Truth telling leads to personal transformation

by Trisha Taylor

Most of us who have been Christians for very long have developed some level of personal mastery around the teachings of Jesus. We know what Jesus wants us to do and we do it most of the time. It's even pretty easy for us—we don't even think hard about it any more. At the same time, we have some level of disobedience in our lives. There is some place where we know the clear teachings of Jesus and yet we don't obey.

Sometimes that disobedience is just out and out rebellion. Other times it exists because people have a large capacity to live in denial - we are inauthentic about what is really happening in our lives. Living in a culture of "image management" we construct a world in which we pretend that we are not being disobedient. Even more often, if you scratch beneath the surface in conversation, you'll discover that the habitual disobedience grows out of years of trying to obey but experiencing failure after failure. Ultimately, that person becomes resigned and cynical about things ever changing in this area of their lives.

It is the deep conviction of the Faithwalking community, that personal transformation will often be jump-started when a follower of Jesus can tell the truth about his or her habitual disobedience. By walking in the light with a loving God and in a non-judgmental community of friends, our truth telling opens up possibilities for significant growth that didn't exist before.

In our Faithwalking retreats, we work to create a safe place for participants to tell the truth about their obedience - and their disobedience - in a manner that is liberating. What once was hidden is opened up to encouragement, prayer support, and accountability.

Albert (not his real name) participated in our second Faithwalking retreat. Out of a time of solitude with God, he came back to his small group and with great courage made this confession. "I am harsher, more demanding and less forgiving with my wife than I am any other person in my life." As his confession was heard, a new possibility began to emerge. By faith, Albert, declared his intention to seek prayer support and accountability for changing this long standing pattern with his wife. With his faith declaration, the support and accountability of a small group, a renewed commitment to trusting God to change his behavior, and a Faithwalking coach, today Albert and his wife say that their 25-year marriage has been profoundly renewed.

We invite you to consider joining us as we allow God to create a community of transformational leaders in the homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and third places of our city.