Refuse to Waste the Gift of Life

I used to teach birthing classes.  It was always interesting how easily I had the students' attention; they wanted to hear something different than the frightening stories which were routinely told by family, friends, and complete strangers.  By the time they came to class, the students were worried, fearing late pregnancy, labor, and delivery.   I knew the first class had to begin with reassurance and a list of techniques and tools to learn, all of which would help them to manage what they were experiencing as well as what was to come.  There were three major life skills which needed to be learned: breathing-relaxation, focus, and preparation.  My goal was to help them to recognize the gift of life as something not to be wasted on worry and fear.

The students needed experiential learning, not just words, to remove fear from their mind. A good portion of the class was spent on "practicing what was preached."   So.  We took time at the front of the first class to breathe, relax, and focus on one thing, the gift of life.  The simple exercise helped everyone to calm down and to see there would be a way through it all.

The thing is . . . when we stop and step back from the stuff . . . we are able to have a new perspective which dissipates fear and worry, enabling us to face the future with courage and anticipation. 

Jesus clearly said there's more to our reality than what we see at first glance.
Consider.
"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught." (John 14:25-27, The Message)

 Jesus gave us the Friend, the Holy Spirit, to give us clarity, to empower us to get through the stuff with supernatural peace, and to ensure we will experience the gift of life fully without worry and fear.

There's no reason to worry or have fear when we believe what God has made clear in the Word: "I will be with you.  I will not leave you. I will not fail you."  Without worry or fear, we are freed to live this life as it's been planned, as a gift.  So.  It's a choice to live this life as a gift, no matter the situation, with Christ's passion and courage, refusing to worry or to have fear, focused on walking in the presence, power, and peace of the Friend.

Step back from it all, learn what God has for you in the midst of it all.
Experience the presence of God.
Stop.
Breathe.
Relax.
Focus on the presence of the Spirit.
Refuse to worry or to have fear.
Follow the instructions of the Spirit.
Be at peace.

Learning to Kickstart the day without worry or fear,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)