SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” 
― Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness

SONG OF SOLOMON 6-8

7Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot sweep it away.

If one were to give

all the wealth of one’s house for love,

it^c would be utterly scorned. (8:7) 

GALATIANS 1

10Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

JOURNAL 

Doing meditation this morning I was overcome by the reality of being able to sit still while certain thoughts and emotions came and went. I could literally see them in my mind as passing cars. My temptation was to reach out them and get in and possess them or to either run from them in fear. Yet I was able just to sit and watch and calmly not react.

Even now as I sit I have a compulsion and an energy to get up and walk around. However I am learning to let that compulsion go and to sit here and remain focused on typing and doing my devotion. Doing this level of discipline is what has been sorely missing in my life. I have tended to fight my emotions...at times going wherever my emotions took me and or trying to create and or squash or run from them. The reality of knowing that I can stand apart from them and then decide whether to indulge them or to simply let them pass is freeing. It gives me confidence and it keeps me focused in the heart of God.

1The wicked flee though no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

PROVERBS 28:1-2