Body language we all use it. Intentional or unintentional.
Yesterday while teaching in jail one of the participants who was new, just sat there with arms folded and a stern look on her face. Her body language was: I cannot believe I came to this class, this is stupid and I am better than this.
I continued to speak and handed out papers. I wanted them to fill out an “ILP- Individualized Life Plan”. This guided them to make decisions as to where they wanted to be in 90 days, 6 months, 2 years and 5 years. As I was asking the questions the ladies were writing their answers and everyone would answer except for this particular lady whose “body language” was closed off.
We finished the 90 day page and I asked a question: Based on your past life experineces, how are you going to get there? So I went to the board and showed them this: An Event has happened which created an opinion about yourself, which then created an expectation (good or bad) which was then followed by an action. This cycle is called “letting life happen”.
So this cycle continues until you see yourself worthy enough to make the change. Or until you let someone into your life that will hold you accountable to make the changes that you wish to see. For most people they are so far in the cycle of “letting life happen” that they can’t even start to imagine a different life. The bondage of life is so bad, but it’s all they know so it’s comfortable- plus they don’t want to hear the “I told you it wouldn’t work” by someone in their past that still has a hold on them, this could be a parent, relative or a past significant other that they have a child with.
Now back to the “ILP”. I showed them by flipping the cycle just 180° they will now enter a cycle of “Making Life Happen”
So back to my lady in class: Her body language has now totally changed and you can see that the wheels are turning. And I ask her “so what do you think?” She says, “Since July I have been wondering why I can’t get a court date until next month and why I am sitting back in that cell…. But now I know; I was locked up so I could see this. I have been floundering for the past 2 years and knew that it was about to end nowhere good, but I could not stop it”.
She went on to say that she was caught up in the “I’ll never be good enough or good as” thought process.
I looked at her and said “Don’t let Satan use your thoughts that you will never be good as or good enough to be forgiven. When God forgives he forgets; Satan just uses our low self esteem and low self confidence to keep us in the bondage of worthlessness, and that we aren’t worthy to be someone of importance.”
So what is it that God is asking you to change in your life but you are so used to “letting life happen” that you don’t see yourself worthy of attaining:
- Finishing High School
- College education
- Teaching a Sunday School Class
- Starting a Business
- Being a good parent
- Being a good spouse
- ___________________________________________________
This content is from the 180 Program© New Beginnings Curriculum
