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The Power of the Stories We Tell Ourselves! · Inspired Edge: From Fear to Faith-Filled Living

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  Foreign.
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  I'm really glad you're here today.
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  Maybe you've had one of those weeks where your mind just won't slow down.
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  You keep replaying conversations, decisions, mistakes, wondering if you said the wrong thing, made the wrong choice, or somehow fell short again.
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  Or maybe there's this quiet voice that keeps showing up in the background of your thoughts.
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  A voice that says things like, you should be further along by now.
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  You're not as capable as other people.
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  Why even try?
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  You'll probably fail anyway if you've been there.
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  First of all, you're not alone.
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  And second, those thoughts don't get the final word.
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  I'm Chuck Keller and I'm a Christian life coach who helps busy professionals break free from burnout and fear based patterns so they can live with bold faith, clear direction and purpose driven action.
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  And I do that through what I call the five life clarity, confidence, focus, Faith and purpose.
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  And this is inspired Edge from Fear to Faith Filled Living.
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  And today we're talking about something that quietly shapes almost every part of our lives the stories we tell ourselves.
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  Because the truth is, the story playing in your mind often determines the direction of your life.
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  Now the Bible is full of stories Jesus taught through parables.
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  Scripture tells the stories of people like David, Moses, Esther, Peter and Paul.
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  Stories have power.
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  They shape belief.
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  They shape action.
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  They shape identity.
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  But here's something important that we don't always think about.
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  We are telling our stories to ourselves all day long.
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  Not stories we write down, but the interpretations that we create about our lives.
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  When something goes wrong, we tell ourselves a story about what it means.
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  When we face a challenge, we tell ourselves a story about whether we're capable.
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  When we see someone else succeeding, we tell ourselves a story about where we stand and those stories become beliefs.
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  Proverbs 23:7 says, for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
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  In other words, the thoughts that settle deep into our hearts begin shaping who we become.
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  And if those thoughts are filled with doubt, comparison or insecurity, they can quietly limit the life God intends for us.
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  Let's walk through a few common stories many of us carry and the truth that God offers in their place.
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  I'm not good Enough this one shows up in a lot of ways.
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  You might feel it when you're at work watching someone else get recognition you hoped for.
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  You might feel it as a parent when you wonder if you're doing enough for your kids or maybe even spiritually.
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  When you look around at other Christians and think they seem stronger in their faith, that inner voice whispers you're not measuring up.
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  But Scripture speaks something completely different.
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  Psalm 139:14 says, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
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  That verse isn't just poetic fluff.
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  It's truth.
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  God didn't create you by accident.
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  Your personality, your strengths, your experiences, even the challenges you faced.
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  None of that is random.
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  And Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that.
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  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
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  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
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  Plans to give you hope and a future.
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  Your value isn't determined by where you are today.
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  Your value was settled the moment God created you.
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  I'm stuck where I am.
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  Sometimes the story we believe isn't just about our worth.
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  It's about our circumstances.
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  You might look at your job, your finances, your relationships, and think, this is just how life is going to be.
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  Maybe you've tried to make changes before and it didn't work out.
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  So the story becomes, why bother trying again?
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  But God rarely works in straight lines.
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  He works through seasons.
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  Romans 8:28 reminds us that, and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.
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  Notice it doesn't say some things.
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  It says all things.
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  That's even in the seasons that feel confusing, even the moments where you wonder what God is doing.
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  Sometimes growth happens slowly, quietly, beneath the service, just like a seed growing underground long before we ever see the plant.
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  God may be preparing you for something bigger than you realize.
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  Story number three I can't change this story can feel incredibly convincing.
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  You try to change a habit, and it comes back.
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  You try to build discipline and fall off track.
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  You try to grow spiritually and feel like you're starting over again.
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  Eventually the thought creeps in.
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  Maybe this is just who I am.
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  But that idea runs directly against what scripture teaches.
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  Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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  Notice what that verse doesn't say.
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  It doesn't say you can do all things through your own willpower.
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  It says, through Christ who strengthens you.
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  Real transformation isn't about trying harder.
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  It's about relying on God's strength instead of your own.
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  Change may not happen overnight, but growth happens when we keep walking with God day after day.
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  Everyone else is ahead of me.
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  This one has gotten stronger in the last decades because now we see everyone's highlight reel every single day.
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  You scroll through social media and see someone launching a business, someone buying a new home, someone celebrating an achievement.
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  And before you even realize it, your mind starts comparing they're doing better than I am, I should be further along.
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  Why can't my life look like that?
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  But Galatians 6:4 gives incredibly practical wisdom.
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  It says each one should test their own actions.
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  Then they can take pride in themselves alone without comparing themselves to someone else.
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  God didn't design your life to be measured against someone else's path.
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  You have a different calling, different timing, and different assignments.
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  Comparison steals joy, but gratitude restores perspective.
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  And here's a takeaway.
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  Let me leave you with this in thought Today, the stories we tell ourselves matter.
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  But the most important story is the one God tells about you.
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  And throughout Scripture, that story is clear.
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  You are loved, you are chosen.
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  You are being shaped for a purpose.
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  And even when your life feels messy or uncertain, God is still writing the story.
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  The question then becomes which voice are you going to believe?
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  The voice of fear or the voice of truth?
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  Here are three reflection questions you might want to sit with this week, maybe journal about them, and maybe pray through them.
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  Your self worth in God's eyes Think about a time recently when you felt inadequate.
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  What story were you telling yourself in that moment?
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  Now ask yourself, what does Scripture say instead?
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  Overcoming Limiting Beliefs Is there a belief that you're holding onto about yourself?
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  Something like I'm not capable or I'll never change?
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  How might Philippians 4:13 reshape that belief?
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  And then comparison and Contentment where do you find yourself comparing your life to others the most?
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  What would it look like to focus instead of the unique path God has placed in front of you?
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  And friend, if today's conversation has stirred something in you, if you've been feeling stuck in burnout, fear or uncertainty about your next step, I'd love to give you a resource that can help.
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  I've created a guide called the Five Life A Faith Based Framework for Breaking Free from Burnout and Fear Based Living Inside It, I walk through the five core areas that help you move from fear based living to faith
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  filled living, clarity, confidence, Focus, Faith and purpose.
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  These are the same five Life keys I use when coaching clients and they provide a simple framework for understanding where you may feel stuck and how God can begin bringing renewal and direction into your life.
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  You can download the guide for free using the link in the show notes.
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  It's a simple starting point, but it can help you begin seeing your life and your story through the lens of God's truth instead of fear.
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  Friend, thank you for spending this time with me today.
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  My prayer is that you walk away from this episode with a little more clarity, a little more confidence and a reminder that God's plan for your life is still unfolding.
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  Your story isn't finished, and the author of your life is incredibly good at redemption.
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  Until next time, keep leaning into faith, keep moving forward with purpose, and keep living with that inspired edge.