He had it, lost it, and got it back again. The elder brother is where we glean what most of us will contend with in here. He is living with contradictions and confusion. It’s a form of hypocrisy. How can I reveal my self authentically and not be judged wrongfully or rejected? This fear creates and causes us to have contradictions. But we must achieve the freedom Christ died for us to have! His true behavior, attitude and outlook is veiled because he doesn’t know how to properly manifest his emotions that have been repressed because of a self – imposed need for acceptance. Then what do we do when the worst does happen? What if, God forbid: (Examples): -My daughter dies -My marriage falls apart -My child was molested -My company collapses -My body is full of cancer.. The judgment by others that may result by these seeming “failures” teaches me to not have an honest expression of feelings, but to repress and deny my feelings and then to use other channels to express my frustration. Feelings either flow naturally, like a river, or get “dammed up.” If feelings are blocked, they begin to well up in your subconscious, affect your life and well being. When emotions are expressed, all systems are united and made whole. When emotions are repressed, denied or not allowed, the network pathways get blocked, stopping the flow of the vital “feel-good” unifying chemicals that run our biology and behavior. We often say “this or that person” made us angry. However, that is a misnomer. No one and nothing on the outside can make us “feel” anything. You respond to your own perception of the world. If as a child I hid “unacceptable feelings” from self and others to survive, then I learned hypocrisy. I learned live a life of false pretense and was trained to wear a mask. When someone wears a mask, they are on a mission to prove or project that they are “perfect.” They will use their family, work, abilities, or religion to project an image of perfection. Perfectionism is where you expect to have no faults. The capacity to feel and express anger, sadness, fear, guilt, gratefulness, happiness, security, and self-esteem is central to sustaining emotional balance. You must learn the skill of feeling a feeling and letting it fade in order to be whole and complete. People tend to overlook your faithfulness & loyalty and yet God declares: God gives favor to people he can trust, people who are faithful and obedient. While God requires faithfulness, it is often the person who hangs in there that is overlooked. People will take you for granted. Everyone presumes you are strong enough. “You can make it through things.” The Elder Brother, like many of us, is too quiet. He doesn’t speak up for himself. Everyone has a “trigger point” - when suppressed feelings that go unexpressed get triggered. The elder brother is struggling with a jealous attitude. It’s not so much that I’m mad at God being merciful to you, or that you got blessed. I just don’t know why it hasn’t happened for me, after all these years of faithfully serving the Father. The only way to break the power of the world around you is by another power. You must develop a lifestyle of trust and reliance on God! Knowledge says: “He’s Able.” Faith says: “He Will.” Commitment says: “If He never does, I still already won.” If you can say, “God, I hurt, I am angry, disappointed, but here I am..” then you are overcoming the mask. A “hypocrite” is a person who puts on a false appearance; an actor under an assumed character. Jesus Christ died for you to have the freedom to be your authentic self in Him and be accepted. Aren’t you ready to become unmasked?
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 02:09:49 +0000