Spring Cleaning for the Soul #2

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” - Ephesians 4:23 (KJV) Day 2: Lighten Up Your Outlook Are you taking time out to enjoy the first bliss-filled, sunny days after a long, dark winter? Sometimes we can feel like a small chipmunk that's just come out of hibernation, blinking drowsily in the too-bright sunlight during these first few days before nature trades her dark, heavy coat for lighter, brighter hues. As we welcome the sun to warm our earth and our hearts, today we will also acknowledge the light of the world that illuminates all the beauty, truth, and love of this miraculous thing we call life. (Don’t you just love the sight of robins in the spring and birds chirping?!) When you feel that warm glow of sunshine, what does it bring to your mind? Light of hope... the light of truth. The light of truth scurries out of the dark depths of confusion and fear. It's the doubt and fear that push us farther away from our true purpose and potential that God has for us. It robs us of joy. There's dark and light in everything... from the very beginning when God created the earth, the seasons, the sun, and the moon to brighten the darkness. As spring now touches everything with its healing light, lighten up your own view of how God sees you. You have a wonderful potential to blossom right where you are. God loves you as an individual. He doesn’t just see you as a number in a crowd! When you realize God’s love for you, you can also start helping others to see God’s love for them. Today, as you make your way into the warm, sunlit world, take some time to ponder what may have been holding you back in darker days. Was it fear? Worry? Worthlessness? A mindset of limitation? Journal Exercise: Lighten Up What sorts of dark thoughts have held you back during the long, cold winter? Winter is a time that the soul often turns inward. This winter may not have been the coldest in terms of temperature, but the lack of sunlight and the seemingly endless stretch of dreary days tend to put us into a sort of hibernation of the soul. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What dark thoughts kept you from taking action this past winter? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How did you feel about your relationships? Were you as likely to be social and outgoing? Write about the thoughts you had about others and your relationship with them, this past winter. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now that the sun is finally shining... how are you starting to feel about those relationships that proved difficult for you? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ With everything warming up again for spring, are you likely to experience a warming of your heart as well? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Think about those relationships that you may have neglected or backed away from during the long, cold winter. What can you do to lighten up, and brighten up, your outlook when working with, talking with, and dealing with other people? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Make a list of people you'd like to reconnect with as the spring gets underway. What do you value about each person, and why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Shed light on the plans that you might have neglected over the last few months. Did you feel discouraged in some ways? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Praise God! The days will be getting longer again! What plans are you ready to bring to life again, now that the light is shining more brightly on your day, and the future is now? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bible Verses to Reflect Upon: “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” - Genesis 1:4 (KJV) “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” - Psalm 89:15 (KJV) “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” - Psalm 119:105 (KJV) “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” - Micah 7:8 (KJV) “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” - Matthew 5:15 (KJV) “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” - Acts 26:23 (KJV) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:2 (KJV) “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” - Ephesians 4:23 (KJV) Set Your Intention: Choose two goals that you'd like to focus on to "shed bright light upon your most meaningful friendships and most important personal goals." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What do you hope to accomplish with your goals? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What will you do less of this spring? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is a good spiritual growth goal that you can set? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit createwithme.substack.com