You've Left Legalism, What Now?

by E.L.

1. Don't trade one legalism for another. It took years to escape a wrong mindset. Don't waste painful lessons. Apply what the process taught you.

2. Remember that the very people who now mock the trail you've blazed, may walk it tomorrow. Give them space and grace to change. Don't be bitter when they do. Make your trail a freeway, not a tollway.

3. Don't think human shunning is God's disapproval. Joseph had his pit and prison; Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus a wilderness; and Elijah a dried up Cherith. Their separation was necessary to God's purpose. What men used for harm, God used for provision.

4. Don't become what you hate. Don't become so dogmatic in your hatred for abusive systems that you mistake innocent people within those systems as abusers, too.

5. Love yourself. Doing so isn't sinful. Jesus said "love your neighbor as yourself." Don't base your worth upon the opinions of people who couldn't care less whether you live or die.

6. Don't get so caught up in a perpetual "leaving" that you never arrive. Dream a new dream. Create a new reality. Find something fresh and new. Something hopeful. Something that makes you smile.

7. Get closer to Jesus. Pray, pray and then pray some more. Don't pray because you have to, or because it's what's expected, pray because it's a joy to do so. This is easier now that you know that God is not out to get you. He's on your side.

8. Pursue peace. Chase it like crazy. Don't let anyone steal it from you. Connect with beautiful things. Long walks. Stained glass. Cathedrals. Beaches. Sunsets. Learn to love quiet spaces.

9. Trust again. Don't be jaded or cynical. You will probably get hurt again at some point. Such is life. Decide that the potential for love is worth the risk of pain.

10. Find sanctuary. Be a sanctuary. Help the hurting. Never cause pain.

Read Parts One, Two and Four.

This writing is the copyright of E.L. and is reprinted on this site by permission. View all of his available articles here.

Page added March 10, 2015

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