Spiritual Inventory

Oh No! Not that!,
Yep!
This week in what we affectionately call "CR" (Celebrate Recovery) we discussed
Principal 4:
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. Happy are the pure in heart. Matthew 5:8a (TEV)
Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

This is probably the hardest Principal and Step of Recovery. For one, our Pride gets in the way and we don't want to admit that we have done wrong or that we are
weak. We are afraid to let others see who we really are. Afraid of disappointing others and not being liked. Some people have a hardened heart and don't have the ability to forgive, they hold bitterness deep inside.

We need to turn to GOD to HEAL and RESTORE us and not lean on someone else to save us!

We basically have three basic characters, that of the one we tell ourselves, the one we tell others and then the one we really are.

Satan's Lie is that our self worth is based on our performance and ability to please others.

Our Attitudes are based on our....

Relationships with Other People.
"Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don't bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One." Matthew 6:12-13

Our Priorities in Life
"He will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to." Matthew 6:33 LB

Your ability to Forgive
"Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort." Ephesians 4:31 GNB

Your Integrity
"Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before." Colossians 3:9 NCV

Heavy Heart - Letting go is hard!

I wish I had more time to spend writing on my blog! More time to do many things! There just never seems to be enough time in the day. You have your mind set at doing one thing, then something else seems to come up and get in the way. For me, it never fails!! But, I have got to do something to get myself better organized.

I think to start, I have to get myself back in good mental condition. This past week has not been a good one for me as far as Friendships are concerned. Friendships and Work don't seem to go together well. Especially when you work closely in the same office and you both have very strong personalities, and when one has a personal relationship with Christ and one does not.

What was once a really good friendship no longer exists. Not because I want it that way, but because they want it that way. They don't know the true meaning of forgiveness because they hold on to bitterness and anger in their heart. And it is not necessary. Unfortunately this person also told me that they were tired of this "religious phase" of mine, that they know who and what I am really like. Boy if that wasn't a knife in the heart. Not because there is any trueth to it, but because this person was once a friend and I truly love and care about this person and her family. I was crushed. This person has NO CLUE!!!! BUT, I know the only thing I can do is to continue to pray for this person. Pray that God will break through her rock hard heart and she will find her way to the Lord.

I think this might also be the case with the other person. They seem to know the Lord, but I question if they really have a personal relationship with him. I don't think they realize what they do to the people around them. I don't think they really care. Again, all I can do is pray for them and move on with my life! It would be detrimental for me to continue to try and work on these relationships. I know that I need to cut my loses and move on, but it doesn't hurt any less.

Well, that is about all I want to say right now! Maybe I can get some sleep now! It has been a rough week and a really rough day! I am off to read some scripture and hopefully get some sound sleep with the few hours that are left.

Beth