They say that after 29 days of doing something it becomes a habit. I think that is only the case if you are not looking at the calendar to see where day 29 falls or how many days are left. August 1st I started a lifestyle change. Protein and veggies, no carbs, no sweets. I lost about 5 lbs. If I was consistent with my workout schedule I would have probably lost double that. I have always had one or the other… Eat right – don’t workout, Work out – don’t eat right. This time I did bikram yoga. I was good, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Only thing that stopped the process was my pockets disagreed.
Not only have I been purging unhealthy aspects of my diet and lifestyle, I have been purging things from my home that are no longer of service. I have been to the thrift store and donated about $500 worth of items if not more. From furniture to brick-a-brack and an old radio or two here and there. I have some more to go. Still need to tackle my clothes and shoes. I am not really ready for that. I am my mother’s child and we like to look good! Yes, yes!
The thing is sometimes we hold on. Many of us hold on because we are at the last thread. We are fearful that we won’t get our blessings. How exactly would that be the case? Your blessing are for no one else but you. But here you are with your hands grasping at every weed, every blade of grass, every piece of earth that you can because you are afraid to fall into the blessing that God has for you. Being thread bare makes you look at your situation in an attitude of lack. There are so many posts on Facebook about how “God is good”…. “God don’t give you nothing that you can’t handle”… The truth resonates within us. If you believe then it resonates with you. Yet, there are so many self depreciating acts from those who post the same sayings.”Oh Lord, What did I do?” or “It is always something.”
It took a while for me to really understand faith because I had so many questions. As a Virgo I think that “what if” scenario is often the main culprit in some of my moments of anguish and fear. I can analyze myself into depression I am so good. (Actually, not good. That was sarcasm) The moment you produce a thought of “oh that isn’t going to work” or “I can’t.” you slap faith in the face. You slap God in the face.
The title of this post is Open Your Hand So God May Bless You… I say that because “I don’t believe he has brought me this far to leave me.” I have been the one holding on to that cliff, those blades of grass because the ground was slipping beneath me and I didn’t tap into that faith, that understanding that God would break my fall. The saying is leap and the net shall appear. I ain’t not never really liked heights! The view… spectacular – the danger kept me far enough from the edge to miss the most beautiful sunset that God may have ever created. But the reality of the situation is that fall could be onto a beautiful tufted couch with plenty of pillows. Everything in life happens for a reason. Our blessings are ours alone.
In moving forward what is your intention? Are you going to continue the tug of war with God? Will you keep setting in motion what it is you want only to sabotage it when those negative thoughts creep in?
Give and it shall be given to you good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your lap. For the measure that you give will be the measure you get back. (to paraphrase Luke 6:38) Open your hand and release your grip to get your blessings!
