December 13 Pray Like Nobody’s Listening…
Affirmation: I nourish my body, mind and soul.
~~~~~~
Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Continue to recite Matthew 22:37. Today spend time talking to God about how to love Him “with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul and all your mind.”
~~~~~~~
Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown Guidepost 10: Cultivate Laughter, Song and Dance. Let Go of Cool and Always in Control
The gremlin that holds us back from laughter, song, and dance is the desire to be seen as cool and always in control.
Playing it cool is how the ego tries to protect itself. The subconscious thought is that “If I don’t play it cool, people will judge me. They’ll think I’m immature, stupid, foolish, uncool, …”
But the flip side of that worry is even more powerful.
“When we value being cool and in control over granting ourselves the freedom to unleash the passionate, goofy, heartfelt, and soulful expressions of who we are, we betray ourselves. When we consistently betray ourselves, we can expect to do the same to the people we love.”
Which is why I now see being perceived as “weird” as a compliment. My aim isn’t “fitting in.” I just want to be true to myself. THAT is the path to forming authentic connections. And THAT is what it means to live wholeheartedly.”
Let yourself laugh, sing and dance today…and everyday.
~~~~~~
Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews
2. The Guided Decision
I will seek wisdom
Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.
Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively search her out. My past can never be changed, but I can change the future by changing my actions today. I will change my actions today! I will train my eyes and ears to read and listen to books and recordings that bring about positive changes in my personal relationships and a greater understanding of my fellow man. No longer will I bombard my mind with materials that feed my doubts and fears. I will read and listen only to that which increases my belief in myself and my future.
I will seek wisdom. I will choose my friends with care. I am who my friends are. I speak their language, and I wear their clothes. I share their opinions and their habits. From this moment forward, I will choose to associate with people whose lives and lifestyles I admire. If I associate with chickens, I will learn to scratch at the ground and squabble over crumbs. If I associate with eagles, I will learn to soar great heights. I am an eagle. It is my destiny to fly.
Ask and it will be given to you, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be opened to you. Matt 7:7
~~~~~
Reading for Today
Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff
Pray Like Nobody’s Listening. Give Like Nobody’s Watching. Love Like Nobody’s Counting.
Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you’ll be able to test and approve what God‘s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Roman‘s 12:2
No matter how old you are, or where you live, there is one thing I have found to be true: the world is pushing us to conform. I know we should not be like the world, which is true, but I’m thinking of something different, wherever we are, the people around us are trying to figure out whether we fit in or not. Sadly, all of us are being nudged toward acceptance, and that often looks like sacrificing some things we shouldn’t.
I think this is most apparent in junior high where everyone walks through the doors, hoping they don’t get noticed, just wanting to fit in. As we grow, we are not much different.
One aspect of living more like Jesus is getting comfortable with being different, with living outside the norms, and risking a life of love. Here is where it gets confusing. The world tells us if we give our possessions away to those in need, we will have nothing left. Jesus tells us whatever we do for the least of us we have done for him. The world tells us if we give our love away freely, we will be taken advantage of. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and give them the clothes off our backs.
If you want to move toward a life that looks more like Jesus, be weird. The world has enough of the same ol’ same ol’ going on. God is waving you on towards something different, something that will catch the world’s attention with His love.
In what ways are you going to be different for the sake of loving like God loves?
No matter how old you are, or where you live, there is one thing I have found to be true: the world is pushing us to conform. I know we should not be like the world, which is true, but I’m thinking of something different, wherever we are, the people around us are trying to figure out whether we fit in or not. Sadly, all of us are being nudged toward acceptance, and that often looks like sacrificing some things we shouldn’t.
I think this is most apparent in junior high where everyone walks through the doors, hoping they don’t get noticed, just wanting to fit in. As we grow, we are not much different.
One aspect of living more like Jesus is getting comfortable with being different, with living outside the norms, and risking a life of love. Here is where it gets confusing. The world tells us if we give our possessions away to those in need, we will have nothing left. Jesus tells us whatever we do for the least of us we have done for him. The world tells us if we give our love away freely, we will be taken advantage of. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and give them the clothes off our backs.
If you want to move toward a life that looks more like Jesus, be weird. The world has enough of the same ol’ same ol’ going on. God is waving you on towards something different, something that will catch the world’s attention with His love.
In what ways are you going to be different for the sake of loving like God loves?
Comments
Post a Comment