“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”.
The important thing for you and I to accept is that we cannot continue with the same patterns and expect to have a different life. I would suggest that most of us spend our time complaining, arguing, being afraid, and worrying. Then we wonder why we aren’t happy. Our life gravitates towards things that are negative and ultimately we are consumed with the ‘dark cloud’ reality. It is as if a dark cloud hovers over every aspect of our life and we can never seem to get a breakthrough. Let’s do a faith check real quick.
Check off the following behaviors, patterns that are normally part of your daily routine:
▢ I complain about what I don’t like.
▢ I argue over things I disagree with.
▢ I am afraid of getting sick or having something bad happen to me.
▢ I worry about not having enough money.
Now, let me ask a tough question. How many of us spend as much time focused on good things, hopeful expectations, and talk about a good future more than we complain, argue, or worry? The truth is our patterns are sabotaging our lives. We have been hacked into believing that complaining, arguing, and worrying actually help us.
The question that we must ask, “How has complaining, arguing, fear, and worry made our lives better?”
But we go right back to it - every day.
Ok, let’s make it a little more clear.
How many times have you worried about money and then received a check in the mail?
How many times did you respond with fear and then take the steps to accomplish your goal or dream?
How many times have you complained or argued, and it helped your relationship with people?
Very little, huh? But we keep doing it. Over and over again and expect that it’s going to give us a better life. INSANITY.
We have to resist the insanity.
#21G Challenge: Here’s your challenge for today. Write down the ways that you tend to default to either complaining, arguing, fear, or worry. Then, write down how you could respond differently today (and every day). For example, rather than complain you could focus on something good and actually write a letter or an email to that person appreciating them for that positive trait. Rather than complaining about your boss, send them a Gift Card for their favorite coffee with a note of kindness. Make it practical.
NEGATIVE PATTERNS:
POSITIVE RESPONSES:
You can reorder your world by implementing good actions in the place of these negative patterns.
Read Luke 10:1-9 and see the strategy that Jesus gave His followers for making a difference in their world.
#21G VERSE: LUKE 10: 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Jesus didn’t deny the reality that we live in a broken world and that we were going to face broken people. He said, “I am sending you as lambs among wolves.” Nevertheless, he gave them a strategy to find “sons of peace” wherever they went and then he said, “Remain there.” The key to finding peace was starting the conversation with peace. “Peace to this house!” Examine the way you start your day, your conversations, and activities. Are you starting them by declaring peace or chaos?
He says if someone doesn’t receive you “dust off your feet” and move on. DON’T STAY THERE!
Yes, this was a strategy for expanding the Kingdom. But we can translate this principle into our daily lives. Focus on peace and resist the chaos. Show up speaking “peace” and find those people and aspects of life that are ready to receive you. Don’t stay in a situation, a mindset, or a pattern that isn’t expanding the Kingdom of God in your life.
