Jan 19 GOD DOESN'T TRY TO ENTICE US WITH SUCCESS OR PUNISH US WITH FAILURE; HE WANTS TO CAPTIVATE US WITH PURPOSE.

Affirmation: I am blessed, grateful and abundant.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

CREATE YOUR MANTRA

When you can't get to your intuition, your mantra can get you back to being able to hear yourself. Your mantra is the megaphone for your intuition.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

A picture of yourself, double-sided tape and markers, watercolors or any other art supplies you would like to use to decorate your mantra page.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Think of a mantra that rings true to you. Sit with it for a couple of days before you commit to it. Say it to yourself when you're facing uncertainty—does it feel like a soft place to land?

2. Go to the first page of your journal that you left blank at the beginning of the course and write down your mantra.

3. Adhere a picture of yourself to the page to remind you to be true to yourself.

4. Decorate the page with markers, watercolors or any other art supplies you have on hand, like pieces of scrapbook paper, stamps or stickers.

Optional: When you're done with this activity, you could take a picture of your journal page and share it on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #OLCBreneCourse. See what your classmates are sharing on the Social Stream below.

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Active 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)

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

Jan. 19

GOD DOESN'T TRY TO ENTICE US WITH SUCCESS OR PUNISH US WITH FAILURE; HE WANTS TO CAPTIVATE US WITH PURPOSE. 

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8:38-39 

 

When we were kids, for many of us life seemed to spin on a cycle of rewards and punishment. Life was performance based. If we got straight As or hit the home run, we could go out for ice cream or on that camping trip with the Boy Scouts. If we struck out in a relationship or failed a friend or embarrassed our family, we were grounded. It was as if love would be given and withdrawn like the movements of the tide. It was about what we did more than who we were. It was only natural to assume God worked the same way. Do good things and succeed and you receive love and approval from God. Mess up and love is withdrawn.

 

If only we could remind ourselves more often that God never cares about the grades on our report cards. He wants us to make it all about His love, not our performance, and He's a whole lot more concerned about our character than our accomplishments. He doesn't find joy in our success; He delights in our attempts.

 

God's response to our success is love, not merely approval. And God's response when we fail is massive love. Nothing will separate you from His love. Money and big houses and status aren't what God offers us if we behave ourselves, and He doesn't punish us with loss or sickness when we make a mess of things. Are there consequences when we fail? You bet. Often, in fact; but one of them isn't that God pulls away. The opposite occurs. He draws close to us. He wants us to put our passion into action because He knows it is in our pursuit of Him where we'll find our greatest joy. He wants us to be captivated with purpose, regardless of whether it looks like worldly success.

 

If you find yourself believing God stacks all your successes on one side of a scale and your failures on the other to measure how you're doing, remem­ber that the only curve He grades on always tips toward His extravagant and inexplicable love.

 

What success or failure has been getting in the way of your experiencing God's deep love for you?