May 26: THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES SHAPE US. LISTEN TO THE ONE BEING NARRATED BY HOPE.

Affirmation: I choose to be resilient. I move from competition to collaboration.

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: I am cycling back for this week, too. I have experienced times in my life when I needed this reminder over and over. I still need to remind myself to choose what I think about and what I allow myself to focus on. Ponder this verse and memorize it anew. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.“ Philippians 4:8

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Six Characteristics of a Holy  Life

Lord, help me through the power of your Holy Spirit to live a holy life and to develop the characteristics of humility, love, acceptance, discipline, peace and faithfulness.

To be holy is to be set apart for God’s purpose. In order to live a holy life we must be courageous, compassionate and connected. When I look at the 6 characteristics…humility, love, tolerance (acceptance), discipline, peace, and faithfulness; I realize my strength has to come from God and it shows up when I am courageous, compassionate and connected to God and others.

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Walk in Grace and Live in Love. By Bob Goff 

May 26

THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES SHAPE US. LISTEN TO THE ONE BEING NARRATED BY HOPE. 

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 

MATTHEW 13:34 

My worst subject in school was always ... school. I couldn't focus in class and would fidget until the bell rang at the end of the day. I had an excuse for everything. Being late, not turning in homework, not coming to school at all. I was terribly bored, so I became incredibly detached. 

There was one teacher, though, who wasn't so focused on having his stu­dents just memorize information so we could pass the test. Instead, he tried to get us excited by telling us the backstories hidden within history. He told us about the less likely things, the surprising turns and feelings behind the failures. He wove together a true-to-life picture of real people in real danger, not just facts about battles won or lost. 

When cold facts were taught with threats of failure if we didn't memorize the data, I usually failed. Most of us don't learn because we're threatened or cajoled or shamed into it. But when stories were told about kind or compas­sionate or courageous people, setting an example for who we might become, I leaned in and my mind opened up. We're all wired this way. 

Jesus rarely spoke to anyone without telling them a story. The reason is simple. We accept the stories told to us with our faith, our life experience, and our hearts. Because well-told stories are so powerful in our lives, it's not surprising when we realize the stories we tell ourselves have tremendous power to shape us. If you tell yourself you're a bad student, you'll probably become one. If you convince yourself you don't have enough time to help in the soup kitchen, you probably won't. If you say to yourself you're not fun to be around for long enough, you probably won't be. 

 

Listen to who God says you are and what He believes is possible in your life. Breathe in hope and breathe out your life. Be picky about listening to the stories you or others have been telling over your life that just aren't true. You'll know if it's God telling the story because it will always be one filled with hope and possibility. 

What story is God telling through your life this year?