Who gets the most time in your head? Do you get offended by someone and replay the incident in your head or fantasize about telling them off or getting even? Do you dwell on people who ignored, neglected or hurt you? If so, you are letting people live rent free in your head at your expense. Your fixation is not costing them a thing but you pay with sleepless nights, headaches, decreased productive, stress and who knows what other damage to your well-being. Evict them and take on five new tenants to take their place. People of faith can be a great focus for your mind in order to help you grow in your faith.
- Christ. That may sound simplistic or cliche’, but when have you last taken a story about Jesus and simply sat with it? When is the last time you immersed yourself in a story about Jesus. Before you go to bed tonight or when you get up in the morning, pick a story about Jesus. Read it once to get the basic idea. Read it again and put yourself in the story imagining with all of your senses the sights, sounds, smells, etc. Read it one last time and just pause at pieces that grab you.
- Biblical heroes of faith. Much of scripture are stories of heroes of faith. God inspired people to write down stories about other people who lived faithfully. The author of Hebrews in the eleventh chapter lists an amazing lineage of people acting in faith. He knew that we are inspired by other people’s faith. He knew we need examples of faith, so he called them to mind.
- Historic figures of faith. John Calvin, Luther, mother Teresa, missionaries, theologians, founders of ministries all have valuable faith lessons to learn. You can read their writings or read biographies about them. I would suggest reading more than one work on a given person. Most people know of George Washington Carver as the “peanut man”, few realize what an amazing faith he had. I read three biographies of him once, back to back, and it really made me rethink some important faith issues.
- People who have blessed you. Who has played a significant role in your faith development. I had a spiritually elderly woman named Opal, who asked me every time I came home from college if I was going to church. She prayed for me constantly and always asked me how I was doing in terms of my faith. She was a self-proclaimed spiritual grandmother. Who influenced or influences you? Ponder what they have done, what this has meant for you and how you could express thanks.
- People who need a blessing. Who needs a prayer, visit, call or act of kindness? God puts you in the lives of people. Learning to focus on those who are in need will help you grow in your faith. Focusing on the need of others also tends to help you be more thankful. You may find that many offenses that consume you before seem petty or trivial in the awareness that other people are suffering much greater trials. Focusing on the others helps you be less petty.
Try picking at least one of these folks to dwell on. Try focusing on one a little each day for a week. I will expand on how you do that in my next post. Blessings to you from The Practical Disciple
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