June 13: WE'LL KNOW WE'RE GROWING IN OUR FAITH WHEN OUR LOVE FOR PEOPLE DWARFS OUR OPINIONS ABOUT THEM.

Affirmation: I will nourish my body, mind and soul. 

Take time for yourself. It may be only a few minutes to sit quietly and breathe. For me, I read through my daily reminders. The affirmation, today is my reminder to be certain of my actions, and this week my focus is on cultivating creativity. Then I use the Bible app for the daily refresh which include prayer prompts and I’m reading through the Bible in a year. (I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here:https://www.bible.com/app)
I have to work to be still and quiet so it’s best if I get my stillness in before I even get out of bed! 
Think about how to build your habit of nourishing your body, mind and soul.

~~~~~~~Ponder, Personalize, Practice: We almost always have something going on in our lives that challenges us and seems overwhelming. The 5 affirmations in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 are my continuous reminders to lean on God as He does life with me.
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬~~~~~~~
Reading for Today
Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

                     June 13


WE'LL KNOW WE'RE GROWING IN OUR 
FAITH WHEN OUR LOVE FOR PEOPLE 
DWARFS OUR OPINIONS ABOUT THEM. 

Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 
EPHESIANS 5:1-2 

I'm not a big fan of routines. They tend to make life a bit too predictable for me. There are a few I keep though, mainly to make sure I get out of bed and don't leave the house with one pant leg tucked into a sock. Routines, or beau­tiful habits, can be clarifying for us. They can be great reminders of what's important to us and guide us back to those important truths. The problem arises when we apply our habits and routines to the people around us. What I mean is, we tend to box people into our assumptions and expectations about how others should spend their time. You'll know this is a problem for you if you develop an impression of someone because of what you've experienced them doing and, without really meaning to, stop seeing the possibility that they could change or surprise you with some new, beautiful aspect of who they are. 


Here's a routine I've started: I've stopped letting my opinion become a filter that interprets someone's every move or every word. When someone does something I don't understand yet or reacts differently to a situation than I would, I assume that God's up to something beautifully different in their life than He is in mine. 


What if our default setting toward others wasn't a pile of opinions? What if it was a load of assumptions that they have wonderful motives tempered by the same insecurities and failures at execution we experience? 


If we're going to do this, we'll need to reprogram the way we see each other. Changing this routine isn't an overnight exercise. It'll take practice and diligence. It is rooted in believing we ourselves are loved and being self-aware enough to realize we all have a few rough edges we're working to smooth out. It's allowing others the same grace we want for ourselves. Next time you engage with someone and assume they'll be the same version of themselves, pause for a moment. Find a new routine. Carve a new groove in your brain. God created each of us, and much of the work He's doing in people is happening in their hearts where we can't see it yet.


Make love your routine, even when (especially when) someone reinforces the opinion that they're difficult. We'll know we're growing when our love for people dwarfs our opinions about them.


What new routine could you create that would enable you to be more consistently full of love?

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