Redemption of Identity

When my present life is continually affected by my past I unknowingly invite the past brokenness to live in my present life. I may feel powerless to keep it out of the present- that too is past brokenness living in my present life. Where does this powerlessness come from? It is from living a passive life. I may recognize the broken condition of my past. I may even recognize the effect it has on my present life. I think to myself that time heals hurts. But... through tacit consent... hurts, grief, disappointments are empowered to live and affect my present life. The term "tacit" has important implications legally in our society. Our laws recognize tacit consent (implied agreement without being stated) as an actual, legally binding understanding between two individuals or parties. This tacit consent provides a binding contract, even though it is not written or spoken explicitly, as long as contract law does not require a written agreement. When confronted with tacit consent...

When your gift becomes the driving force in your life then it is no longer subject to you but you are subject to the gift. It's an unhealthy dynamic that strengthens any brokenness in a person's life. A driven life, many times, points to a life that has brokenness mastering it. Brokenness will attach itself to a gift. It becomes a place of hiding for the brokenness and, at the same time, empowering the brokeness more with a possibility of causing even greater harm. It’s a life that is driven in a direction that will seemingly satisfy an overwhelming desire or want or need in a life. Much “ministry” is lived out this way. What seems like acts of service to others is really a need to have worth or value. Or a need to belong to something, in church circles it could be to be a part of a revival or feeding program or mentoring, maybe a healing ministry, etc…These are great pursuits but a person driven to pursue these may actually be driven to fill a void in their own life by these...