Dare To Be: Breaking Chains

Whelp, here I am, 11pm PST, curled up in my bed, pjs on, Burgerville chocolate milkshake on one side of me and Despicable Me gummy candies on the other, just… processing.

Tonight I went to the Dare To Be event in Vancouver, WA with Natalie Grant and Charlotte Gambill. If you ever have a chance to go to one of these events where you live, you should do it! They have it the beginning of every year. This was my third year in a row going and each time I’ve gone, it’s incredible and encouraging in more ways than I can explain.

This year’s theme though is on “Love Wears Out.”

It’s based off of Colossians 3:14 (Msg), “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.“

Everything they talked or sang about hit home as it was on the same subject I have been working through in my own life: breaking chains. It was incredible seeing more confirmation of the truth, healing, and freedom that comes from our identity based upon Christ and His Word.

In the first half of the night, Charlotte talked about “dieting” and “detoxing” any negative and discouraging, shaming, harmful, incorrect, etc beliefs we have about ourselves. Take our past and leave it at the cross and take up the bridal garment of pure white Christ has made for us. She used the example of a master tailor and how he puts together a wedding dress. It was incredibly beautiful and moving.

“His love drapes your frame in dignity.” – Charlotte Gambill

During the second part, Charlotte talked about “What Not To Wear.” She mentioned how a lot of us have many clothes in our closets we’ve held onto that we need to get rid (i.e. clothes of bitterness, hurt, offenses from long ago, hatred, etc). These clothes cause a wedge in our relationship with Christ, which she in turn said gives us an edge. And just like a true friend will tell you if what you’re wearing isn’t good, a true friend will call you out help you go through your closet to clean out anything that doesn’t belong. They will “call you off the edge instead of join you” (based off the story of Michal in 2 Sam 6).

Of course, this is all hard. It’s hard to “detox” and “diet” as well as get rid of clothes we’ve held onto for so long. But we are changing. Our bodies are different with Christ in our hearts than before, so we must do a “spring cleaning.” Sin would love to be your stylist (did you know that was sin’s first act… creating shame and a “covering” for us?), but do not let it!!

How?

Start by saying, “I don’t feel… (i.e. like wearing joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness, etc), BUT I CHOOSE…

Change is a choice. Thankfully with Christ on our side guiding and helping us, it’s completely possible. 

With all that being said, I wanted to share with you a pledge all of us women made. I hope you can take it, claim it, and use it daily in your own life.

A friend told me today that everyone hates themselves. I was horrified when I heard this as I refuse to believe that as a fact. Let’s change our attitudes and our clothes and let’s put on the clothing Christ has made for us: a beautiful bridal garment and the armor of God (I love Charlotte’s idea of us being warriors for Christ).

The Pledge:

I pledge,
To increase the love that will reduce the pain,
To soften my speech for the greater gain,
To let things go so I can liberate my growth.

I pledge,
To remove the edge that hurt built,
To erase the lines that fear drew,
To embrace the love that will heal me,
Speak the confession that will free me.

I pledge,
To put things right and forgive the wrong,
To allow mercy to move and grace to be my song.

For I was made to live free,
Free from the wedge of sin, sickness,
Offense and brokenness.

I refuse to let others hem in my future,
To allow circumstances to contain my dreams,
Lies to limit my destiny.

I step out.
– Love anyway
– Give anyway
– Believe anyway,
– Praise anyway

Having full confidence my God will make a way,
So I erase the edges and embrace the adventure.
I move beyond the edge.

THIS IS MY SOLEMN PLEDGE.

It’s time to be whole again. 
It’s time to dance again.

There is power in the name of Jesus… to break every chain! 

I hope you all have a blessed rest of your week and weekend.

If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to comment.
I’d love to hear what you have to say. 🙂

God bless you,
~Woman of Purity