Week 9 - Carving Out Space
MONDAY
On Monday, set aside 30 minutes to breathe, take out your journal, and write about the very first time you felt the emotion of shame. Try to go as far back as possible to your first memory of shame. Describe the situation in detail. Then pray for forgiveness - whether you need to forgive the person who made you feel shameful, or forgive yourself for the shameful act. Either way, forgiveness should abound in your prayer.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday, same thing - breathing exercises, take out your journal, and write about a time when you decided you did not want to be like someone. It could be after watching the news, or witnessing a fight between your parents, or any situation that made you say, “I don’t want to be like this person.” Write about that experience in detail. Then pray for peace.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, do breathing exercises, take out your journal, and write about what it means to be a child of God. I recommend that you look up verses like Colossians 1:21-22, Romans 5:10, and Ephesians 1:5. What were you taught about this identity? Explain your thoughts in detail. Then pray for understanding.
THURSDAY
On Thursday, do breathing exercises, take out your journal, and write about what you currently place your identity in. A surefire way to know whether or not you’ve placed your identity in that person or thing is knowing that if that person or thing is taken away from you, you would feel completely and utterly lost. You wouldn’t know what to do or who you are. Write about how you became so attached to this person or thing, and then pray for wisdom.
FRIDAY
On Friday, do breathing exercises, take out your journal, and write about the first time you’ve ever felt at peace and completely happy with who you are. If you’ve never felt this, write about why that is. Then pray for his love to wash over you.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, do breathing exercises, take out your journal, and write about your hopes of this new, abundant life. This is your time to dream as big as possible. Do you want a life that is brimming with joy and unshakeable peace? Or do you want spiritual breakthrough for yourself and your family? What are your hopes for this new life with Christ alongside you? After journaling, pray for those very things.
THAT’S IT!
I can almost guarantee that if you’re faithful to do these 30-minute reflections each day this week, you will arrive at a much more confident, self-aware, and peaceful state than you were before you embarked on these exercises.
Music by Hannah Lee