Today's Negativity Fast Tip. Reclaim your time with 4 tips to halt the hustle and stop feeling perpetually busy—embrace a calmer, focused life!
Trevor Lund has helped over 10,000 people fast from negativity since 2006. Check out all the tips and tools to fast from negativity https://revtrev.link/tips Join the negativity fast at https://revtrev.link/fast and find out how to Live LIGHT Above the Negativity https://revtrev.link/bless
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Let's start with Eugene Peterson's transliteration of Matthew 6:30-33. This is Jesus speaking in the message.
It says, "If God gives attention to the appearance of wild flowers, most of which are never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, and do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over all these things. But you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God reality, God initiative, God provision, and don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
I really enjoy how Peterson translates, transliterates that, what Jesus said, because it is so true. We live in a culture that praises busyness. Have you ever caught yourself responding to the question, "How are you doing?" by saying, "I'm busy"? Oh my goodness. I hope you stop doing that after you hear what I'm about to tell you.
Christian work ethic is good
I'm not criticizing people who have a lot on the go. Like I said, it's Christian work ethic that has built Western civilization. It is a good thing to have a lot to do. I know we can accomplish a lot of things and feel satisfied and not overwhelmed. But it's the feeling of being overwhelmed with busyness that I'm going to try to help you get over today because you were created to walk with God in the garden of the cool of the day. And I believe it is possible this side of the cross before we're all in heaven, back in that new Jerusalem, new garden.
1. Know the root of busyness
So here are the four tips I have for you to stop feeling busy. First tip, is you need to know the root of busyness. The root of busyness is shame. It is shame. It's unhealthy competition and it's keeping up with the Joneses. Maybe it's FOMO or saving face. It's doing what's expected and following societal norms. "I have to put food on the table." Those are the things that make us feel busy. The root of those things is that we need to save face or look good. That's when we start feeling busy, right? That's when we start feeling overwhelmed when somebody else has expectations on us.
2. Know shame can be masked as a virtue
Now, the problem with that, you got to also know the root of shame. You need to know that shame can be masked as a virtue. We all hide it well and can think we're doing good, right? We are not keeping up with the Joneses; but “Pastor asked me to do this.” and “My mom needs help." Yeah, she probably does. Motivations matter. Motivations matter. If we're motivated out of shame, we're going to start feeling busy. If we're motivated out of love, we can get a whole lot done. When we do things as unto the Lord, we need to let Holy Spirit search our heart, right? We need to say, "God, Holy Spirit, show me. Why am I feeling busy?"
3. Know the difference between guilt and shame
The third tip is you got to know the difference between shame and guilt. What's the difference between shame and guilt? Guilt is based on what we do or leave undone. Shame is based on who we are. Did you catch that? Guilt is based on what we do or leave undone. Shame is based on who we are. We can be guilty. And the good news is, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Know how to stop using shame as motivation
Fourth tip I have for you is you need to know how to stop using shame as your motivation. And here's where the tool comes in. What you need to do is confess. You need to ask; you need to renounce; and you need to enjoy.
How do you overcome shame? To care, right?
C- Confess the sinful ways you've responded to the root of shame in your life.
Go to God and say, "Lord, I've used busyness to keep me from feeling shame in response to the shame that I feel because of whatever thing I'm doing or not doing."
A is for ask—ask the Father to remind you of the people who have shamed you.
You need to make the choice to forgive them. Actually, you need to forgive them with your whole heart. It's the decision; it's the action; and it's the emotion.
R is for recognize—recognize what lies you've come to believe about yourself.
So basically what you do, spend time alone with Holy Spirit, and just say, "Holy Spirit, can you show me what's the root? When have I felt this way before?" And think about that time—there'll be a time earlier on where you felt the same feeling you're feeling now. Then you ask Holy Spirit, "What's the lie I'm believing from that memory?" And He'll show you. You take that lie and then you just confess, "God, I'm sorry that I believed that. Can you show me the truth? What's the truth of that situation?" And it's the truth that He tells us that sets us free. It's a transformation that takes place when we allow Holy Spirit to speak into our heart.
E is for enjoy—enjoy guilt-free relationships.
Now, you know what I mean when I say that? They know the buttons to press. And honestly, guard your heart in those situations. One of the things I will tell you about when you fight with honor is you never say "never," and you never say "always," because nobody never, never and nobody always, always. Never and always is a way to shame and to guilt people.
In your closest relationships, you can set up those boundaries, and people will respond. If you've been wounded in community, you need to be fully healed in community. A lot of times, we just withdraw from community when we've been hurt in community. Look for a life-giving community.
Next Steps
Live LIGHT Negativity Fast - Move from toxic negativity to life-giving positivity with 47 days of reflections and Devotional and Community. https://revtrev.link/fast
Live LIGHT Above the Negativity Course - Move from being easily regularly frustrated, usually feeling busy, often afraid or easily angered to having peace at all times and in every situation. https://revtrev.link/bless
Live LIGHT Tips and Tools to fast from Negativity - Are you looking to make a difference in the attitudes and actions in your everyday world? Get these Tips and Tools to help you Fast from Negativity https://revtrev.link/tips
Carpe Vitae!
