October 27: Every Time We Won’t Forgive…

Affirmation: Life Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful. ❤️

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Create the habit of seeking wisdom from God. He is gentry with His wisdom and is present  with you each moment. Build the habit and practice it often each day.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”James 1:5 NIV~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Guidepost 4: Cultivating a Resilient Spirit, Let Go of Numbing and Perfectionism

BRENÉ'S INTENTION

You would think that doing all this research and writing these books would be enough to set me straight on the numbing. Clearly, that isn't the case. I recently realized that when I'm totally overwhelmed, afraid or feeling super vulnerable, I can slip into a very dark place. As I was working on my collage for this lesson, I recognized a dangerous pattern:

1. I don't like how I feel so I numb.

2. Numbing the pain numbs the joy.

3. I feel like I have no joy in my life so I numb some more.

4. Only when I let myself feel the struggle do I open myself up to feeling the joy. And feeling both of these gives me the courage and strength to make changes and feel whole.

5. Feeling the struggle gives me the courage to change what's happening and practice gratitude for what's going well (even if I have to look hard for it).

6. Feeling the joy gives me the strength and perspective to move forward, out of the dark.

This Lesson's Intention

"I will stay mindful of numbing. I will remember that when I 'take the edge off' pain or stress, I take away my own joy. We can't selectively numb emotion, and I want more joy, meaning and purpose."

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Certain Decision 

I have a decided heart.

It’s not about what it IS…

It’s about what it can BECOME!

What you decide in your heart will be done and the light of God will shine on your ways. Job 22:28

The Certain Decision for personal success is what fuels your actions from the active decision. The clarity of vision you maintain in your mind is directly proportional to the effectiveness of your actions. A decided heart is unwavering in the face of continual challenges and setbacks and that ensures victory and a lifetime of greater fulfillment.

HOPE, DREAMS, ANTICIPATION…DECIDE.

Scripture:

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. -John 9:4 (NLT)

 

Reading:

There are some things which must be done today, things that you and you alone where created to accomplish. Some of us are wasting our time burning daylight when what we need to be doing is seizing the power of every moment. -From Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus

 

Reflection:

The window of opportunity will close. The sun shining with good intentions will set. Your child will one day leave home. If you wait for the perfect moment on the perfect day…you will wait until you die.  The day to act…is today.

 

Blessing:

May you experience God’s presence in the present and thereby learn His plans for every given moment and follow it into whatever joy and struggles it brings.

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love by Bob Goff

October 27

Every Time We Won’t Forgive Each Other, We Act Like Grace Doesn’t Exist.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke six:37

There’s a quote you might have heard that goes something like this: “unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” It made me wonder if we could start this quote: “forgiveness is like drinking poison for someone else and you both live.” Here’s what I mean.

If you’ve been alive for more than a couple of years, someone has probably hurt you in someway at some time. Maybe it was a big way that made your life feel off balance for a little while. Maybe it was in a small way that you just can’t seem to get over. Whatever it is, perhaps it left you in a place where forgiveness is hard to come by.
The hardest part about giving forgiveness is when the person who is wrong, doesn’t ask for it. We should give it away. If we don’t, we will have the poison of unforgiveness flowing through our veins and making our whole life sick.
It doesn’t have to stay this way. In a sense forgiveness isn’t like drinking poison; it’s more like giving you both the antidote. Forgiveness is an invitation to humble ourselves and turn toward people who have hurt us. It opens the door for grace to come in and surprise us with a renewed sense of love and commitment to each other. But even if that doesn’t happen, forgive any way. Every time we forgive each other, we create a little more space for love, and it’s this new space that has the power to change us.
What’s keeping you from forgiveness?(Seek wisdom from God who gives generously without finding fault.)