Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1 …
Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1
Join Now
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
You are reading from the book Each Day a New Beginning
How I relate to my inner self-influences my relationships with all others. My satisfaction with myself and my satisfaction with other people are directly proportional.
- Sue Atchley Ebaugh
Hateful attitudes toward others, resistance to someone's suggestions, jealousy over another woman's attractiveness or particular abilities are equally strong indications of the health of our spiritual programs. Our security rests with God. When that relationship is nurtured, the rewards will be many and satisfactions great.
Our inner selves may need pampering and praise. They have suffered the abuse of neglect for many years, no doubt. In many instances we have chided ourselves, perhaps shamed ourselves. Learning to love our inner selves, recognizing the value inherent in our very existence, takes effort, commitment, and patience - assets we may only just now be developing in this recovery program.
Our inner selves are the home of our Spirit wherein our attachment to all strength, all courage, all self-esteem, and all serenity resides. Our Spirit is one with our higher power. We must acknowledge the presence and utilize the comforts offered.
My relationships with others are as healthy and fulfilling as my communication with God.
____________________________________
by Neil Anderson
July 22
BEHAVING YOUR WAY INTO GOOD FEELINGS
John 13:17
If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them
What happened to mankind emotionally as a result of the Fall? For one thing, we became fearful and anxious. One of the first emotions expressed by fallen humanity was fear (Genesis 3:10). Today fear is crippling our relationships and activities. Fear is a result of the Fall. If fear is controlling your life, then faith is not.
Another emotional by-product of sin is shame and guilt. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were naked and unashamed (Genesis 2:25). God created them as sexual beings. Their sex organs and sexual activity were holy. But when they sinned, they were ashamed to be naked and they had to cover up (Genesis 3:7). Many people mask their inner self in fear that others may see them for who they really are.
Mankind also became depressed and angry after the Fall. Cain brought his offering to God and, for some reason, God was displeased with it. As a result, "Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?'" (Genesis 4:5-7).
I believe God established a principle here which echoes all through the Bible: You don't feel your way into good behavior; you behave your way into good feelings. There are tons of things you don't feel like doing, but you do them. I never feel like going to the convalescent hospital to minister. And the moment I step in the door, the smell alone does away with any positive feelings of wanting to continue on. But I always leave feeling great; I'm glad I went. Good feelings follow right behavior. Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17).
Prayer:
Lord, help me do what You want me to do even when it seems unpleasant. I seek Your blessing for obedience.
___________________________
"I think the Lord is trying to tell me that I spend way too much time worrying about changing myself when what I really need to be concerned about is letting Him change my heart.
With a changed heart, I will seek His approval rather than the fleeting approval of people, which usually throws me into a pit of despair.
With a changed heart, I will develop the discipline I need to move my body more and move my jaws less, so my body can keep up with my spirit."
____________________________
Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us. “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you” (Colossians 1:27 NLT).
How does this happen in real life? Through the choices we make. We choose to do the right thing in situations and then trust God’s Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. Since God’s Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking.
Comments
You might also like ...
Releasing the Spirit of Revelation
I belong to the Elijah List adn this si one fo the emails I recleived today and it is filled with awesome …
From the book Each Day a New Beginning …
From the book Each Day a New Beginning : The level of anxiety I feel when an attractive woman enters the …
Sherroll, what do YOU and your husband share in common? What do YOU and all of your friends share in common? No matter how much we believe in God, and His ways, we can only follow in His preferred footsteps once we have been able to get rid of the rubbish that we have collected along the way.
We attract to one another because of our commoness with one another, we are like magnets, two negatives make a positive, two positives make a positive. I have very few friends in my life because I came from a negative past, and regected it, it does not sadden ME however that I have few friends because negative friends, whilst plenty are around, are not what I want in my life.
It may be an idea Sherroll to assess those whom YOU surround yourself with, and question whether YOU really need some or any of them around YOU. As an adult YOU have a commitment only to your children and yourself, and that is all that should matter in your life. It would be great to have the ideal partner yes, but he only exists if he is a loving person like YOU, if not then YOU are better off without him in your life. Become a positive magnet Sherroll, eliminate the negative magnets in your life, and sooner, rather than later, YOU will attract only positive people into your life.
Remember, God holds our hand in everything we do, He may prefer it that YOU do not make a particular decision at a certain point in time, but He allows us to do so believing that we will learn from our experience of such a decision. God is very forgiving, a great deal more perhaps than we may think.
YumYumChum