Have you ever tried to cover up your mistakes? Hidden them from others and possibly even God? Told the proverbial “white lie” (that is still a lie, by the way)? I’ve been there. Shame causes us to hide—from others and God, and leads to behaviors that are inconsistent with God’s ways and God’s best. Today, my friend, Kelly Balarie, shares with you her experience in this regard, and how we can truly engage in behavior that is “Battle Ready” for the circumstances we face.

There’s a Book Giveaway so be sure to read to the end!

(There are affiliate links in this post, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you)).

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Shame on Me for Making a Mistake

By: Kelly Balarie

This morning as I pulled the laundry out of the dryer, I considered telling a lie. It was a subtle one; it wouldn’t hurt anyone. No harm, no foul, right?

You see, I’d put my daughter’s ribbon laced headband in the dryer last night. I assured her that she would have it back in the morning, as beautiful as ever. Except, when I pulled the load out this morning, it was a disaster. The purple ribbon was no longer glued to the white band. It hung, just like the look on my face when I saw it.

I can slyly put this in the trash when she’s not looking. Then, I don’t have to admit I ruined it. If she asks, then I’ll just say, “Nope, I haven’t seen it.”

I wanted to avoid the pain of her seeing my mistake. Do you ever feel this way? That you want to hide your mistake? Deny it? Rationalize it? Pretend it didn’t happen? Blame someone else?

In my case, I didn’t believe that my daughter would act well. In all honesty, sometimes I feel God won’t act well either if I admit to Him my mistakes. It feels like I might “get what is coming to me” or He may “send me to bed without providing the money I need to pay my bills.” Sometimes I feel I have to be perfect for God – or else. I feel I need to cover-up my mistakes.

And so the Lord said, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away.” (Is. 29:13a NLT)

Have you ever considered, it is not our mistakes that keep us far from God but our cover-ups that do?

Mistakes, brought to Jesus, immerse us in grace. Cover-ups drive us to acting fake (to lying, despising, hiding, denying…).

“And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote.” (Is. 29:13b)

Cover-ups turn us into performers. We walk a proverbial tightrope at a circus.

Friends, my most worship-filled moments were my most needy moments. They were the moments I said to God, “I can’t do it without you. I need healing, help, and rescue for _____. You are the only answer. You are the King who provides. This is the reality of where I am.”

Yet, when I chose to hide, God was hidden from me. I couldn’t see His grand rescue. The fig leaves covered my eyes.

To be Battle Ready is to stand before God exposed while knowing He has everything covered. It is to close down mistruths and open your mind up to God’s truth. It is to stop hiding and start discovering all that you were made for. It is to worship not by rote words, but from your very heart. It is to find life, from Him who is life.

To be Battle Ready is to train your mind to receive God’s love in ways that will change your life.

 

Battle Ready by Kelly Balarie, is a hands-on scriptural plan that teaches you twelve easy-to-implement, confidence-building mind-sets to transform your thoughts and life. #IAmBattleReady #Christianity #faith

 

About Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt & Live Victoriously

Battle Ready is a hands-on scriptural plan that teaches you twelve easy-to-implement, confidence-building mind-sets designed to transform your thoughts and, therefore, your life. You’ll gain practical wisdom, like how to

  • make new habits stick in just five steps
  • disarm the seven most common attacks that plague women
  • exchange self-limiting thoughts for purpose-driven, love-releasing thoughts
  • implement thirty-second mind-lifters that deliver peace
  • create boundaries so you live life full of what matters

Buy Battle Ready here: Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously.

To get Battle Ready freebies – printables, devotional reminders, a customizable daily Battle Plan and the “Find Your Battle Style” quiz, visit: www.iambattleready.com.

 

The companion Battle Ready Daily Prayer Journal will help you practically change your thoughts, then your life. #IAmBattleReady #Christianity #faith

 

Click here to order the companion Battle Ready Daily Prayer Journal that will help you practically change your thoughts, then your life.

About the Author

Kelly Balarie is the author of the new book, Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously and its companion, Battle Ready Daily Prayer Journal.Kelly Balarie, an author and national speaker, is on a mission to encourage others not to give up. Through times of extreme testing, Kelly believes there is hope for every woman, every battle and in every circumstance. She shares this hope on her blog, Purposeful Faith, and on many writing publications such as Relevant, Crosswalk, and Today’s Christian Woman. Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, 700 Club Interactive, Moody Radio and other television and radio broadcasts. When Kelly is not writing, she is chilling at the beach with her husband, a latte, and 2-toddlers who rightfully demand she build them awesome castles.

 

The Journey Together Summit

On Friday, September 14th, I will be talking with Kelly Balarie – Author & Speaker at The Journey Together Summit about recovering our joy. I’m thrilled to be able to participate and extend an invitation to you to this FREE event!

 

Recovering Our Joy with Dr. Michelle Bengtson and Kelly Balarie on The Journey Together Summit

 

At the Summit, you can discover how to gain new hope, stay close to God and grab hold of a new perspective on the most difficult of days. Don’t miss our free video session. I am confident your heart will feel revived and encouraged.

Join me and 40+ authors, speakers, and leaders as we discuss being battle ready.

All the General Sessions (40+ videos) are FREE. Beyond this, you can upgrade your pass to the Practical Application sessions if you want to dive deeper on a subject, get practical wisdom on how to proceed or if you want to watch the videos over the next year.

To find out more and see the agenda, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2NoUOXg.

Book Giveaway!

God has everything covered. Leave a comment below sharing with us one way God’s love has changed your life and you will be entered into a drawing to win one copy of Kelly’s book, “Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously.” You could also share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing. The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, September 17th, here on this post. Continental United States only.

God has everything covered. Even when we make a mistake – He’s the only answer. #BattleReady #faith #hope

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