Today’s Gift of Grace // Stabilizers
Open the Grace {Day 7} 40 Gifts for 40 Days
Through the years I’ve found that having certain rhythms in place help me to stay the course. Especially in the busy seasons when it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed & under-rested.
I refer to them as my “Stabilizers”.
Over the next couple of days I’m going to share 5 Stabilizers
Reflect
Give
Hunger
Rest
Feast
These are the practices that consistently bring me back to His Love & Grace along the way.
I discovered several years ago that I am a more stable-minded woman when I make solid choices about how I will start my day. Being intentional with prayer, reading scripture, & writing down the thoughts that swirl through my mind are practices I’ve put into place so that I can to stay focused & headed in the right direction.
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Proverbs 4:18
Over the course of the year I look for ways to dig deeper into passages that reflect the needs of the season I’m in. For Lent this year I’m following along with Tsh Oxenreider’s Bitter & Sweet – A Journey into Easter. I highly recommend this book, it’s easy to follow & helpful in understanding more about how to make Lent a personal journey. Tsh also has a beautiful book for Advent called Shadow & Light – A Journey into Advent. I’ve read through it the last couple of years & have thoroughly enjoyed it!
One of the Three Pillars of Lent is giving. Being present with your time & attention is a beautiful way to give.
Simply put, we need each other. Pulling together when we’re hurting, loving unconditionally, giving space when needed, celebrating victories, & praying through the losses. This is the stuff of life that really matters.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25
When we set aside time to show up in tangible ways for our community we all win!
Lent provides us with a real opportunity to take a look at what we rely on in ordinary life to keep us from being still or vulnerable. Physically & spiritually. To deny ourselves pleasure for a time is an act of humility & draws us back into communion with the only One who can truly satisfy our deepest hunger.
“But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Psalm 81:16
I choose carefully what I decide to fast during Lent. I look for habits, attitudes—little ways that I indulge in regularly that keep me temporarily satisfied. I usually don’t have to look too hard.
I’ll share the last 2 stabilizers in tomorrow’s post. I hope as you follow along you’re thinking of ways to put into practice rhythms unique to your lifestyle. —Carly
THE PEARL COMMUNITY 