Monday, November 10, 2008

Walk 1440 for November 12th, 2008

“I don’t care what they think!?”
Have you ever said these words?
Usually when these words appear in a conversation they escape our lips as we are turning our back to someone, even throwing our hands in the air with our head down & a clinched jaw…sound familiar?

IF we don’t care what people think then why does our body language say different?
Reality check…we do care what people think!

Frankly, it hurts when it feels like people don’t like us or accept us…we can try to deny it with words but our heart knows better.

When you cater to the mindset that “you don’t care what that person thinks” has it helped in that relationship?
What would it take to work in a relationship where you feel hurt?

Might it take endurance? Endurance means to stick it out when it’s tough…is that relationship tough right now?

Might it take encouragement? Does the relationship feel positive or negative?
Likely, negative… it takes encouragement to work in a negative relationship

So, who do you seek out to get endurance & encouragement?
Might it be the very person you are trying to stop thinking about? (Is it working for you?)
Are they able to encourage you to endure in this relationship?

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5 NIV
The book of Romans is written to people who are in a church in Rome…they are Christians

Why would the writer of Romans have to tell Christians that God gives endurance & encouragement for the purpose of unity & acceptance of one another?
Could it be they weren’t united & accepting of one another?
Could it be they were seeking out people, not God for endurance & encouragement?

So that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:6-7 NIV
Your relationship with that person can get better but who do you need to seek out first for endurance & encouragement?

For sure, acceptance is what you want but have you accepted them first; which is what God wants?

When you choose to seek out God’s endurance & encouragement to work in that relationship and when you choose to accept the people that hurt you…those relationships will now have purpose…the praising of our God

The question is: do you care what God thinks?
There are 1440 minutes in a day…WALK1440 knowing God’s acceptance to accept them

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