Healing = Courage + Action + Grace ( PART 3/5 )

Healing = Courage + Action + Grace 

KEY COMPONENTS FOR HEALING: COURAGE

Being courageous isn’t about being daring and facing death.  It isn’t about not having fear.  It is about living well and doing the things we need to do to make a difference in spite of our fears, shortcomings and insecurities.  It means moving forward with faith even though you can barely see your way.  It means trusting in God and trying to do what he wants us to do.

“Real courage is not the absence of fear,

but the willingness to proceed in spite of it.”

-   -Sandberg

1.    Be courageous enough to face the truth regarding what needs to change in our lives.

a.     This requires immense honesty. 

b.    We have to have a real commitment to learn and accept the truth about ourselves.

c.     It takes courage to be honest with ourselves.

2.    It takes courage to be congruent.

a.     To live a life where our public and private priorities are in sink. 

b.  Where what we experience on the inside is consistent with what we show on the outside. 

c.     It takes courage to have Integrity- to make our actions consistent with our beliefs.

d.    A double minded man is unstable in all ways.

e.     Living a congruent life brings a peaceful feeling while living an incongruent life is exhausting.

f.      “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him”- 1 Kings 18:21

3.    We have to develop the courage to live counter to the world’s dominant culture.

a.     (The culture where money, sex, material possessions, fame, violent behavior and carnal exploits are the currency for success)

b.    “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves.  We are teaching the wrong things.  You have to be strong enough to say, “If the culture doesn’t work then don’t buy it.  Create your own.” – Tuesdays with Morrie

c.     That’s How the Light Gets In- Tyler Jarvis http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2128

d.    The Worth of Souls is Great – Kristine Matthews http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2131

e.     If enough of us say no to the dominant culture, it will loose its power.

For me, courage is that inner strength that I exert when I want to give up but I choose not it.  It is pressing forward and doing what I know I should even if there isn't an immediate reward and even when no one sees.  It is in the little choices I make everyday... even the choice to get out of bed, not to feel sorry for myself, and to find someone to reach out to who needs a friend.  These quiet choices make all of the difference to the rate and power of healing that I experience. 

To be continued...

Part 4: Healing = Courage + Action + Grace (4/5)