DAY 29...More Heart, Less Attack
"Let mercy outweigh all else in you. A hard unmerciful heart will never be pure." - St. Isaac the Syrian
This is an interesting day in age. We are connected with so many people all over the world through social media. These connections can be very helpful but they can also be inauthentic. There are a few negative aspects that change the way we treat each other. Today, everyone has a "soapbox" to stand on. There are opinions expressed online that perhaps wouldn't be face to face. That's not necessarily the bad part. The bad part is how we react to one another. Too often, facebook posts and tweets turn hostile. Opinions are formed about one another without actually entering into each other's lives.
In addition, with our heads in technology, we are a generation having a difficult time connecting with the people right in front of us. What is happening to our heart when we struggle to connect with those around us because we are distracted?
Our hearts toward one another is not exercised in love and can get hardened. We miss out on loving our neighbor and that impacts how we love God.
NeedtoBreathe offers us some words of wisdom.
This is an interesting day in age. We are connected with so many people all over the world through social media. These connections can be very helpful but they can also be inauthentic. There are a few negative aspects that change the way we treat each other. Today, everyone has a "soapbox" to stand on. There are opinions expressed online that perhaps wouldn't be face to face. That's not necessarily the bad part. The bad part is how we react to one another. Too often, facebook posts and tweets turn hostile. Opinions are formed about one another without actually entering into each other's lives.
In addition, with our heads in technology, we are a generation having a difficult time connecting with the people right in front of us. What is happening to our heart when we struggle to connect with those around us because we are distracted?
Our hearts toward one another is not exercised in love and can get hardened. We miss out on loving our neighbor and that impacts how we love God.
NeedtoBreathe offers us some words of wisdom.
"We are to keep our mind in our heart at all times. It is the secret dwelling place where God lives." - Saint Theophan the Recluse 19th Century
Sometimes we're expected to be cut-throat in work or school. However, be challenged to be more heart and less attack. Sometimes it's joked that Orthodoxy is "Hipster Christianity," meaning it's Christianity for people who don't want to be like everyone else. Similarly, being kindhearted in this day in age is more unique than not.
If we can't love those in front of us, who we can see, how can we expect to love He who we cannot see. How we love God is a reflection of how we treat those around us.
Sometimes we're expected to be cut-throat in work or school. However, be challenged to be more heart and less attack. Sometimes it's joked that Orthodoxy is "Hipster Christianity," meaning it's Christianity for people who don't want to be like everyone else. Similarly, being kindhearted in this day in age is more unique than not.
If we can't love those in front of us, who we can see, how can we expect to love He who we cannot see. How we love God is a reflection of how we treat those around us.
Today's Instructions:
A. Pray for the day, for friends, for family, for enemies. Thanksgiving, Requests, Praise.
B. In the Fortify Program, Update the battle tracker. Go to Week 5. Check out, "S.T.A.R. Part 1" and "Do You Think This Could Help?"
C. Go to the daily readings and read today's Scripture.
D. Journal the following: 1. Is there someone you've stepped into "attack mode" with that you could have loved better? 2. What can you do that offers love to others when you get angry with them?
Today's Tips: When the urges come get up. Stop. Breathe. Pray. Thank you note day. Get up, write a thank you note, stamp it, put it in the mail.
God give you strength. See you tomorrow.
Don't ever come back to this page to start over. This is the launching pad. You've already begun, even if you fall.
If you want to review this page, please do, but do not come back here to start over.
