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When you’ve been slipping and sliding and drifting in the wrong direction, you can either keep slipping and sliding and drifting or you can begin again every day (or moment).
“‘Can a man lay a new foundation every day?’ The old man said, ‘If he works hard, he can lay a new foundation at every moment.’” Abba Silvanus
“[F]or His compassions . . . are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Paying attention to what’s wrong with other people comes naturally. Paying attention to what’s wrong with me takes practice (and prayer).
“God bless _____ and change me.” A prayer
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3
It’s easier to be patient with your thirsts (for things like accolades and attention and cocktails) when you see them as part of a deeper thirst.
“My soul thirsts for God. . . .” Psalm 42:2
“Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.” Abba Poemen
Living in the joy and relief of God’s accompanying presence takes practice (especially on days when the anxious part of you is very talkative).
“[M]ay I ever be aware of Thine accompanying presence. . . .” John Baillie
“In Your presence there is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11
Trusting your own resources and abilities seems to work pretty well until drought comes.
“There are two fundamental ways of being human in the world: trusting in our human resources and abilities or a radical trust in God.” Robert Mulholland
“[T]he one who trusts in the Lord . . . will be like a tree planted by the water . . . not anxious in drought.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
When seen from beyond, fear never makes much sense.
“[T]he shadow a thing casts often far exceeds the size of the thing itself. . . . [T]hough some future fear may strut brave darkness as you approach, the thing itself will be but a speck when seen from beyond.” Jim Elliot
“Don’t let yourselves be ensnared again by a slavish sense of fear, devoid of buoyancy of spirit and of trust in God. . . .” Galatians 5:1
