Scripture and Prayer Topic: Forgiveness
Scripture: John 19:17-18
Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.) There they crucified Him and with Him two others- one on each side and Jesus in the middle. (LetterPile)
Prayer:
Jehovah, let us remember the strength Christ had in bearing the weight of carrying the cross and our sins for us. When we see an opportunity to teach or lead by His example, to identify an area we can walk humbly into helping someone grow in understanding of the plight of others with whom they’ve not yet been given the opportunity, may we reach within... for your strength to guide our hearts with love, rather than fear. Forgiveness is a gift you freely gave to each of us. May we walk humbly towards any fear... having difficult conversations, whether via writing or “live,” to embrace helping someone with an equally humble heart… continue to grow in your love, finding grace, deeply within. Amen.
Personal/Professional Growth Tool Suggestion:
Find an hourglass, sand art, or simply an egg timer… and keep it on your desk. The next time you feel stressed, flip it and simply clear your mind of everything, except watching the grains of sand fall somewhere anew. Remember everyone you meet is like a grain of sand. Some, stay neatly inside the fixture of your life, once they enter. Some grains may scatter if the boundaries are broken… perhaps they blow away in the wind as those who’ve entered only for a season of our lives. But, the precious ones… those are the ones worth scouring to locate and recover… for their BEauty doesn’t just glisten on the outside; but, resonates more deeply, heals some of the tears within your heart and replaces them with the strength of gold. Surround yourself with those who don’t give you gold; but, ARE the gold.
Coping Skill Suggestion:
Sometimes, we need to just sit and feel. Don’t analyze. Don’t criticize. Just… feel. Acknowledge it’s okay to have feelings… we were created with a beating heart. It beats fast, slow, and prayerfully… mostly, somewhere in between, most regularly. There’s a reason our bodies are mostly water and our heart pumps that water as it ebbs and flows through every artery, every vein, every capillary. It symbolizes the emotional tides we shall experience throughout our lives… and how illness comes into play, when we restrict the flow… of blood, and more importantly… our emotions. Feeling through them is healthy. Feel the negative and release it. You’ll find your happy and healthier self in that space. Release grants space for our Gift, peace.