"One Thing I Learned on Tour" by Lori kennedy

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:5b (NIV)

I am blessed and highly favored! I just returned from a bucket list adventure! I was honored to be on the production team for a large tour owned by Compassion International. We sponsored over 8000 children during a six-week period throughout the United States. This tour featured some of the largest groups in Christian Music. Our line-up included the likes of Jon Guerra, I Am They, Shaun Groves, Group 1 Crew, Jamie Grace, Matt Maher, Crowder, Tedashii, and Mercy Me. I had a blast!

Everything should be great, right?

Things are great, and I’m happy and thankful.  However, I was under the impression that this incredible opportunity would make all my struggles magically disappear.  I falsely believed that in this incredible place of favor, I would not have any of my normal struggles.  That did not happen.  I found that I encountered the very same issues on the road that I struggle with in the normality of my everyday surroundings.  Being in the place of favor did not change the fact that I am still an over-achieving, people-pleasing perfectionist who wants everyone to like me while at the very same time perceiving that no one actually does.  Yes, one thing I learned is that we tend to carry our baggage with us everywhere.  In actuality, our triggers seem to get pushed even more easily when we are out of our “normal” environment.  That insecurity that I battle with…the lie that I believe which says “I don’t measure up” and “I’m not enough”... was still present.  In the environment where every situation and person was new to me, the more easily I became entangled in lies of my own making.

I have found that life is a journey, and although our eternal destination is secured the moment we say "yes" to Jesus, we still have years of battle wounds and scars that we must work through as we continue to learn what it looks like to seek Christ in all things.  This process is called sanctification, and it is just that – a process.  I can truly say that today I know that there are lies I have believed about myself and still struggle with.  This realization, in itself, is an improvement because I used to embrace these false beliefs about myself as truths.  I had to recognize a lie before I could renounce it and replace it with precious truths from God’s Holy Word.  The more I practice at this, the better I get at it.  Philippians 4:9 says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or in me – put it into PRACTICE.  And the God of peace will be with you.”

Step 1 – RECOGNIZE the false truth you believe about yourself

Step 2 – RENOUNCE that false truth as a lie

Step 3 – REPLACE that lie with truth from God’s Word

Step 4 – REPEAT steps 1-3 (practice)

Christian vocalist and speaker Lori Kennedy believes in sharing the gifts and talents in which Christ has blessed her.  Authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability are imperative to touching hearts for the Lord.  As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse from those in authority over her outside of her family of origin, Lori has had to overcome much to fulfill the destiny that God created just for her! 



Click here to listen to Lori's "I Will Survive (No More Lies)