redirecting my thoughts

 Friday, August 1, 2025 (5:41 a.m.)

Holy God,

How many ways can I say, “I was wrong.”? I made a mistake. I was in error. I messed up. And then what will You do to free me from the self-flagellation that normally ensues?

Blessed Father, You’ve watched me over the years. You know may routine better than I. You’ve seen the “nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms” loop I so easily get caught in.

(6:07 a.m.)

How cool are You Dear Lord?!

Having grown up with a mom who regularly used the quote above, I just learned it was actually a nursery rhyme. Dating all the back to the 1860’s! And even turned into a rather catchy little tune. Thanks Dad!

In the process of searching to learn new to me things I came to a wonderful list of antonyms for self-hatred and self-punishment:

absolution, atonement, contrition, forgiveness, penitence, remorse, repentance, retribution, confession

(6:37 a.m.)

Thank You that You have provided the Way [Your Son] so we don’t have to remain in continuous loops of regret and defeat. Yes! You provide us Your Truth to counter every single one of satan’s lies.

Here sings Your Truth to me again.

♪Hello My Name Is regret… defeat…

… Oh, theses are the voices… the lies

And I have believed them

For the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the One True King

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free…♪

Thank You. Thank You God!

I was thinking Revelation 3:19b [“be earnest and repent”] was going to be the verse for my turning. Jesus speaking, “I am the One who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference” (New Living Translation).

Or even from The Message. “The people I love, I call to account - prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!”

Yes please! Oh! But wait! There’s more!

The apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Yes. I make mistakes. And I don’t have to eat worms because of them.

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit. Use me exactly as You know is best. I love, need trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(465 words ~ 7:04 a.m.)