Posted on Feb. 11,2011 @ focusontheheart.org
(hope for the heart page)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~ Romans 12:2
It is when we realize that our behavior comes from only two intentions that we understand why we ourselves, as well as others, do what we do each moment of the day. To leave behind our past programing to protect and move ahead with the intent to learn can be quite a challenge, even though we know it is for the better. If you read the verse posted at the beginning of this page, we realize that we have been conformed to the ways of this world and that means to defend ourselves at all costs, but the teachings of our LORD didn't teach us this was the way to live, did they? The words of Paul in this verse echos the teaching of Jesus when he says to "be ye transformed" and how does he tell us this is done? Well, we all know that Paul's being well taught in the temple is often emphasized, but it is the teaching of God following his conversion that convinces me of his wisdom when he says, "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
Paul knew, just as we do today that until we change the way we think about others and ourselves, our actions will not change and we will most likely continue to act based on our self pride and preservation. What is so impressive to me is that he is teaching us that we can become transformed as a matter of fact! I saw no doubt in the way that Paul worded this passage, did you? So we have to ask ourselves,"Am I ready to be transformed by the renewing of my mind or is my intent to remain conformed to this world and it's influence?".
My friend, if you haven't noticed a change in your decisions, the way that you treat others, the things that you think about, your anger management or your conscience sensitivity; according to the Word of God your mind has not been transformed. You are still living a life conformed to the world, but the next passage gives us all hope as Paul explains how he was transformed. Remember as we read this that our goal is "to learn" from every moment of our lives, rather than protect, so keep your mind open! You may get upset at this message and begin to defend yourself, but that is really just between you and God today. No one else will know, except you! There's no reason to defend yourself! Be true to you. Be honest with yourself! Paul has given us the way that he found a transforming by the renewing of his mind.
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." ~Romans 12:3
How do we stop protecting ourselves and begin learning from our life experiences? Well, first of all, Paul had to have the grace that was given by God and is also available to every single one of us today! Secondly, Paul began to think with less pride and more understanding. Thirdly, Paul said he thought soberly; as in not under the influence. That can be the influence of drugs, alcohol, prescriptions, anger, lust, revenge, temptations, commercialism or even peer pressure! We can apply this to anything that will affect the way we think and causes us to compromise our core values. That's the way we live before we become a child of God and are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Let's take time to recognize the pride that we had when we are conformed by the world view, so that we can become in tune with what God has planned for us by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is good and acceptable. Yes, we will prove the will of God in our lives as we LET GO OF THE PAST and receive the grace of God that transforms!
Showing posts with label past. Show all posts
Showing posts with label past. Show all posts
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
TRUE TO YOURSELF
Posted on Feb.8,2011 @ focusontheheart.org
"hope for the heart" page
What do you think about yourself and what makes you think it's true?
But Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 19:14
I'd like for you to open your minds up to a thought process that has been studied for many years. Growing up we may have been told that children are to be seen and not heard or to sit down and be quiet. Then when we brought our report cards home that reflected that we had a real problem with public speaking, our parents told us to be courageous; stand up and speak out! It is these mixed messages that have caused many children to grow up with the mixed messages about themselves that have virtually held them back in every area of their life.
We find ourselves in the trap of thinking,"I believe I must be this way in order to survive." This is basically the results of past programming. Moreover, "I hate myself for feeling the way I do." Even as an adult, we create our own report cards as we compare the things we own, who we think we are and our successes to everyone else. This actually becomes a factual reality in our minds to determine our belief in ourselves; good and bad! The problem is that this isn't anywhere close to being true to reality or yourself, especially when we consider the great truths concerning what Jesus said to His disciples about the children and people.
We'll grade ourselves on what we've accomplished compared to our neighbor.....C+; what we own compared to our coworkers.....A-; who we've become compared to others with the same education....D. That is when we begin to hear the whispers of those voices that remind us, "Won't I ever learn? Why do I feel this way? You should have known better? Why do I always mess up?". That's our very own self-judgment accounting system. It keeps us thinking about what should have been or how I should have known better. Living in the past causes us to develope beliefs about ourselves and has a huge impact on our future decisions.
With the very high divorce rate in our society today, some children say that they will never get married because their parents divorced. It is the experience of the pain and feeling of guilt that has cause these children to believe that it is a mistake to get married. They don't believe that they will be able to have a lasting relationship based on this feeling. As soon as we hold some false idea about ourselves rather relying on a direct perception of what's really happening, we inevitably give rise to anxiety and fear. We create suffering of our own through the repetition of our confusion. It's like pushing a wheelbarrow with a flat tire. It rolls, but a little rough and slow. We keep thinking that something is wrong, but not sure what's causing the bump.
That explains why the disciples were so sure that Jesus had not wanted the children in the way that day when they began to tell the parents who had brought their children to take them back. See, we often even think we are doing right when we act based on our beliefs that were developed according to our experiences and traditions growing up. The fact is that Jesus had the divine ability to understand the needs of every child that day! Don't you think that the disciples learned something new that day as well? We all need to be willing to learn; to keep our minds open to the reality of the truth rather than living our life based on the things that we have been told about ourselves. Jesus wants us to put aside the past experiences and come to Him as a child again. By the way, this was so important for us to remember that Mark and Luke also give an account of this day in history so that we could be enlightened thousands of years later. (Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16) Doesn't it only make sense that Jesus addressed His followers as children as He was ascending into Heaven? I believe it is a fact that we are to be known as His children and Jesus gave us a commandment that we can trust will never leave us feeling like a failure or comparing ourselves to others. Be His child, open your mind to the truth about yourself and your children starting today! Learn to be really TRUE to yourself!
"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. " ~ John 13:33
"hope for the heart" page
What do you think about yourself and what makes you think it's true?
But Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 19:14
I'd like for you to open your minds up to a thought process that has been studied for many years. Growing up we may have been told that children are to be seen and not heard or to sit down and be quiet. Then when we brought our report cards home that reflected that we had a real problem with public speaking, our parents told us to be courageous; stand up and speak out! It is these mixed messages that have caused many children to grow up with the mixed messages about themselves that have virtually held them back in every area of their life.
We find ourselves in the trap of thinking,"I believe I must be this way in order to survive." This is basically the results of past programming. Moreover, "I hate myself for feeling the way I do." Even as an adult, we create our own report cards as we compare the things we own, who we think we are and our successes to everyone else. This actually becomes a factual reality in our minds to determine our belief in ourselves; good and bad! The problem is that this isn't anywhere close to being true to reality or yourself, especially when we consider the great truths concerning what Jesus said to His disciples about the children and people.
We'll grade ourselves on what we've accomplished compared to our neighbor.....C+; what we own compared to our coworkers.....A-; who we've become compared to others with the same education....D. That is when we begin to hear the whispers of those voices that remind us, "Won't I ever learn? Why do I feel this way? You should have known better? Why do I always mess up?". That's our very own self-judgment accounting system. It keeps us thinking about what should have been or how I should have known better. Living in the past causes us to develope beliefs about ourselves and has a huge impact on our future decisions.
With the very high divorce rate in our society today, some children say that they will never get married because their parents divorced. It is the experience of the pain and feeling of guilt that has cause these children to believe that it is a mistake to get married. They don't believe that they will be able to have a lasting relationship based on this feeling. As soon as we hold some false idea about ourselves rather relying on a direct perception of what's really happening, we inevitably give rise to anxiety and fear. We create suffering of our own through the repetition of our confusion. It's like pushing a wheelbarrow with a flat tire. It rolls, but a little rough and slow. We keep thinking that something is wrong, but not sure what's causing the bump.
That explains why the disciples were so sure that Jesus had not wanted the children in the way that day when they began to tell the parents who had brought their children to take them back. See, we often even think we are doing right when we act based on our beliefs that were developed according to our experiences and traditions growing up. The fact is that Jesus had the divine ability to understand the needs of every child that day! Don't you think that the disciples learned something new that day as well? We all need to be willing to learn; to keep our minds open to the reality of the truth rather than living our life based on the things that we have been told about ourselves. Jesus wants us to put aside the past experiences and come to Him as a child again. By the way, this was so important for us to remember that Mark and Luke also give an account of this day in history so that we could be enlightened thousands of years later. (Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16) Doesn't it only make sense that Jesus addressed His followers as children as He was ascending into Heaven? I believe it is a fact that we are to be known as His children and Jesus gave us a commandment that we can trust will never leave us feeling like a failure or comparing ourselves to others. Be His child, open your mind to the truth about yourself and your children starting today! Learn to be really TRUE to yourself!
"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. " ~ John 13:33
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