Sometimes a nonjudgmental ear, a confidential shoulder and undivided attention is the greatest thing you can do for someone. The gift of empathetic listening is precious. Sometimes you just want someone to listen, don’t try to fix the situation just listen prayerfully.
When your actions do not match your words and your heart you make your life burdensome and tedious. Your lies limit your destiny and breed within you insecurity, fear and withdrawal from God. The truth sets you free to walk in the light. Lies set you up to stumble in the dark.
Throughout your day identify things you are grateful for and whisper aloud a word of thanksgiving to God. All day and anything you choose. It could be a flower, a smile, a cup of coffee, laughter, a friend whatever and whenever all day express your gratitude.
When you have clarity and humility about your truth. You can hear the truth of other people that is even contrary to your own without judgment or arrogance. It may not change what you think about your truth but it will change how you feel about the other person. This allows us to genuinely agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
Listening for God is sometimes a silent solitary journey. There are seasons when it seems our prayers go unanswered and our pleas to God are ignored. In these moments I have to release what I am holding onto so tightly, close my eyes and take one step at a time. As my frustration decreases my faith increases; peace embraces me and my path emerges. But it ain’t easy!
Holding onto resentment or anger or even disappointment is not worth the energy it takes. The energy it takes to hold onto to what is harmful is also energy that is taken away from the energy you need to focus on and receive what is good and helpful. Direct your energy, your thoughts and skills towards what builds you up and give little to no energy to what tears you down. What you give your energy to is what will grow and prosper in you.
It has been said that “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.”
The witness of history is that eventually good prevails over bad and love prevails over hate. Don’t give into negativity when faced with challenges believe that the best is yet to come and work towards achieving what is right.
When you know you don’t know what to do? I mean really don’t know. Not you think you gonna do this or that based on what is easier or least fearful. Not when you really don’t know what to do? You pray not about should I do this or that but you pray with an open heart to know God’s will. Set aside what you think are options and seek God’s perfect will. Often it is the road least travelled and it’s not even about you or anyone else, it’s about obedience to a Higher Power.