EHS Practices – Week 7 – Day 2
THEME: Growing Up
BREATH PRAYER: Jesus, grant me a deeper love for You and for others
SETTLING IN:
- In a journal, note the day, time, and place you’re sitting.
- Open with a few moments of silence. Rest, and breathe deeply.
- Complete the following sentence in your journal: Today, I feel ________________.
- Read these words slowly (aloud or silently):
“He brought me out into an open place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:20
Pray this week’s breath prayer and pause for a few moments of silence.
PRACTICE:
TRUTH TELLING
In last Sunday’s sermon, Eddie described the characteristics of an “emotional adult.” Emotional adults can ask for what they need, want or prefer clearly, directly and honestly. They recognize and take responsibilities for their own thoughts and feelings. They can disagree without getting into a fight, can respect others without having to change them, and can give people room to make mistakes.
Today’s practice is truth telling. This is not simply a practice of study or contemplation. It is a way of living. It is to, as Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Let your yes be a yes, and your no, a no.” It is to live your life free from spin. Adele Calhoun says in Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, “Truth telling involves speaking in a way that does not exaggerate, minimize, deny, rationalize or manage the truth.”
- Review the following list of ways that we “spin” the truth in our lives, and spin events and make a note in your journal of one or more of these where you regularly find yourself tempted:
- Include or exclude details in a story to impress others
- Exaggeration
- Cheating on tests, taxes, insurance forms, etc.
- Making a promise you do not intend to keep
- Flattering others for your own gain
- Belittling others for your own gain
- Gossip
- Rationalizing your actions or inactions
- Blame
- Meaning something other than what you say
- Ask the Lord to reveal to you what motivates this temptation? Ask Him why this particular temptation resonates with you. Allow a few moments for prayer, silence, and contemplation as you journal the thoughts that come to mind.
- Ask Him if there is a brokenness or wound underneath these motivations that the Lord would like to heal. Allow a few moments for prayer, silence, and contemplation and journal the thoughts that come to mind.
- Thank God for His grace and ask Him to guide you in the truth today.
Digging Deeper: Look at your schedule for the next 24 hours and consider the conversations you are likely to have with others. Whether this is face-to-face, a meeting, email, text, phone call, etc, think through all the communications you are likely to have and ask yourself, “Where will I likely be tempted to communicate anything other than the truth?” Write your answers in your journal and then take them to the Lord, asking for His strength to resist those temptations and walk in the truth.
Summary: Write in your journal a brief summary (five sentences or less) of your practice.
Closing: Jesus, help me to trust in Your goodness by letting my yes be a yes and my no be a no. Grant me a deeper love for You and for others.
