Last week, I found myself in a long conversation with a person who is very dear to my heart. We have been a part of each other's lives for the past 27 years now, and it is in a very unique way that we found one another all those years ago. She is a little over twenty years my elder, and I have always marveled at who she is and the precious way she lives her life. As we talked last week, she shared some really heartfelt emotions about people, politics, faith and life decisions. Our conversation really made me think about the world we live in, and how others around us often view Christianity. Our conversation made me reflect on hypocrisy, judgment and representation. It also made me ponder doubt, discouragement and disregard.
I love a good acronym. As the temperatures heat up to 99 degrees where I live this week, I cannot help but think about how so many people in the world around us our heaing up with anger, devisive views, hatred and hostility. In light of this I want to invite you to heat up as well. Embrace the rising temperatures both literally and mataphorically and be HOT!
First, let's Help Ourselves Trust.
In the crazy world around us, how can we help ourselves trust God?
*Remain in conversaion with God.
*Dig into the word daily. Even if you only read a few veres a day this is crucial for putting yourself in the right mindset of trusting God.
*Hand over your doubts, anxieties, uncertainties and confusion to God. Trust that God has a plan for it all.
*Trust that God is the one in charge.
*Let God lead you. No matter how driven you are, let God be in the driver's seat of your daily choices and actions.
*Remember how God has acted in the past.
*Let God's voice be the loudest voice you listen to each day.
Now, it is also important that we Help Others Trust in God as well. Sometimes this can be an even bigger challenge than Helping Ourselves Trust.
However, here are some thoughts on how we get started.
Help Others Trust
*Love everyone.
*Speak phrases of love
*Share your opinion with compassion.
*Listen to others.
*Help those in need.
*Practice humility.
*Live out your faith. Don't just talk about how others should live out theirs.
*Remember, it is not your purpose to judge others.
*Find pieces of joy in your life and share the joy with others.
*Show genuine compassion.
*Be respectful.
*Be inclusive.
*Be the image of God that may be the only representation a person gets on any given day.
As the temperatures heat up, go ahead and embrace the heat wave.
Fell it HOT! HOT! HOT!
"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us."
(Psalm 628).