Do You Really Believe In Beautiful Things?

The first few weeks of the year have already shown us a variety of what is possible when a nation is at war with itself. In the variety, there is hope and uncertainty. There is a call to look inward as well as upward. The beckoning to our higher selves is in the same rooms as the temptations for our egos.

So, what do we do?

To believe in the possibility of anything is to acknowledge its possible failure and the voices that tug at our disbelief. We are not strangers to these gravitational pulls. We choose daily which direction we will take.

For me, believing in something absolutely wonderful as truly possible requires all of my courage. It also requires all of my faith. That's why I work as a Family Support Specialist while building into the vision of Rise and Thrive LLC every day.

Fear is activated in my brain to keep me safe. Maybe my greater expectations not being met is something to fear. But the more I choose faith, courage, and willingness, the more gratitude and satisfaction I experience. I learn that what I greatly expected could never compete with the Most High's simplest plans for me. So, I have to ask you this. Do you really believe in beautiful things?

We know that no president, vice-president, government, grant, aid, acknowledgement, apology, or redo will completely make us into the people we want to be, creating the conditions we want to create. Yet, we know that our full agreement with God’s Word about us and for us will abet us in exceling beyond our greatest expectations.

"That Sounds Good, Ashley. So now what?"

There are some things we can do when we feel like "how" is getting in the way of our rest, reset, trust, and response.

1. Bring awareness to the areas of your mind and body that need Light. You do this by simply placing your hand over the area that needs more attention and invite the Presence of God into that place. Don’t beg. Just invite.
2. Breathe into the area that you invited God’s presence. His breath is yours. So use it and breathe into that area.
3. Inhale and exhale. Focus on your lungs expand and releasing air. If you cry, you cry. If you laugh, you laugh. Either way, give thanks that the Life in you is a sign that the Most High has more for you.

One Last Thing

Don’t get tied up. Getting tied up occupies the space we have for belief in glorious possibilities. Jesus said in Mark 3:27, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.” I interpret from this verse that in order for the goods to be taken, the woman or man has to be tied up first.

Whatever you do, don’t give what you call an enemy or your lower self a rope. Because with that rope, we bind ourselves up and allow our houses - our hearts and spirits - to be robbed. Surrender the rope.

Breathing helps us to expand the space Holy Spirit gives us for the clarity we need to persist and succeed. It also reminds us of how precious our lives are.

So, what about you? Do you really believe in beautiful things? You already have what it takes.