It Is You

Just came back from MCCC and boy, my brains are just too saturated by all that I've learned these past four amazing days. It can be overwhelming when I think of the vast amount of information and improvement points to implement but I need to keep reminding myself to take things one day at a time. One habit at a time. If I can just implement and practice ONE thing I learn, then it would be great. Better than changing 10 major things all at once and drop them all off because it's just to stressful to change so much at so short a time. Less is best. Less is more.

Anyway, this morning, I managed to catch up with one of my friends who attended Elijah House. It was wonderful to hear her share of how God had transformed her life lately.

"Ariel, He has dealt with so many things and issues in me. I feel so free and stabilised now. And it all started because I went to Elijah House," she said with a radiant glow on her face.

"No, my dear. The changes started because of you," I said. She looked startled for a bit. Then understanding dawned upon her. She smiled shyly.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm passionate about the Elijah House prayer counseling ministry. I promote it almost everywhere I go and to everyone I meet. But Elijah House or any other inner healing or counseling ministries is just a method to help someone achieve breakthroughs from bondages in their lives.

I have seen people coming to Elijah House but leaving it unchanged for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the timing is not right. They are not ready to let go of their baggages, much less even admitting that they have issues. Sometimes they are not comfortable with the Elijah House style. Perhaps another method will work better for them.

Hence my "It is you" remark. My dear friend would not have a shred of hope for changes had she not decided to get help for her problems. She had to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the part she played in relationship conflicts. She had to forgive those who have hurt her and ask for God's forgiveness for things she had done wrong. She had to let go of her hurtful defense mechanisms and learn new positive ways to relate to people so that she can see different results.

So, it is not Elijah House or the church or a helpful friend, it is you who decide whether you want to be bitter or better. God will make a way for us to be free and put such resources in our way. But we are the ones who choose whether to harden or soften our hearts.

Likewise after a mindset and lifestyle challenging conference, it is up to me to choose if I want to apply the things I learn intentionally and let them change me to be a more effective follower and leader, or to just chuck them all in one corner of my mind, never to be revisited.

For things to change, we must change first. The onus is on us.