The battle is not yours

“Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”- 2 Chronicles 20:15

As Sara Horn continues Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, she emphasizes that when we are intentional in living each day for Jesus and praying our way through it, something powerful happens.  This is important because not every moment of life is spent on a spiritual mountaintop with God.  At some point, every Christian has to return to the reality known as life.

When that reality hits, Christ’s joy and peace and kindness don’t always flow so easily from us.  We may wonder if those virtues are present at all.  Our natural tendency is to hold on to slights and offenses for dear life- if we let go something might change, and we won’t like it!  Sara explains the necessity of giving every day of our life to God:

“If I can intentionally give Jesus my days in any given week, I can be intentional with giving him every day of my life.  I can be deliberate about giving him the relationships in my life, even the hard ones . . . especially the hard ones.”

Sara asks one significant question: “Are the battles we chose the battles God has chosen for us?”  Even so, Sara stresses that the battle we really need to focus on in the battle within ourselves.  Only through God’s power can we choose the better way.

Today’s question: What battles do need to give up to the Lord?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation for Holy Week/Easter- “We all, like sheep”

The battle is not yours

Benefit of the doubt

Today Sara Horn concludes her study of the Seven Habits of Highly Forgiving People in Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?.

4.  A highly forgiving person lives by the Golden Rule.  By reminding ourselves that we fail God daily and need His forgiveness, we become cognizant of our need to offer that same grace to others.

5.  A highly forgiving person meets with God regularly through prayer and Bible study.  We can make time for prayer and Bible study when we first make time with God a priority.  Sara emphasizes that highly forgiving people apply Romans 12:2 on a daily basis: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

6.  A highly forgiving person offers the benefit of the doubt to others when their actions are harmful or disappointing.  Sara points out that the temptation is to always assume the worst.  As we offer the benefit of the doubt to others, we remind ourselves that every one of us is human and mistakes can happen.

7.  A highly forgiving person consistently prays for other people.  When we pray for other people, especially those who rub us the wrong way, we are (1) bringing someone else before our heavenly Father and (2) softening our hearts towards people and situations.

Today’s question: Which of the Seven Habits of Highly Forgiven People have you already incorporated into your Christian walk?  Which habits still need work?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “The battle is not yours”

 

Benefit of the doubt

Highly Forgiving People

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”- Luke 6:27-28

Sara Horn follows her study of highly resentful people with the Seven Habits of Highly Forgiving People in Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?.  The first three habits are discussed in today’s post.

1.  A highly forgiving person is intentional about living in peace.  Sara states that “forgiveness . . . requires stepping out of your comfort zone and letting go of your wants and expectations.”  The powerful actions Jesus describes in Luke 6:27-28 can produce peaceful results.

2.  A highly forgiving person is kind.  She cares more about doing the right thing in a given situation that what is in it for her.  Sara asserts that it is possible to practice kindness and get in the habit of being kind when  you do it often enough.  When we practice the characteristics of kindness, we are prepared to offer forgiveness when needed.

3.  A highly forgiving person is generous with her time, her money, and her life.  A generous spirit and offering forgiveness go hand in hand.  When giving becomes our default setting, it is easier to give grace and second chances as well.

Today’s question: What Scriptures have helped you develop a forgiving attitude toward those responsible for your vocation loss?  Please share.

Coming Wedesday: the new Short Meditation for Holy Week/Easter- “We all, like sheep”

Tomorrow’s blog: “Benefit of the doubt”

 

Highly Forgiving People

Secure in Christ

Today Sara Horn concludes her discussion of Seven Habits of Highly Resentful People in Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?.

3.  A highly resentful person is constantly disappointed by others and by life in general.  Many of the disappointments we face in life are legitimate and hurtful.  However, resentment can take hold of us when we place higher expectations on someone or something than warranted.

4.  A highly resentful person is dissatisfied with some area of her life, if not several.  Dissatisfied people complain about what’s not right in their life or what they wish would change, but are unwilling to put forth the effort necessary to make those changes.  They play the blame game- it’s always the fault of someone else.  These habits should cue us that wholeness only comes from Christ.

5.  A highly resentful person avoids spending time with God.  When God is active and working in our heart, there is no room for a resentful spirit to reside.  We must be intentional in spending time in God’s Word or talking with Him.

6.  A highly resentful person is quick to get angry.  Sara states that “resentment is a breeding ground for bad tempers.”  Ecclesiastes 7:9 implores us: “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.”

7.  A highly resentful person hangs on to pride.  Here self-worth becomes caught up in our accomplishments.  If, in our eyes, someone else does something better, we diminish our value in response.  Sara states: “Pride starts when insecurity peaks.  Be secure in Christ.”

Today’s question: Which of the Seven Habits of Highly Resentful People characterize you following your vocation loss?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Highly Forgiving People”

Secure in Christ

Resentment

“It (love) is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”- 1 Corinthians 13:5-6

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”- Nelson Mandela

In Chapter 2 (“Letting Go of the Hurt”) of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, Sara Hor observes that when we resent other people, we become preoccupied with our own insecurities and get caught up in our personal inadequacies.  Sara then presents Seven Habits of Highly Resentful People to help us identify what it looks like to be entrapped in a life of resentment.  The first two habits are discussed today.

1.  A highly resentful person never stops grumbling.  Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, when we practice grumbling more grumbling surely will follow.  Sara says that when grumbling becomes our default setting, we need to remember the words of St. Paul in Philippians 2:14-15a: “Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure.

2.  A highly resentful person always seems to be offended by something.  Sara notes that self-righteous thinking, feelings of superiority, snap judgments, and negative first impressions all are part of the I’m Offended package.  We are more likely to be offended when we convince ourselves that we are sinless and deserving.

Today’s question: To what degree has resentment been a factor following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss?  Please share.

Coming Wednesday: the new Short Meditation for Holy Week/Easter- “We all, like sheep”

Tomorrow’s blog: “Secure in Christ”

Resentment

Bought at a price

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As Sara Horn concludes Chapter 1 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, she states that if there is a lesson that she’s learned as a result of the most recent experiences and journeys God has taken her through, it is that her life is not her own.  Having Christ in our hearts means complete surrender of our wills to His.  Overlooking the hurts and grievances that have come from other people is part of that surrender.

Perhaps, Sara notes, we have been praying for years that God would heal our deep, lingering wounds and scars, so we could move on with our life.  What we may not realize is that God already is working on those scars, on that healing.  Sara emphasizes that God is just waiting for us to meet Him halfway:

“Jesus may be asking something of you today as he prepares to heal your heart, as he helps you let go and get ready to move on from the things keeping you from living the fuller life he desires for you.”

We need to stop listening to the white noise and start listening for God’s voice.

Today’s question: What is keeping you from living the fuller life Christ desires for you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Resentment”

Bought at a price

The foundation of walls

Today Sara Horn continues her discussion of five potential white N-O-I-S-Es in our life, covering the remaining four noises.

2.  Other people’s opinions.  Sara points out that, as much as we value our own opinions, we want to know what others think.  The problem arises when we don’t like those opinions or we’re unsure what to do with them when they don’t integrate with ours.

We also run into difficulty when we accept other people’s opinions as truth rather than as thoughts we have a choice to accept or dismiss.  That establishes the foundation of walls God doesn’t want in our lives.

3.  Inconsiderate friends and family.  Due to the nature of family relationships, family members may say things to us they would never say to a friend, fellow church member, or a stranger.  We must be careful that such slights or undeserved remarks don’t stay with us, creating a low hum that always is in the background.

4.  Stingers.  These are words said to you as a child that you’ve never forgotten.  They are the harshest of the white noise and the genesis of a deep-rooted resentment you are unaware of because you’ve lived with it for so long.

5.  Elevated problem.  This is a combination of other noises.  Because the hurtful comments or ongoing conflict grow quickly and the pressure of this noise feels enormous and constant, it feels impossible to let go.

Today’s question: Which white noise or noises has drowned out the sound the Lord wants you to hear?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Bought at a price”

The foundation of walls