This is the second post in this series. Check out the first one here.

So what is the “Kudzu” for you? What is it that threatens the promise of God in your life?

Regret?    Fear?     Apathy?   Shame?

As I cut through my own kudzu of regret and grief, I am learning new skills. Through the Psalms I am encouraged by the victory of others tangled in the tendrils of despair. 

As I read, my heart finds its voice again. I pick up the Sword of the Spirit and I am strengthened as He teaches my hands to war.  Here’s what I do: 

1- Return and Recite: Go back to God’s Word. Psalms are a great place to start. Find one that resonates with you. Say it aloud. Pray it. Sing it. Cry it. Dance to it. Write it on note cards and place them wherever you can see them throughout the day. Along with scripture, personal promises from God work, too! 

 

2- Remember: As you “return and recite” notice God’s faithfulness in scripture. Allow your heart to remember the ways God has been faithful to you.

 

3- Rejoice: You will only find what you look for. Look for reasons to rejoice and be thankful to God.  As you read scripture, think about your life—you will see God’s fingerprints. Let one thing turn to two, then three…

“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds those who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”  -Psalm 145

CAUTION: These next steps I share with caution.  Sometimes, my tendency is to reach out for a friend before going to God. I think God calls us into the wilderness to teach us about His heart. We cannot dive into the depths of His heart tethered to the comfort our friends offer. Please don’t misunderstand, God gives us community to share our lives with—Praise His Name! The danger is when use our friendships as a diversion. With that said…

 

4- Call for Reinforcements:  There are times when the kudzu is particularly thick. At those times, I will send a text (not a full conversation) to ask for the help of one or two battle buddies to join their Swords with mine.  They often remind me of God’s promise and hold me accountable to the other three R’s.

 

5- Find the Root. You’ll need to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where the issue is deeply rooted in your heart and it’s origin. This is where praying through things with a trusted friend is a gift. Then under Holy Spirit’s direction, He will show you how to get rid of it. Note: There are many resources available for finding the roots of kudzu. I would love to point you in the right direction, if you would like further information: email me. 

 

6- REPEAT steps 1-3. … Cutting through Kudzu is not a “One and Done” deal. Repeating steps 1-3 regularly helps me to replant the promise of God in place of the kudzu.

 

I hope the tips you’ve read encourage you to be brave, fight well!

What have you found to be helpful in cutting through the kudzu? Feel free to leave a comment below.

 

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This is the second post in this series. Here’s the video from earlier this week.