Re-scripting Your Life Through Scripture

Confession: Sometimes I don’t feel as confident as I sound. If you heard me speak from the stage, you might not believe me—at least until you learn more about my life. Even my husband questions my feelings of insecurity when I express them. He often tells me, “You never get nervous.”

My response? “Ha! You have no idea what I battle inside my head.”

Obviously, I’m able to mask my fears. I often look and sound confident on the outside, but what no one else can see is how my insides quake. However, I don’t just cover my feelings. Years ago, I discovered a secret to truly overcoming my nerves so I can accomplish my desires, goals, and dreams. When God calls you to it, his voice can get you through it.

Call Me Courageous

By September 23, 2010, I’d endured a wave of tsunami-like tragedies. But I’ve learned that when you survive enough adversity and a new wave hits, the benefit of past experience guides you past the emotional debris and keeps the undertow from pulling you under.

You can look up to the heavens and say, “Lord, I don’t know how you’re going to get me through this, but you helped me in the past, and I’ll trust you to do it now.”

I needed this reminder during my forties when I discovered my dad is not my biological father.

My world spun out of control. It felt like solid earth was jerked from beneath my feet. Everything good around me was swamped by this seismic news. It was a pervasive tremor—my life would never be the same.

However, I made a choice. In spite of my feelings, I exercised faith in the face of my fears.

I refused to call myself an accident. I chose to believe what God says in Psalm 139, that he knitted me in my mother’s womb. Though I gave myself time and permission to grieve, I did not allow this change in my life to defeat me or define me. I realized I exist on purpose, with purpose, to fulfill an abundant purpose.

It was during this time, that I began to read scriptures in the Bible with a new focus and determination. I began to re-script my life—and the names I call myself.

I Am Courageous: If you feel afraid, it’s the best time to exercise bravery, because without fear courage isn’t necessary. Dare to call yourself courageous.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Call Me Worthy

Old fears, subconscious beliefs, habits, and self-destructive behaviors can keep you imprisoned behind an invisible shield of shame. I believed lies that debilitated my self-worth until I discovered the power in a name change.

Labels matter, but we do not have to accept those relegated to us. We can choose positive portraits based on God’s love for us, reinforcing our intended destinies. The truth is, most of us listen to emotional lies more than God’s voice. I am meant for more than that—you are meant for more.

I Am Worthy: Don’t let anything hold you back—your past, your emotions, your present conditions. Give yourself permission to honor Christ with your life. Dare to believe you are worthy.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41 NIV).

Call Me Talented

I grew up in a family of artists. Painters and sketchers with award-winning gifts. Then there was me. I spent years struggling to draw stick people—I never did perfect the craft. I did, however, perfect the art of beating myself up. I concentrated so much energy on what I couldn’t do that I missed what I could do. I’ve since realized I am a painter using the palette of words.

Some people are conditioned by voices berating them over years and decades. Often, verbal abuse comes from our own internal dialogue. We tell ourselves, “You’ll never measure up. Why can’t you do things like So-and-So? You’re lazy. Stupid. Useless.” The sad list goes on.

God encourages us to do what we can based on the uniqueness of how he made us. We all have something to give, it just may look different than someone else’s gift.

I Am Talented: With intentionality, alter your inner dialogue and focus on your God-given abilities. Good gifts, once accepted, cannot be denied or taken away. Dare to see your talents.

For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29 NIV).

Call Me Doer

Without action, our aspirations, dreams, and goals are meaningless. In order to succeed, we must do—not be a hearer, thinker, or talker only. Paraphrasing Ecclesiastes 5:5, I often remind myself, “It’s better not to make a promise than to make one and break it.”

Refining raw talent into something polished takes elbow grease. We can’t shine without effort. Don’t break promises—even those to yourself.

Be a doer. Exhibit integrity at an intrinsic level, doing the same thing whether you believe anyone else can see or hear you or not.

I Am a Doer: Don’t just talk. People notice and opportunities increase when we keep our word. Dare to get things done.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22 NIV).

Call Me Grateful

“I don’t know if you’ll get your eyesight back.”

I sat in a blinding white exam room, fluids coursing from my stinging, red-rimmed eyes. This was not what I wanted to hear from my ophthalmologist.

I began to review my life. The good. The difficult. The tragedies. A pattern emerged.

I realized every hard situation I’d experienced eventually transformed into something useful to comfort, help, or encourage others. Adversity over time became a blessing. The ashes of my pain turned into crowns of beauty.

I realized it isn’t time that heals all wounds, but what God does during that time that brings peace. Weeks before my eyesight returned, I began to praise and offer thanks.

I Am Grateful: Regardless of circumstances, expressing thanks before you see results is a secret to recovery. Dare to call yourself grateful.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

Tough times hit us all. When you feel powerless, arm yourself with a name change. Re-script your life with Scripture. These are the motivators with the power to heal, to help you ride any wave. Listen to what God calls you and dare to believe:

You are Courageous.

You are Worthy.

You are Talented.

You are a Doer.

You are Grateful.

You were made for more!

Anita Agers-Brooks is an international speaker, business/life coach, and award-winning author. Her new book, Exceedingly: Spiritual Strategies for Living on Purpose, with Purpose, and for an Abundant Purpose releases in April. A mass market edition of her best-seller, Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over, releases in May. Connect with Anita at anitabrooks.com.