Today is the first day we are working on our trouble areas; we are Taking the Challenge…I Dare You! Many of you may have remembered this title from a long time ago. Maybe a year or so. This is something I’ve been trying to build for a long time but just like any other situation nothing changes over night. It’s like a slow progressing process. Today I want us to get SERIOUS about working on the areas that are affecting who we are destined to be.
The first step in Taking the Challenge is “Recognize”
“There are 3 steps you need to take in moving on and accepting what’s in your life. Recognize, Evaluate, Terminate. If you are someone who is trying to grow and be freed of some things in your life, you are going to have to first accept/recognize what is real in your life. You are going to have to accept, and believe it. For instance, if you are someone living in denial, you are going to have to come to grips with what’s really going on. If you are going through a mid life crisis, you need to accept what is happening in your life. If someone has passed away, you need to accept that person as “gone” “in a better place” If your children have grown up and no longer live in the house, you need to accept them as adults. You need to accept life and the things in it as it truly is. Not what you want them to be.
Many times we are going through so much because we live in denial. We are not accepting the things in life as it is. In order to grow, you have to know what’s real. You have to know what’s really going on. If you are an addict, understand that this is you. You are an addict. You can be freed of it but right now you are an addict. That’s why they make you say “My name is__and I am an alcoholic, sex addict etc. You have to accept what’s real.
Now that you understand our first step let’s look at how we are going to focus on Recognizing our problem.
It is not time to forget it. Let’s figure out where this problem came from. How did you get so fearful? How did you get so emotional? How did you get so angry? How did you get addicted to this problem/sin/situation? Ask yourself questions. Get to know you and why you are the way you are. You’ve got to disect this issue; find the core; get to the bottom of this area.
Focus of the Week
This week we will focus on a series of things.
First, answer the questions in the paragraph above.
Second, you know the phrase keep your enemies close and your friends closer? The problem/sin/situation in your life is an enemy. Because anything trying to bring us down, hurt us or destroy us is not for us. So that area is the enemy. Keep it close. Keep your eye on it. Figure out what thing or person in your life brings that enemy out.
Third, keep a log, journal of what you experience this week. What you notice, don’t notice, how you’re feeling.
I encourage you to work on one area at a time unless these areas are minor. For instances if you need healing from childhood abuse and you need to forgive the person who abused you, focus on the first part (which is forgiveness) first and then move on to the others.
Remember, this change will not happen over night. It will not. God will not deliver someone or something into your life and just like that you are changed. You want healing? He will put you in a situation that will remind you of that situation to give you the opportunity to heal. You want to be freed of a particular sin? He will put you in a particular position where that sin will be right in your face. You will then have the chance to turn away from that sin. It’s a working progress. We don’t loose weight over night. It takes time!
Now that you are ready to take the challenge…Let’s do it!
1. Ask yourself what areas are you having trouble with in your life?
2. Write it down.
3. Ask yourself what triggers this area? Write it down.
4. Go to your bible and find a scripture that will give you guidance, strength, and courage over this area of your life. Write it down.
5. Lastly, make a commitment everyday to improve that area of your life.
I will post those five reminders every Friday to help you remember your goal. Refer back to Focus of the Week to do this weeks activites
I’ve started a forum on my website for those who want to speak with others who are working on their trouble areas as well as genral discussions about Taking the Challenge. Click on the link and look for the category that says Take the Challenge. http://yourdailyinspiration.webs.com/apps/forums/
God Bless,
Dominique
dominiquesinspiration
But it’s important for us to slow things down and simply learn from the situation; take something from it.