Jonathots Daily Blog
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We Should Learn from Difficulty
1. The problems are never personal
2. But the solutions need to be
3. And the gratitude—gloriously creative
Jesonian … July 7th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
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Truthfully, I am very cautious when coining a word or phrase. Even though it may have its charm, it walks a fine line along the cliff of silliness, threatening to fall and be dashed on the rocks of criticism below.
That being said, I felt today’s Jesonian message required the introduction of a word–mainly because in “minting” it, the union of the parts brings to mind the purpose of the action.
So having survived my overly elongated explanation, let me talk to you about “Prayerapy.”
It is a blending of prayer and therapy, which is exactly what prayer was intended to be. Although we envision bowed heads in regal circumstances, offering well-rehearsed soliloquys of devotion and requests to God, Jesus had an entirely different perspective on prayer.
He said it should be free of “much speaking,” should never use “vain repetition,” and certainly was not to be performed “to be seen by others.”
He said it was nurtured by a few simple ingredients:
1. A private closet
2. Shut the door
3. Keep it simple
4. Say secret things to a God who hears in secret
5. Use the kingdom of God within you
6. Speak your heart
7. Leave rejuvenated
Therapists are successful because they get us to talk. We can listen to our own ideas coming out of our own mouths. And faith comes by hearing.
Therefore, healing begins when we hear our thoughts, our concerns, our wishes and our fears spoken aloud from our own lips, announced to our ears.
It is the perfect time to talk out loud, knowing that you’re being heard by your soul, your heart and your Father in heaven.
Then every prayer is answered–because the Bible makes it clear that God is willing to give wisdom and strength to anyone who asks, without questioning the beseecher.
So emerging from that closet, you will have a better understanding of what your heart sounds like, and will come forth with new wisdom and strength.
Prayerapy does not guarantee that a check will come in the mail, your rent will be paid, or that you’ll be healed of your disease. But it will certainly set in motion the awareness, the clear-headedness and the joy which makes the solutions appear more plausible.
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Ask Jonathots … January 5th, 2017
Jonathots Daily Blog
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How important is self-esteem?
Damaged people.
They are everywhere.
It would be foolish not to include ourselves.
But as important as it is to acknowledge the damage, it is even more essential to prescribe the correct repair.
Self-esteem is like going out and buying a large picture to hang over the hole in your wall. It is not a solution, but rather, a temporary fix.
Self-esteem functions under three very dangerous premises:
1. Because you were born, you matter.
2. There’s no one quite like you.
3. Therefore, you are special.
This particular “candy-bar philosophy” has no grounding in reality.
There are concepts, however, which have proven to have longevity. For instance, the Bible says:
- All have sinned.
- There’s none righteous.
- Whosoever will may come.
- God is no respecter of persons.
A completely different approach.
In self-esteem, we are encouraged to ignore our problems and deny our commonality. Unfortunately, if everybody is special, then nobody’s special. If everybody matters, then it’s difficult to get personal attention.
So what should we be trying to achieve? Self awareness.
I have some good.
I have some bad.
I have some lazy.
I have some worry.
I have some fret.
I have some genetic predispositions.
I have family.
I have responsibilities.
I have real pressure.
I have phony pressure.
I also have my present talent so I can launch my solutions.
If we cannot be self-aware about our status, we will lean on “puffy” principles, which make us appear more grounded than we actually are.
When we remove the pressure to be right and eliminate the need to be the center of attention, we can begin to understand that the Earth works when we allow place for each other.
Thus, sometimes we’re the head and on other occasions, the tail.
Ironically, self-esteem robs us of the worth we could possess by taking on simple tasks using our ability–and basking in the joy of completion.
Here is the essence of self-awareness:
We are saved by grace.
But we are distinguished by service.
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