Are You Hooked?

Are you hooked?

Have you engaged in the relaxation of being afloat a lake, on a boat, waiting for every signal to indicate you have hooked a “big one?” I like to go fishing and have reeled in many a fine catch that led to a wonderful meal. I like the sport and have learned much about life musing at the art of catching a fish. Following the bait, and casting the line, the fish must be caught on a hook then the hook set, lest it get off the hook and swim away. Once well hooked the fish is reeled in and rendered captive. Even if only fishing to catch and release. For a moment, until released; the fish is captive. Some, however, end up fried and consumed. Has this ever happened to you?

Have you ever been hooked by a lie? While I enjoy fishing, I detest the painful occasions that I got caught and hooked! To say that it hurt to remove the hook is an understatement. It was excruciating! Hooks are sharp and have a barb meant to pierce the flesh so that it does not release without pain or damage to what is caught. Perhaps the purpose of the barb is not only to set the hook, but, so that the fight is given up upon realizing that the struggle of the fight is actually causes pain and weariness brought about by trying to break free.

Lies can sound or seem convincingly true and are very much like getting caught on a “hook.” So how can we know what is divine and what is deception? Some common questions asked when approaching decisions are: “how do I know what I am supposed to do?” “How do I know if it is fear or discernment keeping me from doing something?”

Here is a litmus test that I share with clients for use in making and ensuring that you don’t wind up hooked and entailed by lies.

1. Know what and in whom you believe.
2. Know the nature of and character of whom and what you believe.
3. Know that truth is unwavering.
4. Know also that any inconsistency in one of the previous three questions is your biggest clue that something about what is being believed is a lie.

Patterns of behavior resulting from some traumatic incident can trigger the mind into default mode of operation of survival mode. Default behavior operated in this way: an external factor or behavior triggers a memory (conscious or sub conscious), that alerts the mind to think there is a predicable reason to fear, be anxious, or to worry. If, however, you believe change and growth is possible there is a “trump” situation. Truth trumps facts, just as a trump card can tump an otherwise winning hand in poker. The truth is every hook or lie take us captive. The fact is some times emotions are the warning signals indicating something needs to change.
If you do the same thing every time, do not expect different results. I tis time for change! Though the fact that something in the past can trigger “certain default behavior,” it is your choice to take courage and make a significant difference in your life.

Rather than be hooked and entangled by lies that say there is reason to worry, angst, or to be gripped by fear, take courage! “You have not been given a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and discipline.” So friend, like a fish fighting for it’s life to be set free, get off that hook. Lies are ties that bind and take us captive. Instead, take every thought captive and live in freedom.

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