Saturday, July 11, 2015

3 simple phrases change everything

today's readings: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14, Acts 27:21-44, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 18:23-24

so Paul continues to amuse me with his bossiness. today he actually calls the crew together and says "you should have listened to me..." but he must have had some charisma, because the commander didn't let the soldiers kill the prisoners because he wanted to save Paul.

but what i wanted to talk about today was something that struck me from the OT reading and the Psalm. you see the contrast between Saul and David... both messed up, but David did something important, and Saul refused to. David said the three phrases that heal relationships. i've noticed that these phrases are very important in my life. i have a friend who can sometimes be difficult. but she is really good at saying (and meaning) "I'm sorry. Thank you. I love you." and when she says that, it heals our friendship.

i realize that i can be that way with God. i can be difficult. i mess up over and over. i do the same stupid things out of selfishness and stupidity. but when i say "I'm sorry. Thank you. I love you." it heals my relationship with Him.

the Psalm reflects this, in saying "thank you" and "i love you", just in other words.

you might notice that the picture above also includes "please forgive me". but to me, that phrase is just part of "i'm sorry".

God, You know i need to say these things to You daily. and so i do. i'm sorry. thank You. i love You.

1 comment:

Julie said...

Great analogy, I told you so I told you so......Paul is a broken record, but then again that is one of the many phrases that keep us from saying I'm sorry or please forgive me, thank you, I love you. It's human nature to want to prove we are right and you are wrong.....to what end? Does it really matter in most parts of our lIfe? I struggle with this thru my life, the phrase "you're not listening," doesn't mean that at all. It means you are not doing what I (all knowing one) tells you to do. Wow, I sure went off on that! Lol Paul was given a thorn in his side which God refused to remove, my thorn I think is, "you're not listening?" Being humble and loving to the most obnoxious individuals is what God is working on me about. And letting go of situations and not playing it over and over as to what I should have retaliated with. Lord keep me focused on humility and love.