Jan 2, 2023—Note: I just found this forgotten article in my file, re-read it and feel it still applies, thus the new posting . . .
In 2023 what are your spheres of influence and what will you do about them? Do you know that the simple act of “reset” will cause profound changes in your life which directly affects the atmosphere around you? Do you know that with every interaction with the world you are giving life, or not? How does that work?
Are you curious enough about these questions to ask yourself, and God, about them. Yes, it helps to journal about this, then talk out loud to yourself and to others.
What is a reset? And, from what to what? Important questions.
A reality: we are all hardwired in our habits in coping with life from what we learned over the first 5 to 10 years of our life. Our coping habits/style are set, hardwired. When we are overwhelmed we will do the same habits over and over.
However: those who are in an active and personal relationship with Jesus, have a profound option: to do what Our Father does. Jesus died so we can live, but we must Choose Life (Deut 30:19, 20, and many other scriptures that teach us how to die to self and live in Christ—including Phillipians 4:8 as recently shared by our beloved Pastor Janice).
Jesus died so we could live with our main commandment to love, on which all the effectiveness of the rest of the gospel stands.
God’s amazing grace allows us to be, just the way we are, with the caveat that as soon as we step outside the line of love our Holy Spirit speaks to us and we have the grace to experience the healthy shame that returns us to humility, repentance, forgiveness, mercy, to then re-set our behavioral choices. Read that again and ask Jesus what He wants you to know about this, journal what He tells you. No matter what anyone tells you, it is quite simple to see if it lines up with God’s Word.
Each time I do a spirit inspired reset, I change the atmosphere around me, activating God’s DNA into the circumstance, which includes Kingdom currency: love, kindness, patience and much more.
Our world is overwhelmed in sandbox tantrums and hatred, yet a single act of the Living Spirit of Love changes everything.
Commit to a year of the choice to reset in obedience to God’s Word and then share your testimony. Don’t be discouraged when you fail, but in humility feel, forgive (yourself first), turn/repent, re-set, then repair in your situation.
An appropriate response to when you have failed to love is a genuine, deep sadness. An understanding that you failed before your father, before Jesus, who died for you. Still, Jesus sees you whole and complete all the days of your life. Your humble admission and acceptance of your failure to love allows Him to step in the gap beside you, which is His Promise.
When He is the author of your reset the repair is supernatural and begins the inner transformation of your soul. You are being re-wired by God into who He intended you to be. And, the other person’s Godly DNA is activated.
FYI: After the last few daunting years I found myself often feeling like nothing I do matters. At times I just wanted to duck my head and let the crap fly overhead, not wanting to be present at all. And, due to my physical vulnerability (I have had covid 3 times, most recently lost December to RSV) I have chosen to continue to mask while keeping my shots updated. That has invited a significant amount of rejection. I have lost some key people from my community, much to my sadness.
Yet, a powerful blessing I gained through these last few years is a realization I love my life with Jesus, so I renewed my commitment to live as long as possible. Due to life’s surprises that can include catastrophic suffering, I have people I love whose needs supersedes mine. As I release my cares to God he rearranges my life, inspiring deeper rhythms of joy, full of the power that comes with love.
More to come in this New Year, 2023.