socioeconomic context in which you grew up. Like you 117 00:07:33,210 --> 00:07:38,620 Speaker 1: learned things from people around you, from the place you 118 00:07:38,660 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: grew up. And as we absorbed all these lessons from 119 00:07:43,500 --> 00:07:49,210 Speaker 1: our geography and from our families, we began to make assumptions. 120 00:07:50,310 --> 00:07:53,550 Speaker 1: We began to make assumptions that the things we learned 121 00:07:53,630 --> 00:08:02,790 Speaker 1: were universal, right? That everyone values thinness or weight. Everyone 122 00:08:02,830 --> 00:08:08,700 Speaker 1: is afraid of being fat or being fired or not 123 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:14,460 Speaker 1: having a lot of money. We learned that these specific 124 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,090 Speaker 1: things to us were universal. Everyone has a goal to 125 00:08:18,130 --> 00:08:22,890 Speaker 1: be the best. Everyone has a goal to go to 126 00:08:22,910 --> 00:08:27,140 Speaker 1: a certain kind of college. But the truth is, none 127 00:08:27,180 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: of these things are actually universal. These are just things 128 00:08:30,540 --> 00:08:32,610 Speaker 1: that were part of the culture we grew up in. 129 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:38,380 Speaker 1: They're part of the ways we have been influenced. Now 130 00:08:38,420 --> 00:08:41,850 Speaker 1: hear me, I'm not saying they're bad. They're not all bad. 131 00:08:41,890 --> 00:08:45,110 Speaker 1: There's some good lessons and values that you were taught. 132 00:08:45,830 --> 00:08:50,809 Speaker 1: But I think until we actually pause and take a look, 133 00:08:50,850 --> 00:08:53,069 Speaker 1: kind of, I don't know, just like zoom out and 134 00:08:53,830 --> 00:08:57,010 Speaker 1: And say, okay, what is it that I actually believe? 135 00:08:57,950 --> 00:09:00,030 Speaker 1: And then ask the question, where does that come from? 136 00:09:00,050 --> 00:09:03,870 Speaker 1: Is that a value that matches scripture that aligns with 137 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:08,050 Speaker 1: God's word? Or was that a value that my family held? 138 00:09:08,809 --> 00:09:12,820 Speaker 1: And even though it was a Christian family, we adopted 139 00:09:12,860 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: this other value that was really more aligned to our 140 00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: community and our socioeconomic status and the people around us 141 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:24,070 Speaker 1: and what they valued. That's a value we adopted. But 142 00:09:24,130 --> 00:09:29,790 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily a biblical value. And these values, friends, 143 00:09:30,990 --> 00:09:35,420 Speaker 1: they are scripts that are planted in our brains from 144 00:09:35,460 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: a very early age. We decide who's good, who's bad, 145 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:46,900 Speaker 1: what's valuable, what's shameful. What areas are most important for 146 00:09:46,940 --> 00:09:50,620 Speaker 1: me to excel or succeed in? We talked briefly, I 147 00:09:50,620 --> 00:09:54,309 Speaker 1: think last time, about the ruler exercise that's part of 148 00:09:54,350 --> 00:09:56,689 Speaker 1: the 40-day journey. Y'all, if you haven't read my 40-day 149 00:09:56,710 --> 00:10:01,740 Speaker 1: journey book, grab it now. There's a video. that's linked 150 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: in the text of the book to this ruler exercise, 151 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,180 Speaker 1: but this ruler exercise is just so helpful in terms 152 00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:10,699 Speaker 1: of opening your eyes, especially if comparison is a real 153 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,970 Speaker 1: issue for you. Open your eyes to the specific area 154 00:10:15,090 --> 00:10:18,530 Speaker 1: in which you are most tempted to compare yourself to 155 00:10:18,650 --> 00:10:22,390 Speaker 1: other people. And it's a little bit more complicated than that. 156 00:10:22,429 --> 00:10:26,189 Speaker 1: But what we find in the ruler exercise is we 157 00:10:26,309 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: find this deeply held value. And if we dig further, 158 00:10:32,140 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: we find this deeply held value actually came from growing up. 159 00:10:37,820 --> 00:10:39,630 Speaker 1: Maybe it was your parents that taught it to you 160 00:10:39,770 --> 00:10:44,179 Speaker 1: or teachers or coaches, but This value you've held for 161 00:10:44,610 --> 00:10:48,490 Speaker 1: decades maybe didn't come from scripture. It came from family 162 00:10:48,510 --> 00:10:52,369 Speaker 1: of origin or the culture, socioeconomic context you grew up in. 163 00:10:53,429 --> 00:10:57,970 Speaker 1: And it's now the driving force behind you comparing yourself 164 00:10:57,990 --> 00:10:59,970 Speaker 1: to others. And if you can identify it, oh goodness, 165 00:11:00,470 --> 00:11:04,210 Speaker 1: it makes it so much easier to kind of back 166 00:11:04,270 --> 00:11:07,610 Speaker 1: your way out of the comparison trap and understand what's 167 00:11:07,750 --> 00:11:10,969 Speaker 1: happening a little bit more when you do tend to compare. 168 00:11:11,490 --> 00:11:14,500 Speaker 1: And what I want us to notice the most in 169 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: things like the ruler exercise, but just even in talking 170 00:11:16,940 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: about the ways we're influenced, things we notice about the 171 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,900 Speaker 1: ways we're influenced, is this reality that these things aren't 172 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:32,069 Speaker 1: necessarily bad, but we tend to make these influenced areas, 173 00:11:32,429 --> 00:11:35,770 Speaker 1: areas where we understand the world through a certain lens, 174 00:11:36,030 --> 00:11:38,550 Speaker 1: we understand the world in a certain way, we tend 175 00:11:38,590 --> 00:11:42,940 Speaker 1: to make these more important than just flippant thoughts or 176 00:11:42,980 --> 00:11:47,910 Speaker 1: this is my way, your way, our way. We kind 177 00:11:48,010 --> 00:11:54,250 Speaker 1: of deeply digest these things and we make them beliefs. Now, 178 00:11:54,309 --> 00:11:56,829 Speaker 1: if you saw Inside Out 2, I don't know if 179 00:11:56,850 --> 00:11:58,870 Speaker 1: you saw the first Inside Out. Okay, there's a teen 180 00:11:58,910 --> 00:12:01,670 Speaker 1: girl named Riley and in Inside Out 1, we meet 181 00:12:01,710 --> 00:12:04,130 Speaker 1: like all her emotions and Joy is trying to keep 182 00:12:04,170 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: her from ever experiencing sadness. It's a super cute movie. 183 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:12,540 Speaker 1: But in the second one, she gets the teenage emotions. 184 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: But what's really interesting about the second one is it 185 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,940 Speaker 1: kind of goes one step further. And I guess it's 186 00:12:19,140 --> 00:12:21,850 Speaker 1: Disney's version of brain science or Pixar's version of brain science. 187 00:12:22,330 --> 00:12:26,110 Speaker 1: But it talks about how she'll have an experience. And 188 00:12:26,130 --> 00:12:29,870 Speaker 1: the experience doesn't just like become a memory like all 189 00:12:29,910 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: the other memories in Riley's brain. The experience gets sort 190 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,819 Speaker 1: of digested in the brain to where it goes to 191 00:12:37,860 --> 00:12:41,860 Speaker 1: a place where it becomes a core memory. And the 192 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:48,699 Speaker 1: core memories affect Riley's beliefs. And so I'm going to 193 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: be a little vague with this because I'm not remembering 194 00:12:50,940 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: the actual specifics here. But like if some mean things 195 00:12:54,660 --> 00:12:58,969 Speaker 1: are said to her, then the core memory becomes like 196 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,140 Speaker 1: these mean things being said to her. And she internalizes 197 00:13:02,220 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: these as beliefs that she is whatever these mean things 198 00:13:05,860 --> 00:13:08,980 Speaker 1: that were said about her, these identifiers that she is 199 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,339 Speaker 1: not a kind person or that she's not a good 200 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:16,420 Speaker 1: hockey player or that she's not a good friend. And 201 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: these become beliefs that she holds about herself. And so 202 00:13:21,179 --> 00:13:23,710 Speaker 1: it's real cute in the movie because the joy, the 203 00:13:23,950 --> 00:13:27,430 Speaker 1: key emotion is trying to keep these bad things from 204 00:13:27,550 --> 00:13:30,210 Speaker 1: becoming core beliefs for Riley. So she doesn't believe these 205 00:13:30,250 --> 00:13:33,540 Speaker 1: things about herself. But we can learn so much from 206 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,910 Speaker 1: this cartoon because, goodness gracious, as I work with y'all, 207 00:13:38,070 --> 00:13:42,429 Speaker 1: as I coach women, as Tara coaches our groups, so 208 00:13:42,470 --> 00:13:45,870 Speaker 1: many times we will talk to women who will say 209 00:13:45,929 --> 00:13:49,329 Speaker 1: things about themselves as if they're just like a blanket 210 00:13:49,390 --> 00:13:53,979 Speaker 1: true statement. Like just so matter of fact, like this 211 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:58,300 Speaker 1: is what I believe about myself. And they've never stopped 212 00:13:58,340 --> 00:14:01,709 Speaker 1: to question why they believe it. They've never stopped to 213 00:14:01,809 --> 00:14:06,690 Speaker 1: ask where it came from, who influenced that thought, which 214 00:14:06,790 --> 00:14:10,630 Speaker 1: became a belief. And so that's part of the reason 215 00:14:10,650 --> 00:14:13,470 Speaker 1: we're looking at this today, because friend, you need to 216 00:14:13,550 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: know what you believe. This is what my new book 217 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,700 Speaker 1: is on. It comes out February 2nd. I'm so excited 218 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,740 Speaker 1: about it. It's called, Did I Say the Right Thing? 219 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,780 Speaker 1: And a million other micro fears that keep Christian women stuck. 220 00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:28,650 Speaker 1: It's available for pre-order on Amazon right now. So if 221 00:14:28,670 --> 00:14:30,270 Speaker 1: you want to go check it out or pre-order it 222 00:14:30,310 --> 00:14:33,530 Speaker 1: for a price guarantee, go for that. But we're talking 223 00:14:33,590 --> 00:14:39,110 Speaker 1: about beliefs in that book and just how easy it 224 00:14:39,170 --> 00:14:43,070 Speaker 1: is for us to believe that we already believe all 225 00:14:43,110 --> 00:14:46,910 Speaker 1: the right things. And yet we have these blind spots. 226 00:14:46,930 --> 00:14:50,850 Speaker 1: We've got these little worries about the ways we look 227 00:14:50,910 --> 00:14:52,970 Speaker 1: or the ways we act or the ways other people 228 00:14:53,010 --> 00:14:56,350 Speaker 1: perceive us or pleasing other people. And those little worries, 229 00:14:56,430 --> 00:14:59,859 Speaker 1: I call them micro fears in the book. are actually 230 00:14:59,900 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: what reveal what we really believe. We really invest in 231 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,420 Speaker 1: some of these micro fears. We really live our lives 232 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: trying to temper all of these micro fears instead of 233 00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:14,210 Speaker 1: leaning into the truth of scripture. And so that's why 234 00:15:14,250 --> 00:15:16,250 Speaker 1: this is so important. But here's what I also want 235 00:15:16,290 --> 00:15:20,130 Speaker 1: you to hear. Just labeling things, just being like, oh, 236 00:15:20,470 --> 00:15:25,130 Speaker 1: I see. Here's the belief. It came from this. Now 237 00:15:25,270 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: I understand. Awareness is not the same as freedom. I 238 00:15:32,460 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: think this is one of the biggest traps of modern psychology. 239 00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:43,220 Speaker 1: It's that we have believed... There's that word again, that 240 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:47,500 Speaker 1: if I could just understand something, that's the same as 241 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,010 Speaker 1: being healed from something. If I can just understand why 242 00:15:50,030 --> 00:15:52,910 Speaker 1: I am this way, then I'll be fine. I just 243 00:15:52,930 --> 00:15:55,870 Speaker 1: need to understand it. And I just think about Proverbs 3, 5, 244 00:15:55,870 --> 00:15:57,650 Speaker 1: and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 245 00:15:57,750 --> 00:16:01,340 Speaker 1: Lean not on your own understanding. All your ways acknowledge him. 246 00:16:01,770 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: He will make your path straight. Lean not on your 247 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,460 Speaker 1: own understanding. I cannot understand something well enough to heal myself, right? 248 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: Jesus is the healer. And so while, okay, maybe there's 249 00:16:14,380 --> 00:16:16,340 Speaker 1: some benefit to being like, oh, okay, that kind of 250 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,450 Speaker 1: makes sense. That's why I struggle. Nope. I can't stay 251 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,830 Speaker 1: in that spot just naming and being aware. I actually 252 00:16:23,870 --> 00:16:26,489 Speaker 1: have to go to the healer and say, oh, here's 253 00:16:26,510 --> 00:16:29,350 Speaker 1: what I'm aware of. I'm aware that this is my 254 00:16:29,410 --> 00:16:32,570 Speaker 1: track history and goodness gracious, I am tempted in this 255 00:16:32,610 --> 00:16:35,030 Speaker 1: sin and this sin and this sin because this is 256 00:16:35,250 --> 00:16:38,489 Speaker 1: kind of the path I've been on. God, forgive me 257 00:16:38,510 --> 00:16:43,380 Speaker 1: and help me. Help me set me free. from these things. Now, 258 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: hear me. I'm not saying there's no benefit to examining 259 00:16:48,610 --> 00:16:52,470 Speaker 1: your life, examining what's influenced you. In fact, I think 260 00:16:52,510 --> 00:16:57,290 Speaker 1: of the unexamined influence life that runs on autopilot is 261 00:16:57,330 --> 00:16:59,310 Speaker 1: a little bit of a dangerous spot to be in, right? 262 00:16:59,370 --> 00:17:03,690 Speaker 1: We do need to examine, you know, David the Psalmist 263 00:17:03,730 --> 00:17:08,100 Speaker 1: has searched my heart, right? Like we do need to 264 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: be aware of these things. But that's not where our 265 00:17:14,780 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: process ends. The examination gives us a chance to choose, right? 266 00:17:21,300 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: It gives us a chance to say something like, oh, okay, 267 00:17:24,660 --> 00:17:27,629 Speaker 1: like that's what I learned. That's what was normal in 268 00:17:27,650 --> 00:17:31,370 Speaker 1: my family. That's a voice that I absorbed and maybe 269 00:17:31,390 --> 00:17:33,729 Speaker 1: even still hear every time I look in the mirror 270 00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:38,030 Speaker 1: or whatever. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's true. 271 00:17:38,050 --> 00:17:41,810 Speaker 1: It certainly doesn't mean that it has to be God's truth, right? 272 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: And so acknowledging these things gives us an opportunity to 273 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 1: put into practice like Romans 12 to being transformed by 274 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:51,129 Speaker 1: the renewing of our minds. There's so much data out 275 00:17:51,170 --> 00:17:55,850 Speaker 1: there about like the neural pathways and how malleable they are, 276 00:17:55,930 --> 00:17:59,830 Speaker 1: but you have to know what the pathway is, what 277 00:17:59,850 --> 00:18:03,010 Speaker 1: you're always thinking in order to be able to change 278 00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:06,910 Speaker 1: that pathway, right? With the Holy Spirit's help. But renewing 279 00:18:06,990 --> 00:18:09,770 Speaker 1: our mind starts with noticing, okay, wait, this is the 280 00:18:09,790 --> 00:18:12,070 Speaker 1: pathway and it's shaped because this is what I was 281 00:18:12,130 --> 00:18:14,909 Speaker 1: told over and over again from an early age. I 282 00:18:14,930 --> 00:18:19,890 Speaker 1: was influenced by this. And that's not aligned with scripture. 283 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,939 Speaker 1: And this isn't right. And every time I have this thought, 284 00:18:23,260 --> 00:18:27,580 Speaker 1: I need to do something to replace the thought. Now, remember, 285 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: taking thoughts captive is not where we start. Go listen 286 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:33,580 Speaker 1: to that episode. It was just a couple weeks ago. 287 00:18:34,350 --> 00:18:37,770 Speaker 1: Taking thoughts captive is not where your healing journey begins 288 00:18:37,790 --> 00:18:40,490 Speaker 1: and ends. It's an important part. But I think too 289 00:18:40,510 --> 00:18:42,810 Speaker 1: many times as Christians, we've been told, well, just take 290 00:18:42,830 --> 00:18:45,090 Speaker 1: the thought captive and you're good. And I think it's 291 00:18:45,109 --> 00:18:49,580 Speaker 1: more complicated than that. Awareness alone, though, tells you what's 292 00:18:49,619 --> 00:18:53,540 Speaker 1: been steering. It tells you, boy, I have been really 293 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,899 Speaker 1: influenced by Instagram. But then we got to take the 294 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: next step and talk about who should be steering, right? 295 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: As Christians, we should be living a spirit-led life. life. 296 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,830 Speaker 1: So in John chapter 15 and 16, Jesus is talking 297 00:19:07,850 --> 00:19:09,969 Speaker 1: to the disciples and he's basically telling them that they 298 00:19:09,990 --> 00:19:12,970 Speaker 1: need to abide in him. He's telling them how to live. 299 00:19:12,990 --> 00:19:16,250 Speaker 1: And then eventually by John 16, he's telling them like 300 00:19:16,310 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: he's going away and he's going to die and he's 301 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 1: telling them some hard things. And in 16, 12, he 302 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: says this, I have much more to say to you 303 00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:30,340 Speaker 1: more than you can now bear. But when he, the 304 00:19:30,380 --> 00:19:33,100 Speaker 1: spirit of truth comes and that's the Holy spirit, He 305 00:19:33,140 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: will guide you into all truth. He will not speak 306 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,940 Speaker 1: on his own, but he will only speak. He will 307 00:19:38,980 --> 00:19:41,550 Speaker 1: speak only what he hears and he will tell you 308 00:19:41,609 --> 00:19:44,449 Speaker 1: what is yet to come. He will glorify me because 309 00:19:44,570 --> 00:19:47,189 Speaker 1: it is from me that he will receive what he 310 00:19:47,230 --> 00:19:49,469 Speaker 1: will make known to you. All that belongs to the 311 00:19:49,490 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: father is mine. That is why I said the spirit 312 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,580 Speaker 1: will receive from me what he will make known to you. 313 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,060 Speaker 1: So this is Jesus kind of explaining the Trinity. He's 314 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,810 Speaker 1: saying the Holy Spirit's coming, but the Holy Spirit doesn't 315 00:20:00,940 --> 00:20:04,430 Speaker 1: act on his own. The Holy Spirit acts in step 316 00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:08,389 Speaker 1: with God and Jesus and is guiding us in the 317 00:20:08,490 --> 00:20:12,369 Speaker 1: truth of God and Jesus. Let's hop back just a 318 00:20:12,390 --> 00:20:15,490 Speaker 1: few verses to 16 verse 7. And this makes it 319 00:20:15,530 --> 00:20:19,660 Speaker 1: even clearer. Actually, I'm going to start reading at verse 4. 320 00:20:19,660 --> 00:20:21,460 Speaker 1: But I have said these things to you that when 321 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:23,700 Speaker 1: the hour comes, you may remember that I told them 322 00:20:23,740 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: to you. I did not say these things to you 323 00:20:25,460 --> 00:20:27,740 Speaker 1: from the beginning because I was with you. But now 324 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: I am going to him who sent me. And none 325 00:20:30,060 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: of you asked me, where are you going? But because 326 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled 327 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:37,139 Speaker 1: your heart. Okay, the disciples are sad that Jesus is 328 00:20:37,180 --> 00:20:40,330 Speaker 1: saying he's going to leave them. But then here's a clincher. 329 00:20:40,750 --> 00:20:43,550 Speaker 1: Verse seven, nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is 330 00:20:43,609 --> 00:20:47,389 Speaker 1: to your advantage that I go away. For if I 331 00:20:47,430 --> 00:20:50,990 Speaker 1: do not go away, the helper, there's a capital H 332 00:20:51,050 --> 00:20:53,430 Speaker 1: on that helper because it's referring to the Holy Spirit, 333 00:20:54,020 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: will not come to you. But if I go, I 334 00:20:56,619 --> 00:20:59,340 Speaker 1: will send him to you. And when he comes, he 335 00:20:59,380 --> 00:21:02,459 Speaker 1: will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, 336 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,540 Speaker 1: concerning sin because they do not believe in me, concerning 337 00:21:05,580 --> 00:21:08,540 Speaker 1: righteousness because I go to the Father and you will 338 00:21:08,580 --> 00:21:11,820 Speaker 1: see me no longer, concerning judgment because the ruler of 339 00:21:11,859 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: this world is judged. I'd encourage you to go read 340 00:21:15,220 --> 00:21:19,350 Speaker 1: John 15 and 16 for yourself. But what I want 341 00:21:19,380 --> 00:21:21,630 Speaker 1: you to take that pertains to what we're talking about 342 00:21:21,670 --> 00:21:27,390 Speaker 1: today is this concept that God it is to our benefit. 343 00:21:27,410 --> 00:21:30,239 Speaker 1: It is to our help that God has sent the 344 00:21:30,340 --> 00:21:35,780 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit to live inside of us, to be a 345 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:42,050 Speaker 1: voice of conviction, but also a voice to lead us, 346 00:21:43,109 --> 00:21:47,629 Speaker 1: to guide us in everyday life. Now, friend, think about 347 00:21:47,670 --> 00:21:52,710 Speaker 1: this truth, right? Like if you're like me, In this culture, 348 00:21:52,790 --> 00:21:55,930 Speaker 1: as soon as I'm unsure of something, I go to Google. 349 00:21:56,010 --> 00:22:00,590 Speaker 1: I'm not proud of that. But as soon as I 350 00:22:00,609 --> 00:22:02,369 Speaker 1: want to know something, I go to Google. Maybe some 351 00:22:02,390 --> 00:22:05,100 Speaker 1: of you go to Chat Now or Claude, right? We 352 00:22:05,230 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: have answers that we can get in an instant. But 353 00:22:10,260 --> 00:22:13,180 Speaker 1: here's the reality, right? First of all, not all of 354 00:22:13,220 --> 00:22:17,100 Speaker 1: those answers are good. And if you keep looking long enough, 355 00:22:17,140 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: you can probably find the answer you want to find. Like, Like, 356 00:22:21,660 --> 00:22:23,419 Speaker 1: I don't know, you discover something in your body and 357 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: you really don't want it to be anything you have 358 00:22:25,420 --> 00:22:27,140 Speaker 1: to go to the doctor for. So you probably find 359 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,649 Speaker 1: three articles that are going to say, go to the 360 00:22:28,690 --> 00:22:32,950 Speaker 1: emergency room right away. And then one article or two 361 00:22:33,050 --> 00:22:37,250 Speaker 1: or three more that are going to say, no, that's fine. 362 00:22:37,310 --> 00:22:40,740 Speaker 1: That's a blah, blah, blah. And that doesn't require medical attention, right? 363 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: Like we can find whatever answer we want to find 364 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: if we search long enough. But because of the Holy Spirit, 365 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:53,890 Speaker 1: we have access. to God and Jesus in a way 366 00:22:53,930 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: that should really blow our minds, right? We can pray 367 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,300 Speaker 1: and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and the 368 00:23:01,340 --> 00:23:04,340 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit is going to check with God. That's what 369 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:08,460 Speaker 1: it says. Like that, that's pretty impressive. Like that's better 370 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,410 Speaker 1: than consulting the world's best dietician or the world's best 371 00:23:12,670 --> 00:23:17,030 Speaker 1: doctor or the world's best child psychologist. Like we have 372 00:23:17,190 --> 00:23:21,740 Speaker 1: access to the almighty God. And being spirit led means 373 00:23:22,220 --> 00:23:29,189 Speaker 1: that we are consulting the Holy Spirit to help us 374 00:23:29,990 --> 00:23:34,030 Speaker 1: to become the primary voice directing our thoughts, our decisions, 375 00:23:34,190 --> 00:23:38,350 Speaker 1: even our desires, right? And that's a different voice than 376 00:23:38,470 --> 00:23:42,190 Speaker 1: culture and comparison and maybe your family of origin, right? 377 00:23:42,270 --> 00:23:47,190 Speaker 1: And emotion. And it's not even about willpower, right? Because 378 00:23:47,260 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: we can deceive ourselves, right? The heart is deceitful. Who 379 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,580 Speaker 1: can know it, right? Don't just rely on what you 380 00:23:54,619 --> 00:23:59,420 Speaker 1: think you internally know. No. Oh, our hearts are messy. 381 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: It's the Holy Spirit who needs to lead us and 382 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,060 Speaker 1: guide us. And so this is what it means to 383 00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: be spirit-led. Galatians 5.25 talks about keeping in step with 384 00:24:10,070 --> 00:24:13,470 Speaker 1: the Spirit. And what that implies is that, like, this 385 00:24:13,530 --> 00:24:16,150 Speaker 1: isn't a one and done. You didn't become a Christian 386 00:24:16,170 --> 00:24:19,109 Speaker 1: because say like, God, I want you to lead my life. 387 00:24:19,869 --> 00:24:22,130 Speaker 1: And then you get to go do whatever Instagram tells 388 00:24:22,170 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: you what to do. Friend, this is daily, minutely, hourly, right? 389 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:28,859 Speaker 1: Keeping in step with the spirit. And you friends, it 390 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 1: is messy. I had a mentor once that did this 391 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,590 Speaker 1: like little dance of being spirit led. And she would 392 00:24:34,650 --> 00:24:36,470 Speaker 1: show how you could take like two or three steps 393 00:24:36,490 --> 00:24:39,070 Speaker 1: with the spirit. And then like you have a decision 394 00:24:39,109 --> 00:24:41,530 Speaker 1: that just totally wrecked your day. Like you just really, 395 00:24:41,690 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: you messed up. And you kind of get off course, right? 396 00:24:44,500 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: And you're dancing backwards and sideways and you're way off, right? 397 00:24:47,780 --> 00:24:51,270 Speaker 1: And the important thing is when you recognize that you're 398 00:24:51,350 --> 00:24:54,129 Speaker 1: off course, that you're no longer being spirit-led, that the 399 00:24:54,170 --> 00:24:57,810 Speaker 1: decision you made was probably not led by the Holy Spirit, 400 00:24:58,310 --> 00:25:02,050 Speaker 1: then you repent and you get back on course. It's 401 00:25:02,350 --> 00:25:05,270 Speaker 1: not a straight trajectory up and to the right. You're 402 00:25:05,290 --> 00:25:07,030 Speaker 1: going to get it right perfectly. You just, oh, you've 403 00:25:07,070 --> 00:25:10,820 Speaker 1: decided to be spirit-led today. You're going to be spirit-led forever. Yes, 404 00:25:10,900 --> 00:25:12,930 Speaker 1: that's a goal, but oh friend, no one's going to 405 00:25:12,950 --> 00:25:15,390 Speaker 1: do it perfectly. It is going to be a messy, 406 00:25:15,410 --> 00:25:18,149 Speaker 1: oh Lord, I messed up again. Help me. Oh, I 407 00:25:18,190 --> 00:25:20,730 Speaker 1: messed up again. Help me. But we know from Romans 8, 408 00:25:20,730 --> 00:25:22,950 Speaker 1: 14 is that those who are led by the spirit 409 00:25:22,970 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: of God are the children of God, right? It's, this 410 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:32,180 Speaker 1: isn't performance language. This is relational language that says like, really, 411 00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: if we're going to call ourselves his sheep, we have 412 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,850 Speaker 1: to listen to the voice of the shepherd, right? I 413 00:25:37,930 --> 00:25:41,629 Speaker 1: can't say I'm a Christ follower if I spend more 414 00:25:41,710 --> 00:25:46,270 Speaker 1: time following what I've learned from influencers online than I 415 00:25:46,609 --> 00:25:50,930 Speaker 1: spend following the Holy Spirit. And remember what the Holy 416 00:25:50,950 --> 00:25:53,699 Speaker 1: Spirit says will always align with scripture. Holy Spirit is 417 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:55,419 Speaker 1: not going to tell you to do something that doesn't 418 00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:57,820 Speaker 1: match scripture. So if you feel like the Holy Spirit 419 00:25:57,840 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: is telling you something that doesn't match scripture, no, that's 420 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:02,940 Speaker 1: not the Holy Spirit. Okay. And that's why it's important 421 00:26:02,980 --> 00:26:06,420 Speaker 1: to have accountability and wise counsel and Just be able 422 00:26:06,460 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: to have someone who knows God's word and you can say, hey, 423 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 1: I feel like the spirit's leading me to this. Do 424 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:12,609 Speaker 1: you think this matches? Do you think this sounds right? 425 00:26:13,030 --> 00:26:15,390 Speaker 1: And that person can speak into your life God's truth 426 00:26:15,430 --> 00:26:18,430 Speaker 1: and say, yes, that sounds right to me if that's 427 00:26:18,450 --> 00:26:21,050 Speaker 1: what he's leading you to. Or they can be like, no, whoa, 428 00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:24,109 Speaker 1: red flags, red flags. I don't see this aligning with 429 00:26:24,270 --> 00:26:27,649 Speaker 1: God's word. And friend, I think we miss out. I 430 00:26:28,540 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: think a lot of us live stressed out, burned out, 431 00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:40,030 Speaker 1: tired out. very fearful, very worried lives because we aren't 432 00:26:40,250 --> 00:26:43,790 Speaker 1: spirit led, because we're just trying to make our own 433 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: decisions based on this overwhelm of way too much information. 434 00:26:47,340 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: I mean, how am I supposed to know what's right 435 00:26:48,980 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: to eat? Like there's a very funny meme where she 436 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,179 Speaker 1: goes through like every single, like she's trying to eat 437 00:26:55,220 --> 00:26:57,460 Speaker 1: breakfast and she goes through every single food and can 438 00:26:57,530 --> 00:27:00,330 Speaker 1: find a video that says why that food will basically 439 00:27:00,350 --> 00:27:03,050 Speaker 1: kill her. And I mean, we're talking about like from 440 00:27:03,090 --> 00:27:06,770 Speaker 1: the creamer in her coffee to, Oats to eggs to 441 00:27:07,090 --> 00:27:11,010 Speaker 1: gluten to gluten-free things. I mean, just every single thing. 442 00:27:11,109 --> 00:27:14,300 Speaker 1: And it's like so relatable, right? Because if we try 443 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:17,380 Speaker 1: to follow the voices and the influences of the world, 444 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:19,940 Speaker 1: we are just going to be frustrated over and over 445 00:27:19,980 --> 00:27:22,500 Speaker 1: again because the rules keep changing. And I'm not just 446 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: talking about food. I'm talking about everything, right? Like parenting, 447 00:27:25,060 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: there was a big shift a couple years ago to 448 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: gentle parenting. And I don't really even know what that is, 449 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,140 Speaker 1: but I don't think it's biblical, but I don't know. 450 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,219 Speaker 1: I really don't know. But it was like, and then 451 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:37,140 Speaker 1: it went to, I think it's an acronym that stands 452 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: for something not so good, but it was kind of like, 453 00:27:39,340 --> 00:27:42,159 Speaker 1: I don't know, angry, consequential parenting. I don't know that 454 00:27:42,180 --> 00:27:44,770 Speaker 1: that one's better. But it was like this big shift 455 00:27:44,810 --> 00:27:48,629 Speaker 1: from being gentle to being like, whatever, suck it up, kid, 456 00:27:49,330 --> 00:27:53,369 Speaker 1: kind of parenting. I mean, like every area of our 457 00:27:53,430 --> 00:27:57,219 Speaker 1: lives now. There's someone out there with a voice speaking 458 00:27:57,260 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: into how you should do it. And I just want 459 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:05,420 Speaker 1: your takeaway today to be, is the voice that's loudest 460 00:28:05,530 --> 00:28:09,869 Speaker 1: in my life the voice of the Holy Spirit? Or 461 00:28:10,090 --> 00:28:13,830 Speaker 1: is it the voice of these outside influences? That's the 462 00:28:13,869 --> 00:28:16,369 Speaker 1: question I want you to ask today. That's the question 463 00:28:16,390 --> 00:28:19,470 Speaker 1: I want you to sit with. And remember, being spirit-led 464 00:28:19,490 --> 00:28:22,310 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that you have zero outside influence or you 465 00:28:22,350 --> 00:28:24,340 Speaker 1: never listen to wise counsel. Like, that would be stupid. 466 00:28:25,510 --> 00:28:28,290 Speaker 1: It just means that you are listening to the Holy 467 00:28:28,350 --> 00:28:31,980 Speaker 1: Spirit and that Holy Spirit led life is giving you 468 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,180 Speaker 1: a filter through these other things that you are undoubtedly 469 00:28:36,220 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: going to absorb. And the Holy Spirit's also giving you 470 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:43,790 Speaker 1: the opportunity to have agency and final authority. You get 471 00:28:43,850 --> 00:28:47,750 Speaker 1: to decide. You get to decide what you're going to believe. 472 00:28:47,790 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: You get to decide what you're going to do. You 473 00:28:50,580 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: don't have to do it just because everyone else is 474 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: doing it or that's the loudest influence in your life. 475 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: So as we close today, here's the question I want 476 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:04,140 Speaker 1: you to also think about. It's just, it's the question 477 00:29:04,220 --> 00:29:07,510 Speaker 1: slash like a little prayer, a noticing prayer, let's call it. 478 00:29:08,370 --> 00:29:14,170 Speaker 1: What's one thing I sensed today that felt like peace, conviction, 479 00:29:14,850 --> 00:29:18,890 Speaker 1: or a gentle nudge, right? Because that's how the Holy 480 00:29:18,950 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: Spirit leads us. with peace, conviction, and gentle nudges. Remember 481 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:30,140 Speaker 1: we talked just briefly last week about the still small voice, right? 482 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,010 Speaker 1: The still small voice is how God spoke to Elijah, 483 00:29:34,090 --> 00:29:35,730 Speaker 1: not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in 484 00:29:35,750 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: the fire. God was in the whisper, And so the 485 00:29:41,410 --> 00:29:48,380 Speaker 1: whisper will show up as peace, conviction, or a gentle nudge. 486 00:29:49,380 --> 00:29:50,980 Speaker 1: I also want you to be able to just see 487 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: the difference between being influenced and being spirit-led. I'm going 488 00:29:54,900 --> 00:29:57,300 Speaker 1: to just run through these real quick. But an influenced 489 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:03,220 Speaker 1: life reacts. A spirit-led life responds. Reacting is I'm pulled 490 00:30:03,260 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: by whatever's loudest right now. Whatever everyone else is doing, 491 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: that's what I want to do. Whereas a spirit-led life 492 00:30:07,740 --> 00:30:13,190 Speaker 1: responding is pausing, listening, and then moving. Here's another one. 493 00:30:13,510 --> 00:30:17,330 Speaker 1: An influenced life is shaped by approval. A spirit-led life 494 00:30:17,390 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: is shaped by your identity, which is already given. You 495 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: don't have to do certain things to be approved of 496 00:30:23,620 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: and accepted because that's what everyone on Instagram is doing. No, 497 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:33,340 Speaker 1: you already have an identity in Christ. Here's another one. 498 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,900 Speaker 1: The influenced life chases the loudest voice. The spirit led 499 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: life trusts the steadiest voice. Loud does not always mean 500 00:30:41,660 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 1: true and quiet does not always mean unimportant. Here's another one. 501 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,140 Speaker 1: The influenced life is driven by FOMO, fear of missing out. 502 00:30:49,710 --> 00:30:53,290 Speaker 1: The spirit-led life is driven by peace, even when it 503 00:30:53,370 --> 00:30:57,810 Speaker 1: means missing out. Peace becomes your compass. It's not hype 504 00:30:57,870 --> 00:31:02,410 Speaker 1: or urgency. You can be okay doing something completely different 505 00:31:02,430 --> 00:31:05,270 Speaker 1: than everyone else is doing because you have a Holy 506 00:31:05,370 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: Spirit-led peace. Final one here. Influence Life asks, what's everyone 507 00:31:09,390 --> 00:31:12,610 Speaker 1: else doing? The Spirit-led life asks, what is God saying 508 00:31:12,790 --> 00:31:17,820 Speaker 1: to me specifically right now? You can ask God how 509 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:22,260 Speaker 1: he's directing you and he will be faithful to speak. Friend, 510 00:31:22,340 --> 00:31:24,580 Speaker 1: I hope this has been helpful to you today. Again, 511 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,140 Speaker 1: if it has, drop us a review, follow the show, 512 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: share the show with a friend and have a discussion 513 00:31:29,540 --> 00:31:32,730 Speaker 1: around it, right? That's how we really learn. It's not 514 00:31:32,770 --> 00:31:36,230 Speaker 1: just listening. It's listening and acting. So I encourage you 515 00:31:36,250 --> 00:31:39,740 Speaker 1: to share this with someone who... Have a good discussion 516 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,500 Speaker 1: around what it means to live a spirit-led life over 517 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:46,010 Speaker 1: an influence life. We're going to talk more about this 518 00:31:46,180 --> 00:31:49,430 Speaker 1: over the influence concept next week when we talk about 519 00:31:50,290 --> 00:31:57,910 Speaker 1: self-improvement versus self-focus. What is the difference there? We're also 520 00:31:57,930 --> 00:32:00,610 Speaker 1: going to do an episode on the difference between wisdom 521 00:32:00,630 --> 00:32:04,850 Speaker 1: and knowledge. Those two concepts, I think, get confusing. Hey, 522 00:32:04,890 --> 00:32:06,469 Speaker 1: thanks so much for listening today. I hope something today 523 00:32:06,490 --> 00:32:09,630 Speaker 1: has helped you stop comparing. and start living. Bye-bye. You 524 00:32:10,710 --> 00:32:12,050 Speaker 1: can be our new podcast. It's proud to be part 525 00:32:12,070 --> 00:32:14,650 Speaker 1: of the Life Audio Podcast Network. For more great Christian podcasts, 526 00:32:14,690 --> 00:32:17,910 Speaker 1: go to lifeaudio.com. Hey, and for more great resources, go 527 00:32:17,930 --> 00:32:21,100 Speaker 1: to improvebodyimage.com. Again, so many freebies there. I hope you'll 528 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:21,820 Speaker 1: go check it out today.