Page 34 - Power Guide - January week 1 2019 FINAL

area of life.

“Releasing” is a process that requires holy and
gracious practice. Breaking negative habits of
thought and action require persistence in choosing to
surrender to truth and reality, rather than to the lies
and justifications we all tell ourselves. The Apostle
Paul put it this way, “Do you not know that in a race
all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run
that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control
in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but
we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box
as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it
under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should
be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV).

For instance, if we are unhappy with our appearance,
we have a couple of things to consider: 1. Every
day, we have the choice to for the
Lord to replace our warped perception of self (we
all have it; no one sees themselves with perfect clarity)
with the truth of His loving and holistic
perception of us. This “making room” can be
accomplished by actually doing the Christian “best
practices” we will be exploring over the next few
weeks. 2. Then, take the steps necessary to
reasonably work on our appearance without going
into debt or doing medical harm, while accepting
our limitations. This may mean simply starting
with improving one, small thing that serves as
the key to opening the door to godly self-
acceptance and confidence. (“I am fearfully and
wonderfully made!” Psalm 139:14 )

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