Too Self-focused July 8

 

When you are sad, your Self has become too much in focus. You start thinking, ‘why am I hurting so?’ Stop and go do something for someone. When you can help dig them out of trouble, the hole that remains can become a grave they can bury their sorrows and so can you.  Love for others kind of energy can outlive hurt. Heavenly Father’s motivation of love moves you to give and then give some more.

    Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that your Love is greater than the Self. Help me pay attention and let love reign.

Basic Motivation July 7

 

Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son. The one thing that truly got his immediate attention was not just a physical hunger… but a compelling hunger to go back home. One true element that brings you to heavenly Father is appetite for the new covenant Kingdom in Christ. Try not be filled with only earthly delights. Live at being filled with the Holy Spirit that gives direction and mixes properly with earthly involvement.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the hunger and yearning for the Holy Spirit’s direction in everything I encounter.

 

True Pardon July 6

 

When you think you were doing all that was right and correct; when you feel life has been unfair;  when you feel you should receive reward and yet someone else, who appears unworthy with less merit, gets the credit. . . when others obtain the good things, do not bother. Hidden behind any obvious recognition may be heavenly Father’s Grace working. He controls and makes the right connections. Your situation may depend more on God’s Grace working, even if you do not feel glad. Take a deep breath, stay calm. Be encouraged because never-ending Grace extends to you as well.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me that your forever Grace covers us all.

Value System July 4

 

True peace comes from the heavenly Father who has covered your anxiety with the Holy Spirit. Experiencing true peace and rest allows you to clarify your value system, those issues you hold most important enough for action. The ‘Isness’ of the present is significant, but you are not stuck in the “IS” of the present. Instead, you may recognize what Ought to happen beyond the present situation and recognize the effort for the kingdom’s sake. Your values are foundations of what you hold most significant. Those become the very things you follow to live by. Often…your feelings become your actions, and your actions become your feelings. They all simmer in your soul as a value system.

 

Prayer: Lord, Help me see what you hold significantly…and help your priorities keep in line while dealing with my values.

Jesus as Reality July 1

 

Some time may pass when you do not feel heavenly Father’s presence, when the smallest feeling of irritation, unrest, or fear starts to cause disturbing thoughts. In those times, use conscious effort to think toward God’s presence. If you start to hurt or even complain, focus back to God’s existence. If you feel left out, come back with conscious focus to the Holy Spirit. If you start to feel unloved; accept again God’s unending love. Do this over and over until you recognize more that God dwells with you continually. Just as Jesus, has intimacy with heavenly Father, so do you when you stop to give recognition. Any new day, you may start over!

Prayer: Oh Lord, bring me back to your center when I start to feel at odds with anything, especially with other people’s actions when I don’t approve.

 

Soul Sickness June 30

        The writer of the scripture Hebrews talks about the ability to rightly divide the soul, spirit, and body. Here the soul is still that free will in you. The spirit vibrates as life force embedded in humans by heavenly Father and makes up what is uniquely you. The emotions may be associated with spirit or soul, but the soul is an individual’s decision-making power. The body is the house, the recorded moving picture of spirit and soul. The soul creates your ability to choose as a Self. The spirit houses your true essence, the underlying authentic you. God’s Spirit joins with your spirit to grow His will in all of us as salvation reality. Many today are still soul sick because they have been too willful, thinking they can fix things by wanting to go their own way.

        Prayer: Father, I may not understand fully your design for me, but I genuinely want to know my complete essence and follow your purpose. Yet I still tremble at the thought.

Do the Unusual June 29

 

        Remember believers…Jesus would hug the Leper. He saw beneath the hurt…so today, hug a homeless, either literally or give money, time, or some concern. There is beauty beneath the hurt. Stay alert. Any person may have a ‘leprous day’. Encourage the person beneath the hurt. They too are made in God’s image!

        Prayer: Oh Lord, help me recognize and move beyond the wall of pretense of persons and see, with action, the beauty there.