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Friday, January 17, 2014

Baby Steppin' and Not Regrettin'

Here I am, celebrating baby steps again!  I would probably get around a lot faster if I'd just grow up and take... Oh, I don't know... even TODDLER steps, for Pete's sake!!

I think I'm finally starting to get more in-depth- I mean something like a deeper than gut-level understanding- with this "baby steps" stuff!  We cannot be changed beings overnight!  We can, however, celebrate that we are working and renewing our commitment every single day (or, in my case, HOUR or MINUTE).

I am working on spending some time meditating and fueling my spirit by getting up earlier than the rest of the family.  I make breakfast, drink my water & coffee, and I read a little devotional.  Then I spend just a minute or two saying thanks and asking God to be with the people who have been on my heart.  This takes about 5 minutes.  Then I can check Facebook, email, read, or whatever else suits my fancy.  This does a few things- and don't be turned off if you are not a "reading devotions and praying" person.  Even if you don't subscribe to the Christian way of thinking, there are obviously a plethora of ways to find a routine of lifting your spirits before you start your day!  You know what they are- I'm not going to bore you with lists!  (Think: Gratefulness, breathing..)

I think if my heart is in the right place, my spirit/attitude is going to help me (in my case, I believe God will help me!) make more wise decisions and become less inclined to automatically choose the crappy ones.  It requires changing my whole mindset.  This is SO much harder than I ever thought.  This is SO much more than typing words and rephrasing and quoting the experts!  It takes work. and commitment. and lots of praying (or mindfulness).  Bad habits die hard!

I know what is right, and I know what the right choices are (most of the time).. yet I keep chosing to stay right where I am, making the same decisions- over and overandoverandover

So, if you beat yourself up for all the dumb choices you continue to make every single day- you know, the doughnuts instead of the oatmeal... or the oatmeal and THEN the doughnuts anyway... find a Bible and read Romans 7. It turns out, I am NOT alone when I shake my head at myself and want to cry out or give up!  Then, if you want to feel grace- I mean feel grace- follow Romans 7 with Romans 8.

I'm going to close with the Google definition of grace:

(in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

NO one has earned it, but we all have it!! 

2 comments:

  1. Ha! The oatmeal THEN the donuts anyway! You crack me up... well said, sister!

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    1. You laugh because you know me too well, and you KNOW I did that. LOL

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