“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

Day 10: Clean

The body is an amazing machine.  It does so many things to take care of itself.  But when it’s systems are overwhelmed bad things take place.  If the toxic load gets too heavy then we receive side effects.  It may manifest in skin break outs or lack of energy.  It may be worse.

In Psalm 51 David asks his Creator to create inside of him a clean heart.  Right now If you want healing in your mind and body it would be a great idea to ask for a clean heart like David did.  But what comes next?  What do we do with our heart?  Do we feed it with images of evil?

Today, I choose to look at things that are good for me.  Phillipians 4:8 says:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

That’s what I want in my mind…in my heart, and in my body.  Lord, give me a clean mind and body so that I may worship you well with my life!

I’m on a 100 day sharing journey about healing.  Please subscribe and share whatever you find helpful.  Also, I welcome your comments about your journey to healing.

dg

Day 7: The Lighter Load

Matthew 11:28-30

When Jesus offers all who are heavy laden to come to Him for rest he speaks to a universal need.  But what does He mean when he says we should take up his yoke and find rest for our souls?

A yoke is a device that allows two animals to work efficiently together.  If we are yoked together with Christ we confine our journeys to paths that he would take.  We emulate his response to the challenges of life as we are influenced by the aroma of His character.

We receive the gift of His righteousness so we don’t have the stress of seeking to create a rightness with God worthy of salvation.  We seek to do what pleases Him and he promises to supply all our needs.

Releasing the burden to measure up to societies trends and instead taking Jesus’ two step method of loving God with all our heart and our neighbor as our self will relieve stress and produce peace instead.

Today, I release the heavy burden and choose a lighter load!

Day 6: Leave

There comes a time when in order for healing to take place YOU have to leave.

Leaving may mean changing your location. I just got of the phone with one of my dearest friends who shared the miraculous story of how his son got into the school of his choice but how God ended up opening the door for his family to move to the school and for his wife to get a great job there. It was great having them in the area while they were here but there was a blessing of provision that allowed them to have the desires of their heart but that required them to leave from their current location.

Sometimes you have to change your associations. Psalm 1:1 says:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

There is a blessing from removing yourself from environments that don’t honor God. It may mean that you have to change who you are hanging out with.

Today, I choose to leave what does not help or heal my body and soul.

Day 5: Encourage Yourself

Please listen.  Your thoughts affect your feelings.  They affect your energy level. If you think you are about to get to your goal you find energy that you will never have to attempt to use if you don’t think the end is in sight.

Right now, please encourage yourself.  Start a gratitude journal or practice. Everyday begin your prayer with thanking God for at least 3 things.  Try to make it three things that are different than the last time you prayed.  

Take time to reflect on blessings that you have experienced.  Think about why you treasure your friends. Think about what you enjoy in life.  

Thinking about failure will drain you.  Thinking over and over again about the way you have been mistreated will depress YOU!!!  

When David was in a bad situation where those around him were angry with him he made a decision to encourage himself.

“ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

I Samuel 30:6

If you read the story the people had good reason to be unhappy.  Their dear ones had been taken from them. When people are depressed they usually have some good reasons to feel that way.  But the circumstance you do have power over is your choice of thought. Please don’t miss this. You may not be able to catch the person who stole your money but you can change your attitude about your situation.  You may not convince your wayward child to come home but you can change the language of your thoughts and prayers.

And your choice to do so in large part demonstrates that you trust your Creator.  Things might not look good today but tomorrow is coming. Heal by releasing the discouraging and pressing on to what’s possible.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Romans 8:28 states:

“28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Encourage yourself!  Healing comes from encouragement.

Today I will speak well of myself to myself.  My creator believes in me. I will honor Him by treasuring His gift to the world in me!

Day 5: Encourage Yourself

Please listen.  Your thoughts affect your feelings.  They affect your energy level. If you think you are about to get to your goal you find energy that you will never have to attempt to use if you don’t think the end is in sight.

Right now, please encourage yourself.  Start a gratitude journal or practice. Everyday begin your prayer with thanking God for at least 3 things.  Try to make it three things that are different than the last time you prayed.  

Take time to reflect on blessings that you have experienced.  Think about why you treasure your friends. Think about what you enjoy in life.  

Thinking about failure will drain you.  Thinking over and over again about the way you have been mistreated will depress YOU!!!  

When David was in a bad situation where those around him were angry with him he made a decision to encourage himself.

“ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

I Samuel 30:6

If you read the story the people had good reason to be unhappy.  Their dear ones had been taken from them. When people are depressed they usually have some good reasons to feel that way.  But the circumstance you do have power over is your choice of thought. Please don’t miss this. You may not be able to catch the person who stole your money but you can change your attitude about your situation.  You may not convince your wayward child to come home but you can change the language of your thoughts and prayers.

And your choice to do so in large part demonstrates that you trust your Creator.  Things might not look good today but tomorrow is coming. Heal by releasing the discouraging and pressing on to what’s possible.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Romans 8:28 states:

“28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Encourage yourself!  Healing comes from encouragement.

Today I will speak well of myself to myself.  My creator believes in me. I will honor Him by treasuring His gift to the world in me!

Day 4: Loving Community Heals

I have an increased appreciation of a loving community.  I have seen it bring healing to myself and others, and I think it is highly underrated.

When my father, Victor Griffiths, died I remember how members of the community swarmed around my mother, brother and I to make sure we had what we needed.  Some dealt with legal needs. Others helped with emotional ones. Still others helped with logistics. But everyone from their heart expressed their love for us and support during an extremely difficult time with caring words and with tangible action.

As I reflect on the power of love and community I think of several people I have known over the years who believed so much in what community should be that they made it a priority to serve others and bring others together.  People like Phillip Carter and Viola Bradford have brought gospel musicians together here in the Washington DC area. People like Margie Farmer and Dawn Tzahor have time and time again been the person bringing comfort or comfort food as well as ideas of togetherness to those singers, students or boy scouts surrounding them.

Don’t spend your time and energy trying to be around people who don’t make the world a better place by the way they give of themselves.  Help them but don’t hang with them to the point of picking up their energy and behaviors. Many focus around being with “the right” people who can open business doors for them.  Spending time around people with values that you admire will create healthy business opportunities as well.

In the bible we read many verses that encourage us to be loving.  In fact, we are told that we can see who has been born of God and who really knows Him.  “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”  I John 4:7

Today I commit to building a better community where I am.  I will love more. I will surround myself with a hedge of loving relationships and focus on nurturing them.  And this will help me to continue to heal.