#3 Making Changes For a Great 2024: The Secret to Freedom
Part Three in This "Fill in The Blank" Interactive Happy New Year Series. You can do hard things. And afterward experience the blessing, the bliss, of freedom.
THE SECRET TO FREEDOM
How is it going so far? What am I talking about? Start right here if you want to journey on this fill-in-the-blank series.
I should tell you that everything I have written and will continue to share with you came out of time in prayer, a flood of questions.
So in essence I’m sharing some journaling with you that was for me but … was it? That said, these questions, though I’m trying to put them in some kind of order that makes sense, have no real order. There’s no correct way to proceed. Just proceed. Have a go at it. Do some reviewing… maybe use an eraser at times. And no doubt, the Holy Spirit will pop in with questions made just for you! (If so, I’d love to hear them. Who knows… they might be on my list too… now that would be affirming.)
This week the little “bank of blanks” deals with areas about which humans historically have feeeeeeelings. Just go easy on me… if you don’t care for this “bank of blanks”, take it up with the Spirit. Or shelve it. Or do it anyway. (I’d go for #1 and #3.) Got your journal or word doc open? Let’s do this:
CLEANING HOUSE
We’re dealing with unfinished business, forgiveness, atonement, confession etc. We’re cleaning house. Let’s go.
The first one is short.
I am going to [finally] forgive ____________________
Forgiveness is freedom, not the condoning of bad behavior. It is also not self-condemnation. Forgiveness is freedom to move on - to be healed.
I confess _____________, so therefore, I am moving forward by _______________.
[Finally] forgiving myself for _______________.
I will commemorate/atone/sacrifice for all of this by______________.
If you do this, any of this, there will be blessings. For you are facing the Lover of your soul and saying that you’d rather walk with Him than on the path that dragged you away….
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
I have unfinished business that I will finish by February 4th: _________________.
I am cleaning up this mess by February 4th: __________________.
Only you know whether the mess is physical (ie. A desk, room, she-shed or man cave) or if it’s personal (a misunderstanding, addictive behavior etc.). The mess itself might not actually be “fixed” by this date but you surely can begin the process by quantum leaping into a firm action to start the process. (NOTE: it’s best to make the deadline (lifeline) a little difficult. No more than two weeks. Try it.)
I will take care of myself or reward myself after such brave and courageous actions by _______________.
Do not skip this step!
A FINAL STORY: THE FIVE LETTERS
I once wrote five letters to people from long and short past that I felt, after I’d grown up a little… spiritually matured a bit…, deserved better from me. And I said so. It was painful, eating hats and crows and humble pie. One day I’ll write to you about the surprises that came. But I’ll cut to the chase.
The best surprise was freedom.
I can say that I’m not asking you to do something I have not done myself. I can also commiserate with you that it’s hard and asks a lot of you. But you can do hard things. And you do not have to do it alone. If you ask God, he will help you. He will. Just ask. And then?
Do whatever He tells you.
See you next week!
“Do whatever He tells you.” - The Blessed Mother (John 2:5)