You have heard of a hysterical pregnancy, right?  Though I do not mean to make light of a medical situation, I do think this condition is pretty amusing.  Before either of my sisters or I ever knew we were expecting a baby, the mental insanity would set in and we would begin with the “symptoms”.  We each would tease the other about the very obvious hysterical pregnancy that they were experiencing.  Every hopeful mother does it (at least a little I suppose).  As soon as you allow yourself to consider the possibility that you may indeed be expecting, we suddenly become nauseous, tired, and bloated.  I can’t help but think this is so very humorous…actually, I think it’s hysterical (pun intended), and it’s one of the many reasons that I love women.  We are kind of hysterical in a lot of ways, we were just made that way.  Different from men…we are deep , emotional feelers.

Are you wondering why I am talking about this.  It’s not because I think I am pregnant, but rather because I think this condition of a “hysterical pregnancy” is an interesting metaphor of a fruitless way of life.  I was thinking about all the junk that we believe as women.  All the lies.  All the falseness that is out there that we believe everyday, that we start accepting as real.  And once we start believing that which is false, we naturally begin behaving like the false is real…and it’s not real!  Our souls become bitter, angry and frustrated.  Some of it is obvious, some of it even politically correct to talk about, but what scares me even more than the idea of my girls growing up thinking that they have to look or act a certain way; are all the little lies that are less obvious.  All those lies that you take on when you are lying in bed at night and your mind is spinning.  If we are not guarded and protected and immersed in the Word; then we will slowly begin believing those subtle, little, dark lies that will soon make up who we are.  Lies like: I can’t be a good mother to these children.  Or perhaps: I’m never going to find true purpose in life.  Or maybe the lie is: I will never find relief and peace from the bitterness that I feel.  We will start telling ourselves that the less is all there is to this life:  bitterness, failure, and regret.  Before we know it, we’ve got ourselves a “hysterical life“: a condition where a person believes they are something that they are not, something less than the Truth that their Creator speaks over them.  We will begin living out that which is false, we will become a lie that we will wear like a cloak.

So is the remedy to this warped phenomenon positive thinking?  Is it looking in the mirror every morning and giving yourself a pep talk?  Of course not, for the only way to battle what is false, is with all that was, and is, and always will be Truth.  And so we must look to the Living Word for answers.  Remember, the Word of God is alive and active and sharper than any double-edged sword.   He is whispering Truth to you and me, and begging us to believe Him. 

God Loves Me and Has Chosen Me

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you … (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

I Am God’s Workmanship, Created to Produce Good Works

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:10).

I Am Seated in the Heavenly Places With Christ (I mean, can you deal with that?!?!)

And he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

I Am a Child of God

But to all who have received him–those who believe in his name–he has given the right to become God’s children … (John 1:12).

I Am a Branch of True Vine

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me–and I in him–bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).

I Have Been Justified and Redeemed

But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

I Will Not Be Condemned By God

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

I Have Been Set Free From the Law of Sin and Death

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

As A Child of God, I Am A Fellow Heir With Christ

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)–if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).

God Leads Me in The Triumph and Knowledge of Christ

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

I Am Chosen, Holy, and Blameless Before God

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

I Have Been Sealed With the Holy Spirit of Promise

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)–when you believed in Christ–you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

Wouldn’t it be freeing if we all stopped walking around in the state of a hysterical pregnancy, feeling bloated, tired and nauseous; and started living like we believe we are who Jesus says we are:  complete in Him.  Own the Truth my friend, He is a free gift to you.

Love,

Amy

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