But the LORD said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho . . .” Joshua 6:2a

Finally, I have begun the difficult and lengthy process of making the paradigm shift from defining my value based on how I, or others, judge my behavior/performance to believing that God loves me just because I exist. The New Oxford dictionary defines a paradigm shift as “a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumption.” What I think and believe – my underlying assumptions – about myself affect how I approach life.

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. . . for as he thinks in his heart, so is he . . . Proverbs 23:7a (King James 2000 Bible)

I believe in angels and demons. I believe in generational curses. I believe some familiar tendencies are passed down through the family lines of abusers and victims alike. As we continue to pass down these tendencies, refusing to examine ourselves, our histories, our wounds, and the wounds we have inflicted, the cycle of abuse continues unchecked.

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. . .True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time . . . Ecclesiastes 3:11 (MSG)

Recently, I unexpectedly came face-to-face with the fact that I can be arrogant. God had empowered me to do something impactful, and while I knew He was using me as His vessel, and I was extremely grateful for that, this thought occurred to me:

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So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus . . . Romans 8:1a (NLT)

As most survivors know, the holiday season, with its family gatherings, can produce a range of emotions from the joy of visiting with distant family and friends to the stress of planning meals and activities. A major challenge for me is the anxiety I feel regarding social interactions.

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