Passion to Pentecost

Day 8; 1st Sunday of Lent I can not want We live in a world of want. Nothing satisfies. Are you also a person of discontent? Always finding the negative first? Well, this is the best formula for unhappiness. Unlike what critical people expect to see happening, pulling down others does not make one feel higher or better. In fact, a critical person by his/her nature usually says out loud that he/she is struggling to love, accept and be kind to him/herself. Jobs, homes, spouses, bosses, weather, churches, pastors, family, friends, food are never good enough and saying this out loud is erroneously expected to be cathartic. If you are living with this critical spirit inside you I recommend you drive it out in Jesus’ name. It is time you discovered what joyful living looks like. No, I am certainly not trying to say that the world and everything in it is perfect. Far be it. However, ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’. If you are not shepherded by Him, yes you will want. But if you are, then what could these wants be but lies? There are two things I am referring to here. Seeing the good in the world around you and the second is being content with what you have. These two qualities usually go hand in hand and rarely exist without the other. One practical way to do this is to list(literally write down) out the positives. There are way too many things in life we take for granted. Working with street kids in India made me aware of what a luxury it was to be able to take a shower. Seeing broken families all around me in Australia makes me realize how blest I am to have the family I do. The other side to this is that truly everything does not need to be perfect for you to be happy. If you’re waiting for perfection while in this world you are setting yourself up for failure. Accept with equanimity the imperfections in yourself, your neighbor, your relationships, your work, your church, your weaknesses just as you accept the things that are to your liking. Perfection is coming but not down here. If you make up your mind to not say anything negative about anyone/a situation for a week you might just find yourself a little happier and content than you have ever been. I have tried this and it’s wonderful. Remember the tongue is a world of evil. As you refuse to let the negativity flow it will affect your state of mind and you move towards contentment. Reflection: Do I usually find myself speaking out the negative about everything? What insecurity is preventing me from praising others? Have my parents/family/friends’ spoken words over me that have caused deep hurts in the past? What are the words that I speak to my own self? What area of my life am I struggling to accept? Prayer: Dearest loving Lord. Thank you for speaking wonderful words of life to me. Heal my past hurts Lord that have made me a bitter person and give me the grace to be set free from the bondage of a negative mind. Help me to appreciate the small, the big and the yet to happen. I give my mind to You, my Lord. Cleanse it from lies and misperceptions. May I see circumstances and people through your eyes of mercy. In Jesus name. Amen