Crisp Autumn Day

This morning I woke up to another beautiful crisp fall day. After enjoying some coffee with the hubby, he went off to work and I went to church at The River. This week was part two of the Occupy Wall Street series, and boy was it powerful. I feel like God has really been working in my life this year, but especially in the past several weeks. I've received prayer from the prayer team at church for three weeks now, and I'm seeing the power of prayer in ways I've never seen or experienced before. God has been speaking to me through friends, family and the church about success... well, my definition of success that is. I'm working on redefining my definition of success and failure as well as creating a new narrative for myself.

The two most important takeaways from today's talk:

1) Gratitude Examine and Remember Prayer
2) Are your dreams wrapped up in the Christian narrative of faith and joy in all things, or in the American dream?

Gratitude Examine and Remember Prayer are spiritual exercises intended to strengthen our spiritual muscles. Gratitude Examine requires that you lift yourself up to God and thank him for making you the way you are. After all, God did make you... when we beat up on ourselves and give in to the negative self narratives that attack our core, we fail to see the wonderful qualities about ourselves that God created. While acting out the Gratitude Examine, ask God to break your narrative and help you see yourself the way God sees you. This really spoke to me, because I fault myself constantly, and I certainly do not appreciate the positive things about myself (created by God).

Whether or not your dreams are tied up in the American dream or faith goes back to the idea of not aiming at success. Today, Pastor Park said to resist the advertising culture... easier said than done, but just like the dominating economic system and political narrative in our country is broken, so too is our personal narrative. Be joyous even during hard times, this is true success. Shouldn't our success be primarily spiritual... getting closer to God... seeking only him. "They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy." --2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

So as I reflect on this throughout the week ahead, I will lift myself up daily and ask God to break my narrative, help me see myself the way he does... and I will thank him for making me me. I will not make this about what I'm lacking, this will be solely to thank God. I'm curious to see if I do this daily, if my mood will improve as well. Stay tuned and I'll update you next weekend.

As for the Remember Prayer, lift those that you love and appreciate up to God... just remember them and thank God for them.

Now I plan to spend the rest of the day updating resumes, finishing my grad school essay and cleaning. Hopefully I'm actually productive.