Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered how God might be using your life story in your writing! This week, we’ll explore how to identify what holds us back from sharing that story. Namely, how to recognize and remove the tethers in our lives.
You see, writer, sometimes when we start moving forward, something seems to catch us by the heel and pull us back. Sometimes, it’s life circumstances. Sometimes, relational turmoil. Sometimes, it’s unexpected forks in the road. But often, our tethers start in the heart and mind.
You see, the thing that holds us back most in life is not our circumstances, but the way we view them. But before we dive in, let’s look at others whose ability to recognize and remove tethers turbo-charged their lives…
Removing Tethers in History
Theodore Roosevelt is a powerful example of a man who recognized and removed the tethers in his life. Diagnosed with asthma as a child, Roosevelt was sickly and weak. Roosevelt spent most of his time confined to bed or traveling with his parents to climates with easier air to breathe. But as Roosevelt became a teen, his father challenged him to make something of his body.
Roosevelt rose to that challenge and engaged in vigorous physical activity, exercise, and training. Over time, his breathing improved. Eventually, what used to be his weakness transformed into his greatest strength. Roosevelt became known for both his physical prowess and booming voice. In time, he became a decorated war hero, adventurer, and the youngest U.S. President.
You see, writer, our troubles are not what stop us as much as our perspective on them. The good news? When we untether from our weakness-based identity and lean into who God called us to be, God can transform those weaknesses to strength for His glory.
Removing Tethers in the Bible
Paul is another powerful example of a man who recognized and uprooted the tethers from his life. Raised a Pharisee of Pharisees, Paul (then Saul) was a disciple of Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbis of his time. Paul knew the scriptures thoroughly and was devoted to restoring Israel to holiness and uprooting the “heretical” sect of Christians.
When God stopped Paul in his tracks with a revelation of the truth, Paul immediately recognized his knowledge for the tether it was. Paul quickly counted his earthly accolades as rubbish and resolved to know nothing but Christ and Him, crucified. As a result, Paul became one of the most powerful expounders of the Gospel of any New Testament writer. His work still guides Christ’s church today.
You see, writer, sometimes a tether may actually feel holy or good. But here’s the thing. The enemy of God’s best is often not a bad choice. It’s most often a good option that ignores His deeper purposes for your life.
Removing Tethers in Life
I removed tethers as I entered my first leadership role as a co-president of my 80-member church community. At the time, I was terribly insecure in written communication. It often took over an hour to draft a simple email. You see, I had become persuaded that I was not an easy person to understand. And had quite a bit of evidence to back it up!
Instead of allowing that self-narrative to define me, I faced it head on and asked God to help me excel in correspondence. As I asked, I had the sinking feeling I would get a bunch of emails soon! Sure, enough emails and communications began pouring in. With each, I asked for God’s help to reply.
It took some teeth gritting to get over my habitual second-guessing, and a little help from my husband as he, for a time, reviewed my writing. But by the end of the year, I was beginning to correspond with confidence—a skill that’s become a pillar in my work and ministry!
Removing Tethers in Your Life
You see, here’s the thing, writer. Nearly every gift we’ve been given by God will at some point be opposed by fears or abused by others. Why? Because we have an enemy. He knows that, when we step into our divine destiny, it will wreak havoc on his kingdom. This is why when fears try arise, it’s so important to overthrow them with the truth. God’s glory is at stake! Because here’s the deal…
When we begin to exercise ourselves in what is true, it not only sets us free, it frees God’s power to move unfettered through us into the lives of others, too. Let me prove it to you…
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- …but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. – Daniel 11:32
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. – John 14:12-13
- For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. – Romans 8:19-21
- So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:12-17
- For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:6-7
You see, writer, when we lean into God to overcome the fears that tie us, we are able to step fully into the identity He’s provided us in Christ. When we do that, it gives us the confidence in Him to walk boldly in those works He’s prepared before the foundation of the world for us to do.
Where to Start with Removing Tethers
So are you ready to identify and remove the tethers in your life? Here are a few ideas to get you started…
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- Assess the Problem. Prayerfully assess when and where you tend to draw back in life when you know you should be moving forward. What causes you to say “no” where God is asking for your “yes?” Are there any common denominators in those moments? What thought causes you to pull back each time? Once you’ve identified when you pull back…
- Identify the Lie. Once you recognize where you are saying “no,” begin to examine why you say “no.” What thoughts rise up about yourself or others? What narrative runs through your mind? How do you view yourself in those moments? As you begin to dig, ask God to reveal the lies that seem to make “no” a more compelling response than “yes.”
- Lean into Truth. Once you’ve identified the lie at the root of the tether, actively overcome that lie with the truth. Look up scripture that speaks to the lie. Listen to messages on the topic. Begin to speak God’s truth over yourself. Ask God to give you opportunities to practice acting on what’s true. Begin taking small steps forward based on who you truly are in Christ.
- Step Out in Faith. All growth is activated by obedience! Once we recognize where we’ve believed a lie, the most powerful thing we can do is to act on what’s true. Because, here’s the deal…
Jesus said in John 8:32 that we will know the truth and the truth shall make us free. That word “know” means to experience. When we experience the truth, it goes beyond intellectual knowledge. We suddenly know a thing is true because it’s playing out in our personal lives! And here’s the thing…
When we begin to wrap ourselves in truth, it disarms the tethers in our lives and frees us to walk in the fullness of our calling. After all, if Roosevelt had not overcome his physical weakness, it’s unlikely he would ever have become the 26th U.S. President. If Paul had clung to his old doctrine as a new believer, he would not have had a mind ready to receive and expound on the richness of the Gospel of Christ. If I had allowed past misunderstandings to keep me “mum,” I would never been able to help unleash the voices of others. And the same is true of you, too.
We often have very little idea whose freedom is waiting on the other side of our obedience. Yet it is for freedom that we’ve been set free. Not just to enjoy that freedom ourselves, but to become vessels of it for others.
So if there has been something holding you back from all God has for you, I encourage you today, writer, to grab hold of the grace of God and strike that lie at the root by the power of His word, the help of His Spirit, and the encouragement of the Body of Christ. As you do, God will be able to unlock a whole new world of wonder, work, and ministry through you and your words, too.
#untethered #overcome #glory #EveryWriterWriting
