It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
This week we are going to focus each day on speaking the truth in love. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER For Balancing Truth and Love
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Lord, Help Me Balance Truth and Love (a prayer) | juliesunne.com
AFFIRMATIONS for Living the Truth By Example
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
I will be a light to others.
I will walk in love.
I will walk in integrity and take serious what I believe.
I will be an example in my speech, my conduct, my love, my faith, and my purity.
SCRIPTURES For Living the Truth By Example
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Titus 2:7-8, “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.”
1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: practice what we preach.
Words are necessary to communicate concepts of truth. After all, as Christians we acknowledge that God chose and inspired men to take truth concepts given to them by God and write them down. These writings then became a part of what we call the Bible. Likewise, when we communicate truth to others we employ words. So, like I said…words are necessary. However, more times than not, our actions speak louder than our words. The struggle we then run into is that our words don’t necessarily match our actions.
One of the most common things I’ve heard from unbelievers concerning Christians is that we don’t “practice what we preach”. And many times, whether we like it or not, they’re right.
For example, it’s very hard for unbelievers to consider our words concerning sexual morality when news story after news story is out there depicting sexual impropriety (e.g. affairs, divorce, molestation, etc.) within churches, denominations, and church leadership. Another example, it’s very hard for unbelievers to to consider our words concerning “excess” when we literally brag from the pulpit about how much we “love food” and how we’re going to “tear up the buffet” after church (I’ve personally heard this – a lot).
So what is the answer?
We must learn to be an example of truth to others by living a life that actually reflects it AND when we fail (because we will, we are still human) we need to be humble enough, and quick enough to own our failure and work toward doing better.
In other words, let the actions of our life and our life itself speak loudly of the truth we believe.
Quote of the Day
Today’s quote comes from author and speaker Shannon L. Alder who once said:
You don’t have to say everything to be a light. Sometimes a fire built on a hill will bring interested people to your campfire.
Shannon L. Alder
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