What is Community? Community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” Who is your Community? We think of our families, extended families, friends, school mates, team members, coworkers, church members and community partners. Which group encourages you, lifts you up, speaks positive words to you, prays for you? We may be around a lot of people, but to become all that God has for you to be, we need to intentionally be around those that know God and acknowledge His power, grace and mercy. We can wander here and there and not put any roots down, hindering this deeper connection to take place. We can isolate ourselves and withdraw from social situations but this also hinders deep connections. Galatians 6:2 tells us to “carry one another’s burdens, in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” James 5:16 tells us to “confess our sins to one another”. I John 4:7 tells us to continue loving one another” and several verses tell us to pray for each other. God’s plan is that we interact with one another, to encourage and to be held accountable. It is good to be together and to have trusting relationships, and even better if they are centered on God.
Our best decisions come from our thoughts and beliefs, with our feelings going through the filter of our goals and values. A person who gives into their feelings, without being grounded in beliefs, encounters more consequences from making reactive and irrational decisions. Again, be intentional about who you spend time with and what you ”input” into your mind; we are affected by what we hear, even what we hear us telling ourselves. Many studies have concluded that positive reinforcement plays a big role in what people are able to accomplish. Even on a small scale, we can all think about a time we were told we did something well, and that encouraged us to make the effort again. We also have many opportunities to speak positive words to others. Make a new goal to encourage someone daily, send a note weekly and even have some responses ready to repeat to yourself when a negative thought comes into your mind.
Now think again about the groups of people you are around, are there any who do not fit with your new goals? Are there people or groups you need to back out of or stop spending time with? You may face a hard situation if you are in a group that you cannot get out of at this time. First is to have hope that there will be a day when you are not forced to be around those people who are being negative instead of lifting you up. You may have people who live in your home, or are near at school, a team or at work that you cannot change at this time. God will help you deal with this situation, and will give you strength, patience, perspective and peace. Trust in Him as Philippians 4:6 tells us: “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Jeri
Our best decisions come from our thoughts and beliefs, with our feelings going through the filter of our goals and values. A person who gives into their feelings, without being grounded in beliefs, encounters more consequences from making reactive and irrational decisions. Again, be intentional about who you spend time with and what you ”input” into your mind; we are affected by what we hear, even what we hear us telling ourselves. Many studies have concluded that positive reinforcement plays a big role in what people are able to accomplish. Even on a small scale, we can all think about a time we were told we did something well, and that encouraged us to make the effort again. We also have many opportunities to speak positive words to others. Make a new goal to encourage someone daily, send a note weekly and even have some responses ready to repeat to yourself when a negative thought comes into your mind.
Now think again about the groups of people you are around, are there any who do not fit with your new goals? Are there people or groups you need to back out of or stop spending time with? You may face a hard situation if you are in a group that you cannot get out of at this time. First is to have hope that there will be a day when you are not forced to be around those people who are being negative instead of lifting you up. You may have people who live in your home, or are near at school, a team or at work that you cannot change at this time. God will help you deal with this situation, and will give you strength, patience, perspective and peace. Trust in Him as Philippians 4:6 tells us: “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings,
Jeri
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