(This post originally appeared on the devotional blog of LBC | Capital President Dr. Tommy Kiedis, “Don’t Ask the Fish.”)
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
— Romans 12:2 NLT
Years ago, Norman Vincent Peale was walking through the twisted streets of Hong Kong when he happened by a tattoo studio. He glanced in the window. If one was willing to sit long enough, he could have an anchor, a flag, a mermaid, or any number of emblems inscribed on his arm or chest. But what really caught his attention that day were three words: “Born to lose.”
Dr. Peale was astonished. He entered the shop and pointed to the words. “Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, born to lose, tattooed on his body?” he asked the Chinese tattoo artist. “Yes, sometimes,” the man replied. Peale was incredulous, “But I just can’t believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.” The man in the tattoo parlor simply tapped his forehead and said in broken English,
“Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.”
Tattoos are in vogue today. Do you have one? Before you reply with a quick, “Yes!” or “No!” let me clarify. I’m not referring to ink etched on flesh, I’m talking about one of those tattoos on the mind, a phrase that has stained your thinking:
- “You’re no good!”
- “It’s all your fault!”
- “You really blew it!”
- “You’re so ugly!”
- “You are a failure!”
- “You’re nothing!”
- “God doesn’t care about you!”
- “God is angry with you!”
- “You are too far gone!”
Perhaps these echoes in the heart come from years of abuse, or maybe a recent failure, or just a bad day. While the source does matter, perhaps the bigger challenge is the lingering impact. These words can send us spiraling down! Continue reading…