May 17: ONE OF THE BEST SWAPS

Affirmation: I enjoy being creative.

“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 6:4-5 The Message

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Practice, Personalize, Ponder: Continue to memorize these three verses so you have them with you each day. Consider journaling your thoughts. I have a stack of note cards with the scriptures I have memorized so I can quickly access them. Today ponder, personalize and practice the final sentence.Focus on God’s peace that is beyond our comprehension.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians ­4:4-7 NIV

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Walk in Grace. Live in Love. By Bob Goff 

May 17

ONE OF THE BEST SWAPS IS WHEN WE REPLACE WHO WE THOUGHT WE'D BE WITH WHO GOD THOUGHT WE'D BE.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. PSALM 73:26 

I'm the only person I know who failed kindergarten. I'm not kidding! After the first week they politely asked me to pack my things and try again next year. How does someone flunk out of a class where you haven't learned anything yet?

 

My parents were both educators and were really embarrassed when this news hit the papers. I eventually got back in kindergarten and made it through grade school, but I failed more classes than I'm proud to admit. It's not easy to pay attention to math lessons when you've got more important things to do, like make friends and take care of the lizard you brought to school in your pocket. 


If I could just get through high school, I thought to myself, I wouldn't have to deal with these kind of failures anymore. And you know what? I was right. I found new things to fail at. 


Somewhere along the way I realized failure isn't a part of life; it's actually much of life. We fail to be patient with people we love. We fail to find the right words to give to someone in their moment of need. Sometimes we fail at fulfilling commitments to people we love, in big ways and small. 


Failure isn't a one-time event we have to endure; it's an ongoing reality that will make us better if we'll let it. Jesus showed kindness to people in the midst of their failures, and He always made a way for them to grow through them. There was always more grace then, and there still is now. 


Next time you fail something or someone, listen to the lessons it can teach you. It'll make you wiser and more gracious if you let it. What has been biggest failure? Bring it to Jesus. Let Him show you how you'll grow from it. 


How could you grow from your biggest failure? 

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