Today I was rearranging some books and happened across a printout of a prayer from a book I never finished reading called The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry. This led me to pull the book off my shelf and flip through it in order to locate the page the prayer was on; in doing so, I came across another useful prayer to post along with it. The following prayers are exact quotes from The 4:8 Principle.
A Prayer for Emotional Strength
Father,
Thank you for the adventure of my life and for being with me every step along the way. Keep my mind from dwelling on what's wrong with people and situations, and instead, help me to focus on what's right, excellent, and worthy of praise. Show me how to affirm your power so that I don't think negatively about my problems. Inspire me to interpret the conditions I face in such a way that I remain constantly empowered to improve them.
I praise you for giving me dominion over my thought life and consequently over the quality of my emotions. Protect me from acting on feelings that are inconsistent with your Word. I know that obedience to your principles is the only true path to emotional health, vitality, and abundant joy. Just as figs do not come from thornbushes, I know that positive circumstances do not come from negative thoughts.
Teach me how to act in a manner consistent with uncontainable joy. Grant me the courage to act the way I would act if you were physically in my presence encouraging me. Thank you!
In Jesus' name,
Amen
A Prayer for Freedom
Heavenly Father,
I praise you for being everything that I need. Thank you for loving me perfectly. Whenever I struggle with the pain of dark emotions, fill me with the light of your presence. I trust you to put your healing hand where I need it most.
Please reveal any errors in my thinking that may be preventing me from experiencing life the way you intend. Protect me from the widespread mind games that can smother my potential for joy. Alert me to the truth of your Word in all situations, particularly in the midst of negative distortions and exaggerations.
Remind me to focus on the big picture and what's really important, especially in my most cherished relationships. Fill my heart with compassion for the trouble, pain, and anguish that rule over the lives of so many people. Keep me relaxed and secure so that I don't overreact to the conditioned negativity of others.
I know that your will for me does not include unproductive negative emotions. How great that is! Thank you for giving me power, love, and a sound mind so that I may live with joy all days of my life.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
I am hoping that I can restructure my thought processes by focusing on Philippians 4:8, which states, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things."
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Point of No Return
Have you ever wondered how you ended up at a particular moment in your life and realized that it was way too late to ever turn back and "make things right" as they say (whoever they are)? Last Monday, I had one of those moments and have done my best not to dwell on it ever since, but I've reached a point where I don't have enough distractions to keep my questioning thoughts at bay.
I'm sure the majority of people in this world have lost touch with particular friends or individuals in their lives, allowing friendships to fade into the background bearing no second thought. This past semester, I became busier than usual and apparently let one of my friendships slip to the wayside, (though I was informed it started before that) and unfortunately, it has not gone quietly. Rather, it slowly eroded until Monday, which is when it apparently imploded into oblivion. I'll admit I definitely played a role in the neglect, possibly choosing to spend time with others rather than this person, and probably became severely apathetic back in April. But what I am also aware of is that it takes two to make any friendship work, and I think I am most appalled that all of the blame has been placed on my shoulders, along with being told that I was not a good friend and this person no longer wants me in her life.
Over the past couple of days, I have done my best to not think about this particular setback in my life. Those close to me have told me to not blame myself, which is easier said than done, especially when I'm a fan of the Switchfoot song "Stars", which starts out with the lines, "Maybe I've been the problem, maybe I'm the one to blame. But even when I turn it off and blame myself, the outcome feels the same." Other friends have forbidden me to think all together, which is pretty much impossible, but fun to attempt. The best advice I received from a friend was to not beat myself up over things that aren't completely my fault and out of my control and to also stop thinking I cause everything to happen because I'm not God. I definitely appreciated all of this advice, but I feel it's hard for others to understand because getting told that I wasn't a good friend jumped past the realm of a slap in the face, straight to being a borderline crippling statement. To try and stay positive, I settled for listening to the song, "Up and Up" by Relient K in order to gain some sort of direction or meaning. The following lines are where I gained the most insight:
"Yesterday, is not quite what it could have been...But I swear today, with every breath I'm breathing in, I'll be trying to make it so much more...Cause I seem to get so hung up on the history of what's gone wrong. And the hope of a new day is sometimes hard to see...I'm on the up and up and I haven't given up. Given up on what I know I'm capable of...To be content with where I am and where I need to be, I'm moving past the past where I have failed."
My recent trip to New Orleans with a good friend of mine also helped to keep me from dwelling on my issues. I didn't want my wandering thoughts to prevent us from having a splendid time in the Big Easy, so I tried my best to keep everything on the back burner. Eventually, though, these thoughts became too persistent and needed to be addressed, which turned out to be while relaxing in an off-the-beaten-path park just outside the French Quarter whilst pondering potential tattoo ideas. I'm not sure if I will ever actually get a tattoo, but I have always figured that I would utilize a meaningful Bible verse, though I was never sure which one until that day in the park. While thinking over the messages I received on Monday, it suddenly hit me that the first portion of Proverbs 17:17 would be the most fitting for me. This states, "A friend loves at all times," which is a very powerful statement in my book because no matter what the situation, whether it be joy, anger, or personal crisis, a friend should love you through each and every moment. Sanctus Real has a song entitled, "We Need Each Other" that touches on this point. Some of the following lines ring true for me:
"I think I caught a glimpse of a life without friends. Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely. We never meant to hurt each other so can't we trust again? And take it as a chance to keep on growing...Oh, it's just part of being a family. Taking the good with the bad and the ugly...Oh, oh, we need each other so what's the fighting for? Oh, oh, we need each other, please don't close the door. Oh, oh, we need each other through all the highs and lows. Oh, oh, we need each other and I don't wanna be alone."
If, instead, you are constantly walking on eggshells because you are so afraid of screwing up or being a let down, then maybe the person that you consider a friend is really no friend at all. This thought crossed my mind as I pondered the recent events in my life, especially since I was written off so quickly with no chance for redemption. I know I have screwed up and I know she has screwed up, but without the chance of forgiveness to rebuild the relationship, there is nothing left to do but move on.
In order to work towards contentment in the moving on process, I've been listening to "This is Home" by Switchfoot, which begins with the following lyrics: "I've got my memories always inside of me, but I can't go back, back to how it was." What I need to do now is focus on the fact that God is in charge and knows exactly what He wants in my life. He planned out everything before I was even born, which is apparent in Revelation 22:13 that says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Instead of dwelling on the what-ifs of this situation, I think I am just going to accept what God has chosen for me in my life. I will leave you all with one final thought to ponder, though. The notes for Proverbs 17:17 in my NIV Life Application Study Bible state the following: "What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (loving "at all times")--being available to help in times of distress or personal struggles. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and leave when they're not getting anything out of the relationship. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages."
I'm sure the majority of people in this world have lost touch with particular friends or individuals in their lives, allowing friendships to fade into the background bearing no second thought. This past semester, I became busier than usual and apparently let one of my friendships slip to the wayside, (though I was informed it started before that) and unfortunately, it has not gone quietly. Rather, it slowly eroded until Monday, which is when it apparently imploded into oblivion. I'll admit I definitely played a role in the neglect, possibly choosing to spend time with others rather than this person, and probably became severely apathetic back in April. But what I am also aware of is that it takes two to make any friendship work, and I think I am most appalled that all of the blame has been placed on my shoulders, along with being told that I was not a good friend and this person no longer wants me in her life.
Over the past couple of days, I have done my best to not think about this particular setback in my life. Those close to me have told me to not blame myself, which is easier said than done, especially when I'm a fan of the Switchfoot song "Stars", which starts out with the lines, "Maybe I've been the problem, maybe I'm the one to blame. But even when I turn it off and blame myself, the outcome feels the same." Other friends have forbidden me to think all together, which is pretty much impossible, but fun to attempt. The best advice I received from a friend was to not beat myself up over things that aren't completely my fault and out of my control and to also stop thinking I cause everything to happen because I'm not God. I definitely appreciated all of this advice, but I feel it's hard for others to understand because getting told that I wasn't a good friend jumped past the realm of a slap in the face, straight to being a borderline crippling statement. To try and stay positive, I settled for listening to the song, "Up and Up" by Relient K in order to gain some sort of direction or meaning. The following lines are where I gained the most insight:
"Yesterday, is not quite what it could have been...But I swear today, with every breath I'm breathing in, I'll be trying to make it so much more...Cause I seem to get so hung up on the history of what's gone wrong. And the hope of a new day is sometimes hard to see...I'm on the up and up and I haven't given up. Given up on what I know I'm capable of...To be content with where I am and where I need to be, I'm moving past the past where I have failed."
My recent trip to New Orleans with a good friend of mine also helped to keep me from dwelling on my issues. I didn't want my wandering thoughts to prevent us from having a splendid time in the Big Easy, so I tried my best to keep everything on the back burner. Eventually, though, these thoughts became too persistent and needed to be addressed, which turned out to be while relaxing in an off-the-beaten-path park just outside the French Quarter whilst pondering potential tattoo ideas. I'm not sure if I will ever actually get a tattoo, but I have always figured that I would utilize a meaningful Bible verse, though I was never sure which one until that day in the park. While thinking over the messages I received on Monday, it suddenly hit me that the first portion of Proverbs 17:17 would be the most fitting for me. This states, "A friend loves at all times," which is a very powerful statement in my book because no matter what the situation, whether it be joy, anger, or personal crisis, a friend should love you through each and every moment. Sanctus Real has a song entitled, "We Need Each Other" that touches on this point. Some of the following lines ring true for me:
"I think I caught a glimpse of a life without friends. Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely. We never meant to hurt each other so can't we trust again? And take it as a chance to keep on growing...Oh, it's just part of being a family. Taking the good with the bad and the ugly...Oh, oh, we need each other so what's the fighting for? Oh, oh, we need each other, please don't close the door. Oh, oh, we need each other through all the highs and lows. Oh, oh, we need each other and I don't wanna be alone."
If, instead, you are constantly walking on eggshells because you are so afraid of screwing up or being a let down, then maybe the person that you consider a friend is really no friend at all. This thought crossed my mind as I pondered the recent events in my life, especially since I was written off so quickly with no chance for redemption. I know I have screwed up and I know she has screwed up, but without the chance of forgiveness to rebuild the relationship, there is nothing left to do but move on.
In order to work towards contentment in the moving on process, I've been listening to "This is Home" by Switchfoot, which begins with the following lyrics: "I've got my memories always inside of me, but I can't go back, back to how it was." What I need to do now is focus on the fact that God is in charge and knows exactly what He wants in my life. He planned out everything before I was even born, which is apparent in Revelation 22:13 that says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Instead of dwelling on the what-ifs of this situation, I think I am just going to accept what God has chosen for me in my life. I will leave you all with one final thought to ponder, though. The notes for Proverbs 17:17 in my NIV Life Application Study Bible state the following: "What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (loving "at all times")--being available to help in times of distress or personal struggles. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and leave when they're not getting anything out of the relationship. Think of your friends and assess your loyalty to them. Be the kind of true friend the Bible encourages."
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Proper Sleep is Essential
Many know that sleep is important for their health. In order to have a strong immune system, it is recommended to get at least 8 hours per night. To be able to run a race to the best of your abilities, the same amount of sleep is recommended to assist in boosting performance. What I have discovered recently, though, is that proper sleep is essential for a healthy spiritual life.
Due to jetlag, sharing stories from my European adventure, an 80 mile kayak trip, and socializing until all hours of the morning thanks to my new relationship, getting proper sleep has not been at the top of my to-do list. Normally I function well enough on limited sleep, even without the aid of coffee. But as of late, I have struggled maintaining a positive mindset. I believe that this is due to the simple fact that when tired, people have a decreased ability to focus in their spiritual life. When awake, most are conscious enough of the necessity of prayer and asking God for assistance throughout the day. We note the blessings that are heaped upon us each day, but that tends to be eliminated when one is exhausted.
When I am sleep deprived, I always sense that I enter into a more self-centered frame of mind, which allows Satan to do his work more easily. I become more frustrated with my reserved personality, slowly have inklings of envy when I compare myself to others, and have the inability to be completely happy for others. I can tell you from personal experience that this is not a place that you want to find yourself mentally or spiritually.
At times that I find myself exhausted beyond belief, I try to remember the importance of both sleep and prayer. While sleep helps rejuvenate the body physically, prayer can help emotionally and spiritually. Jesus serves as intercessor for us and when we find ourselves weakened to our sin nature due to lack of sleep, it is important to remember that God is in charge and can provide help. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
We are bound to be tempted throughout the course of our lives, which increases exponentially when we are tired from lack of sleep. What we must not forget is that it is important to keep our guard up against temptations from Satan. Satan wants us to sin and be ashamed of our thoughts and actions so that we stray from God. But we must recapture our thoughts, even once we are beyond exhausted, because God can help us endure all temptations. We need to stop being convinced that we can get out of our negativity and sin on our own and begin to rely more on the power of God, the Creator of the Universe. He is aware of everything that you are going through and will not leave you high and dry in the midst of trouble. So do yourself a favor and get a proper amount of sleep as many nights per week as possible in order to more thoroughly enjoying the blessings that each day provides.
Due to jetlag, sharing stories from my European adventure, an 80 mile kayak trip, and socializing until all hours of the morning thanks to my new relationship, getting proper sleep has not been at the top of my to-do list. Normally I function well enough on limited sleep, even without the aid of coffee. But as of late, I have struggled maintaining a positive mindset. I believe that this is due to the simple fact that when tired, people have a decreased ability to focus in their spiritual life. When awake, most are conscious enough of the necessity of prayer and asking God for assistance throughout the day. We note the blessings that are heaped upon us each day, but that tends to be eliminated when one is exhausted.
When I am sleep deprived, I always sense that I enter into a more self-centered frame of mind, which allows Satan to do his work more easily. I become more frustrated with my reserved personality, slowly have inklings of envy when I compare myself to others, and have the inability to be completely happy for others. I can tell you from personal experience that this is not a place that you want to find yourself mentally or spiritually.
At times that I find myself exhausted beyond belief, I try to remember the importance of both sleep and prayer. While sleep helps rejuvenate the body physically, prayer can help emotionally and spiritually. Jesus serves as intercessor for us and when we find ourselves weakened to our sin nature due to lack of sleep, it is important to remember that God is in charge and can provide help. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
We are bound to be tempted throughout the course of our lives, which increases exponentially when we are tired from lack of sleep. What we must not forget is that it is important to keep our guard up against temptations from Satan. Satan wants us to sin and be ashamed of our thoughts and actions so that we stray from God. But we must recapture our thoughts, even once we are beyond exhausted, because God can help us endure all temptations. We need to stop being convinced that we can get out of our negativity and sin on our own and begin to rely more on the power of God, the Creator of the Universe. He is aware of everything that you are going through and will not leave you high and dry in the midst of trouble. So do yourself a favor and get a proper amount of sleep as many nights per week as possible in order to more thoroughly enjoying the blessings that each day provides.
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