Aug 6 Details vs Direction e

Affirmation: I am strong and confident. I am at peace with the flow of my life.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Ponder these verses and talk to God about what you need or dream about. Listen for His response. Carry these verses with you this week. God is with you.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV~~~~~~

Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love by Bob Goff

                          AUGUST 6 

GOD USUALLY DOESN’T GIVE US ALL THE DETAILS. HE GIVES US A DIRECTION. 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. PSALM 34:18 

When my kids were little, we loved scavenger hunts. One of the kids was the designated “hider” and would place objects throughout the house and yard along with clues to help us sleuth them out. At the end, whether we found anything or not, we all got ice cream. 

Faith can be a bit like that scavenger hunt. Some things about faith can only be understood by searching for them. In the search lies the building of common experiences, relationships, community. Searching can be frustrating, too, if you need to know the details in advance. It’s not a business trip God has invited us on—it’s an adventure. God doesn’t give us all the details when He tells us to go. Like a series of clues, He sends us in a direction and trusts us to make some moves along the way. We don’t know where we’ll end up when we start. We just know where to go next, and that’s enough. 

We don’t need to know all the steps or all the answers in order to get started. We just need to know the next step. And after that, the next one. If we’re confident the One with the master plan has sent us in a direction, we can relax knowing He’ll be faithful to show us what to do when we get there. 

God already told us His plan for us is to give away love like we’ll never run out. He said He wants us to look for people who are lonely or hurting and hold them close the way He holds us. He said He wants love and grace to be the lens through which we see the world. Take these with you when He sends you out on the adventure, and you’ll have all the details you need. 

Who in your life is hurting or lonely? What can you do to show them God’s love?

Extra:

Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Cultivate Authenticity.

Be genuine. God has never looked at you or me and been disappointed.

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://1peter.bible/1-peter-1-7

Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews

6 The Compassionate Decision 

I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT.

By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts. I will forgive those who have criticized me unjustly.

I now understand that forgiveness has value only when it is given away. I forgive their lack of vision, and I forge ahead.

I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity. I will forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭NIV‬‬