Monday's Blessing
John 8:32
“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Most of us are blessed with a wonderful memory. This can be a two-edged sword at times. On one hand, we receive great joy on past memories that are positive. On the other hand, we can be plagued with negative images that have invaded our past. It is like having two ready to grab files at our fingertips.
The first file is a file filled with all the good things that have happened to us. It's full of our victories and accomplishments, all the things that have brought us joy and happiness through the years.
The second file is just he opposite. It's filled with the hurts and pains of the past , all the negative things that have happened to us. It's full of our defeats and failures, things that brought us sadness and sorrow.
Throughout life, we can choose which file we will access. Some people repeatedly return to file number two and relieve the painful things that have happened to them. These people are always thinking about the times somebody did them wrong. The times they were hurt or suffered awful pain. They practically wear out file number two. In fact, the hinges are broken and files are scattered routinely about. They're so preoccupied with the negative things, they never get around to exploring file number one. They hardly think about the good things that have happened to them.
And in reality we all get stuck in file two some days. We may be having a down moment, not feeling well, or just wanting a bit more out of life. Sometimes we just can't help reliving some of those painful memories of the past. But during this process, we negate God's desire to bring healing. Just as we are about to heal, we start talking about our painful experience again. We bring it up to friends. We start reliving it, seeing it in our imagination. All of a sudden we are washed with those feeling of emotions all over again. t is though we are tearing open the old wound. It will never properly heal until we learn to leave it alone. When you dwell on painful experiences in your past, your emotions go right back there with you. You feel the pain the the present. You can relive something in your mind and feel it today just as vividly as it happened several years ago.
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle believes in the practice of staying present. The author of A New Earth and The Power of Now acknowledges the challenge of this effort in the fast-paced culture of today, but also offers two shockingly simple exercises that anyone can do to truly live in the now — anywhere, at any time.
Tolle explains how people can condition themselves to slow down and appreciate the present. It all begins with one question.
“Ask yourself, ‘Am I still breathing?’” Tolle says. “You suddenly feel the air flowing into your body and out of your body... At that moment, you’ve entered the state of presence. Even if it’s only five seconds.”
Another exercise Tolle suggests involves using all your senses when going through habitual, everyday motions, such as washing your hands.
“Do it consciously,” Tolle instructs. “For example, [when] you wash your hands, feel the water. Smell the soap. Becoming acutely conscious of sense perception means looking, hearing, touching. It brings you into the present moment.”
These exercises may take a little effort at first, but Tolle says that they do end up becoming second nature. “The more you bring those moments of presence into your life, the more your old conditioning becomes eroded, gradually,” he says.
If you want to be truly free, stay in the present. Throw away the key to file number two. Don't go back there anymore. Keep your mind focused on the good things God has done in your life.
This Week's Meditation:
Let me not forget to stay in the present. Let me not try to substitute God's blessings for my wants. Let me forgive and be happy.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow your thoughts to come into your mind. Each time a negative thought comes slowly bring your thought process back to the meditation and forgiveness. Great things will begin to happen.
John 8:32
“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Most of us are blessed with a wonderful memory. This can be a two-edged sword at times. On one hand, we receive great joy on past memories that are positive. On the other hand, we can be plagued with negative images that have invaded our past. It is like having two ready to grab files at our fingertips.
The first file is a file filled with all the good things that have happened to us. It's full of our victories and accomplishments, all the things that have brought us joy and happiness through the years.
The second file is just he opposite. It's filled with the hurts and pains of the past , all the negative things that have happened to us. It's full of our defeats and failures, things that brought us sadness and sorrow.
Throughout life, we can choose which file we will access. Some people repeatedly return to file number two and relieve the painful things that have happened to them. These people are always thinking about the times somebody did them wrong. The times they were hurt or suffered awful pain. They practically wear out file number two. In fact, the hinges are broken and files are scattered routinely about. They're so preoccupied with the negative things, they never get around to exploring file number one. They hardly think about the good things that have happened to them.
And in reality we all get stuck in file two some days. We may be having a down moment, not feeling well, or just wanting a bit more out of life. Sometimes we just can't help reliving some of those painful memories of the past. But during this process, we negate God's desire to bring healing. Just as we are about to heal, we start talking about our painful experience again. We bring it up to friends. We start reliving it, seeing it in our imagination. All of a sudden we are washed with those feeling of emotions all over again. t is though we are tearing open the old wound. It will never properly heal until we learn to leave it alone. When you dwell on painful experiences in your past, your emotions go right back there with you. You feel the pain the the present. You can relive something in your mind and feel it today just as vividly as it happened several years ago.
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle believes in the practice of staying present. The author of A New Earth and The Power of Now acknowledges the challenge of this effort in the fast-paced culture of today, but also offers two shockingly simple exercises that anyone can do to truly live in the now — anywhere, at any time.
Tolle explains how people can condition themselves to slow down and appreciate the present. It all begins with one question.
“Ask yourself, ‘Am I still breathing?’” Tolle says. “You suddenly feel the air flowing into your body and out of your body... At that moment, you’ve entered the state of presence. Even if it’s only five seconds.”
Another exercise Tolle suggests involves using all your senses when going through habitual, everyday motions, such as washing your hands.
“Do it consciously,” Tolle instructs. “For example, [when] you wash your hands, feel the water. Smell the soap. Becoming acutely conscious of sense perception means looking, hearing, touching. It brings you into the present moment.”
These exercises may take a little effort at first, but Tolle says that they do end up becoming second nature. “The more you bring those moments of presence into your life, the more your old conditioning becomes eroded, gradually,” he says.
If you want to be truly free, stay in the present. Throw away the key to file number two. Don't go back there anymore. Keep your mind focused on the good things God has done in your life.
This Week's Meditation:
Let me not forget to stay in the present. Let me not try to substitute God's blessings for my wants. Let me forgive and be happy.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow your thoughts to come into your mind. Each time a negative thought comes slowly bring your thought process back to the meditation and forgiveness. Great things will begin to happen.
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