“Once a newly liberated exile has unburdened, make sure it has shaken off its passive rescue wishes. It must learn to get out of the victim place and kindly ask for what it wants. When you experience the freedom that comes from being unburdened, ask God for strengths and resources to help you thrive.”-Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller
Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller conclude Chapter 7 of Boundaries for Your Soul as they exhort you to shake off your passive rescue wishes. Rather, ask for what you want. Because your weary soul part will tell you. Furthermore, the authors encourage using your God-given power of imagination. As a result, Alison and Kim list various ways their clients unburden painful beliefs, feelings, and memories. Their clients:
- contain their shame in a bottle and toss it to God (see 1 Peter 5:7)
- shed their past hurt like a layer of clothing (see Ephesians 4:22-24)
- purify their burdens through a refining fire (see Malachi 3:3)
- release them for the rain to wash away (see Hosea 6:3)
- send their guilt into the wounds of Christ (see Isaiah 53:5)
- draw near the cross, receive new life, and find relief from discouragement and despair (see Philippians 3:10-11)
Most noteworthy, the authors stress: “Suffer what you have to suffer, but don’t suffer what you don’t have to suffer.”
In addition, Alison and Kim suggest giving your soul part a new name once it unburden and takes on new qualities. Through this process, you “participate in expanding God’s reign – within your internal terrain.”
Also, you created more soul space for your Spirit-led self. And you pursue a purposeful life of service and love for others. In fact, Howard Thurman, an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. once stated that through reconciliation “the wildness is gentled out of a personality at war with itself.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses aid your exile in shaking off passive rescue wishes? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Reconciliation – setting boundaries, restoring peace”