The Inner Journey: 5 steps to self-actualization

"Every human action, whether it has become positive or negative, must depend on motivation."

-- Dalai Lama

Monitoring what motivates me has helped me see how I am growing. I do things for different reasons now than I did 10 years ago. As we pay ongoing attention to our motives, we can see how both our conscious and unconscious attitudes are changing.

Here are some ways that our motives can shift with rising consciousness:

- I desire
- I want to collect things
- I want to know
- I want to serve
- I want to be

What are your motives as you participate in life?

"There are three kinds of people and three kinds of richness:
- people who want to have, to collect
- people who want action, work and labor
- people who want to be

The real richness is in be-ness. People can take all that you have, all that you collected. People can stop your labor, or an accident can stop you. When you are, you never lose what you are."

-- Torkom Saraydarian

"You are what you think. You are what you go for. You are what you do!"

-- Bob Richards

"A good intention clothes itself with power."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Walking In Humility

Walk… With all lowliness and gentleness.
Ephesians 4:1-2

Think carefully about the words "walking with God". Whose company are you in? God's! Can you think of a higher calling? Yet, the higher your calling, the lower you must become in your own eyes. Paul had one of the greatest callings the world has ever known. Can you imagine the world without his Epistles? We would know far less about how the church is to function, or how to walk out our faith each day. Yet Paul said of himself, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).

If you believe God has called you to greatness, your response to that call should be to fall on your face before Him. That's how every great man and woman of God in Scripture responded. When an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias telling him he would have a son named John, Zacharias hit the floor and didn't move, to the point that people wondered if he was dead. The prophet Ezekiel said that in the presence of the Lord, and at the vision God gave him, he collapsed on the floor. God had to tell him to get up saying, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you" (Ezekiel 2:1). When John the Revelator saw Jesus standing in the midst of the seven churches, he wrote, "And when I saw him, I fell at His feet as dead" (Revelation 1:17).

Those who exalt themselves are humbled by the Lord. Those who humble themselves before the Lord are those whom the Lord raises up. Humility doesn't mean thinking less of yourself, it just means thinking of yourself less.

The Inner Journey: Feel your emotions

"The key is to not resist or rebel against emotions or to try to get around them by devising all sorts of tricks; but to accept them directly, as they are."

-- Takahisa Kora

Emotions are energy in motion. They bring us information if we are willing to experience them. Unfortunately, many of us are afraid of the energy of emotions and so we automatically resist them. And when we refuse to experience our emotions, we block them up. They become trapped and that entrapment drains our energy and brings continuing discomfort.

Don't let emotions push you into action or reaction. Just STOP and PAY ATTENTION. Allow them to be and to speak to you. Once they are acknowledged, their energy is released.

"Instead of resisting any emotion, the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully, embrace it and see through your resistance."

-- Deepak Chopra

"We have to become more conscious of our feeling-world. By learning to identify the ‘emotional baggage’ and manage our feeling-world reactions, we can view life based on current information instead of being held captive by our past."

-- Doc Childre

"Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge."

-- Audre Lorde

The Inner Journey: We project our strengths

"Any situation that you find yourself in, is an outward reflection of your inner state of beingness."

-- El Morya

We have discussed that OUR WORLD MIRRORS WHO WE ARE BACK TO US. When we get upset by something outside of us, our reaction shows us that we have an inner wound to be healed.

Just as we can be unconscious of our wounds, we can also be unconscious of our strengths. If you are really drawn to the positive qualities in another person, you are being invited to own those same qualities in yourself.

"The people we are in relationship with are always a mirror, reflecting our own beliefs, and simultaneously we are mirrors reflecting their beliefs. So relationship is one of the most powerful tools for growth... if we look honestly at our relationships we can see so much about how we have created them."

-- Shakti Gawain

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."

-- Henry Ward Beecher

The Inner Journey: What is your body saying?

"Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz -- something they are using to get around in but nothing they genuinely care about understanding."

-- Chungliang Al Huang

"As we explore the extraordinary interplay of energies between the many aspects of our personality -- our needs, unconscious reactions, repressed emotions, aspirations and fears -- with the functioning of our physical system and its capacity to maintain itself, we soon realise how very wise the body is. With its intricately detailed systems and operations it portrays infinite intelligence and compassion, constantly giving us the means to understand ourselves further, to confront issues we are not looking at, and to go beyond that which is holding us back."

-- Deb Shapiro, Your Body Speaks Your Mind

Scan your body with your awareness. Are you experiencing any aches and pains? Any stiffness?

What might your body be trying to tell you about how you are living your life?

"Your body is the ground and metaphor of your life, the expression of your existence. It is your Bible, your encyclopedia, your life story. Everything that happens to you is stored and reflected in your body. In the marriage of flesh and spirit divorce is impossible."

-- Gabrielle Roth

"What is always speaking silently is the body."

-- Norman Brown

The Inner Journey: Looking for safety?

"Security is when everything is settled, when nothing can happen to you; security is the denial of life."

-- Germaine Greer

Our personality likes to be in control. It likes to know how things are and what’s going to happen. Underlying this desire for stability and predictability is a deep fear that the world is a dangerous place. The personality fears it will not survive without continually being on guard.

The truth is: we cannot control what happens in life. And under the natural law of attraction, we tend to attract to us what we focus on. EXPLORE SUBSTITUTING TRUST FOR FEAR and the world becomes a gentler, happier place.

"There are no guarantees. From the viewpoint of fear, none are strong enough. From the viewpoint of love, none are necessary."

-- Emmanuel

"One thing we can do is make the choice to view the world in a healthy way. We can choose to see the world as safe with only moments of danger rather than seeing the world as dangerous with only moments of safety."

-- Deepak Chopra

The Inner Journey: Practice detachment

As our consciousness rises, our perspective becomes more and more impersonal. What does this mean?

It means we are increasingly able to view our lives and the rest of the world with detachment. This does not mean we are cold and uncaring. Rather, we are self-contained. We have well-defined boundaries and we are able to think and act objectively, clearly and responsibly.

When we have learned detachment, we do not get hooked into the thoughts and feelings of others. We are not easily upset or manipulated. We may feel compassion for others but this does not cloud our ability to choose how we think, feel and behave. We also do not need others to behave in any particular way.

"Until we take how we see ourselves (and how we see others) into account, we will be unable to understand how others see and feel about themselves and their world. Unaware, we will project our intentions on their behavior and call ourselves objective."

-- Stephen Covey

Taking Responsibility (5)

I have a great sense of obligation.
Romans 1:14 NLT

Taking responsibility means giving back what was given to you. Paul focused on: (a) making Christ known; (b) building a church that would continue to make Christ known. And he took his responsibility seriously: "I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world… to preach the Good News" (Romans 1:14-15 NLT). That's called "living beyond yourself!" Self-serving people regard their talents and resources as something they own. Serving people see themselves as executors of God's estate; they know they don't own it, they just administer it for Him.

After his time in Nazi concentration camps, Elie Wiesel lived for one thing - to give back to others. He taught as a professor at Boston University, and traveled extensively, sharing the wisdom gained from his life experiences. A question he often asked young people was, "How will you cope with the privileges and obligations society will feel entitled to place on you?" As he tried to guide them he shared his sense of responsibility: "What I receive I must pass on to others. The knowledge that I have must not remain imprisoned in my brain. I owe it to many men and women to do something with it. I feel the need to pay back what was given to me. Call it gratitude… To learn means to accept that life did not begin at my birth. Others have been there before me, and I walk in their footsteps."

Your life is a story. Each day you get to write a new page. So fill those pages with responsibility to God, to others, and to yourself. If you do, in the end you will not be disappointed.

Taking Responsibility (4)

Each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12 NIV

The Bible says, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God." You say, "Account for what?" The assignment God gave you in life.

The editor of the Bellefontaine Examiner newspaper in Ohio, Gene Marine, sent a new sports reporter to cover a big game. He returned to the paper with no report. "What's the story?" asked Marine. "There is none," replied the reporter. "What?" growled Marine, "and why not?" "Because there was no game," replied the reporter. "No game? What happened?" quizzed the editor. "The stadium collapsed." Unable to believe what he was hearing the editor asked, "Then where's the report on its collapse?" After an awkward silence the reporter replied, "That wasn't my assignment, sir." Needless to say, that was the end of his career.

Jesus shared some attention-getting insights on taking your assignment seriously; He points out that in the final analysis our responsibility is to God, and the rewards that will really matter and last, come from God. Eugene Petersen paraphrases it this way in The Message: "Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he's doing his job. But if he says to himself, 'The master is certainly taking his time,' begins maltreating the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes… Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!" (Luke 12:42-48 TM).

Taking Responsibility (3)

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2 NLT

In any great endeavour you'll face: (a) nay-sayers who think it can't be done; (b) road-blockers who place obstacles in your way; (c) a high probability you'll fail before you succeed. Who wants to endure such things? Winners! It takes courage to leave Egypt, walk through the wilderness wondering, "Am I making any progress at all?" and stand at the Red Sea knowing that without a miracle you'll drown, thinking "Nobody's ever been in this situation before, what if it doesn't work?" Taking responsibility means stepping out in faith when there's no precedent to go by, no logic to stand on, and your friends are questioning your sanity.

The one quality all successful people have is the ability to accept ultimate responsibility. General Eisenhower was given responsibility for planning the D-Day invasion. Giving the okay was a painful decision, one he knew would lead to many deaths. Yet if it was successful, it would guarantee victory over the Nazis. In the hours prior to the assault Eisenhower wrote a press release that he would use in the event of the invasion's failure. It read: "Our landings have failed… and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and this place was based on the best information available. The troops, the Air Force and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to this attempt, it is mine alone."

If you want others to trust you, to give you greater opportunities and resources, to partner with you - then embrace responsibility and practice it faithfully in every area of your life!

Taking Responsibility (2)

A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7 NIV

Our values today are badly messed up. We overlook the poor grades and irresponsible acts of high school and college athletes. Why? Because they win tournaments and make us look good! And how about 'celebrity justice'? Someone famous gets a free pass, while the less fortunate do the time because they did the crime?

Wrong! We need to teach our children that unless they accept responsibility, life won't be good to them: "A man reaps what he sows." Parent, taking personal responsibility means holding your child accountable when they violate the rules, mix with the wrong crowd; try "stuff" like drinking, drugs and premarital sex; cheat on a test; or stay out beyond curfew. Sound straight laced? So is gravity. So is the harvest law. Your sincere but na�ve sentiment, "I want them to have all the things I didn't have growing up," will turn spoiled children into spoiled adults. Practice prevention: build a fence at the top of the cliff, not a hospital at the bottom! You say, "By the time I get home at night I'm too tired to discipline them." Wake up: when they get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol the judge won't cut them any slack. Nor will the banker when he repossesses their car and their house because they didn't pay the loan. Kindness is cruelty in disguise when it's not accompanied by responsibility.

Eli the High Priest rose to the top of his profession. Only one problem, he didn't take responsibility for his family. As a result, he and his sons died prematurely. God said, "I told him that I would judge his family… because… he failed to restrain them" (1 Samuel 3:13 NIV). So, take responsibility!

Taking Responsibility (1)

Much is required from those to whom much is given.
Luke 12:48 TLB

Responsibility is a two-sided coin. On one side is responsibility, on the other side is reward. Too many of us are focused on one side of the coin only - reward.

Taking responsibility means three things:
(1) Acknowledging what you are responsible for.
(2) Acknowledging who you are responsible to.
(3) Acting responsibly at all times. All the excuses you give yourself, and others, won't let you off the hook. Jesus said, "Much is required from those to whom much is given." At their annual conference the manager of a dog food company asked his sales team how they liked the company's new advertising programme. "Great!" they replied, "the best in the business." "What do you think of the product?" he asked. "Fantastic" they replied. "How about the sales force?" he asked. They were the sales force, so of course they responded positively saying they were the best. "Okay then," the manager said, "so if we have the best brand, the best packaging, the best advertising programme and the best sales force, why are we in seventeenth place in our industry?" After an awkward silence one of the salesmen shouted, "It's those dogs - they just won't eat the stuff!"

Guess what? Your problem is not the dogs, or your job, or your spouse, or society at large, or whatever. Be honest, your biggest challenge in life is you. If your life's not going the way you want it to, you are responsible for changing it. And God will help you if you turn to Him. But you must want to change, decide to change, and work each day towards that end.

Recognising God's Voice

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
1 Samuel 3:9 NIV

Learning to recognise God's voice is not a skill that's acquired overnight, because He speaks to us at different times, in different settings and in different ways.

(1) It requires you to mature Spiritually. Jesus said His sheep follow Him because they know His voice (John 10:4 NIV). Notice, Jesus said that His "sheep", not His lambs, know His voice. Baby sheep just follow adult sheep until their senses are trained. Thank God there's grace for the immature. If your Spiritual ears are not yet developed, God will work with you until you learn to recognise His voice.
(2) It requires guidance and confirmation from Godly leadership. "Obey your Spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls" (Hebrews 13:17 NLT). Who's your Spiritual up-line?
(3) It must not be limited to your previous experiences. God spoke to Moses on a mountain that shook, and to Elijah through a still small voice. Don't limit God; He will speak to you through the Scriptures, through those qualified to teach you His Word, through a song, through a painful situation, and even your own thoughts and desires when you're submitted to Him. The key is to stay close to God and keep your receiver on.
(4) Above all else, it requires obedience. The Psalmist said, "When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek" (Psalm 27:8). When it comes to hearing from God, how's your response time? "When I get around to it?… I'll see if I can fit you in!… I'll think about it!" Wrong! God speaks, and continues to speak, to those who obey, and continue to obey.

The Inner Journey: Trust yourself

"I never know what the next lesson is going to be, because we’re not supposed to know; we’re supposed to trust ourselves to discover it."

-- Melody Beattie

How deeply do you trust your own guidance?

Always trust that you know what's best for you. To move forward in your life, gather information from the 'experts,' consider how their advice relates to your situation and then act only on what feels right for you. What does your whole being (mind, body and soul) say ‘Yes!’ to?

You are the only expert for your own life.

"I trust so much in the power of the heart and the soul; I know that the answer to what we need to do next is in our own hearts. All we have to do is listen, then take that one step further and trust what we hear. We will be taught what we need to learn."

-- Melody Beattie

"Ultimately, we must learn to trust ourselves. When we do this intimately and intelligently, the world opens full of meaning before us. We find that we ourselves are the doorway to a fathomless understanding of the source of life itself. We need only to learn to walk through it."

-- James Thornton

Find Your Strength Zone

He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT

We all have equal value in God's eyes, but we don't have equal giftedness. In their book Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton state that every person is capable of doing something better than the next 10,000 people. And they support that with research. They call this area your strength zone, and they encourage you to find it and make the most of it.

It doesn't matter how aware you are of your abilities, how you feel about yourself, or whether you have previously achieved success. You have talent, and God requires you to develop it! But you can only develop the talent you have, not the one you want. When it comes to your character, you must never stop working on your areas of weakness. But when it comes to fulfiling your God-given assignment, you must recognise your strength zone and give yourself to it.

Dr. John Maxwell writes: "It's been my observation that people can increase their ability in an area by only 2 points on a scale of 1-10. For example, if your natural talent in an area is 4, with hard work you may raise it to a 6. In other words, you can go from a little below average to a little above average. But let's say you find a place where you are a 7; you have the potential to become a 9, maybe even a 10, if it's your strength zone and you work hard! That helps you advance from 1 in 10,000 talent to 1 in 100,000 talent - but only if you do the other things needed to maximise your talent." So, find your strength zone!

Bob's Last Letter

Husbands, love your wives.
Ephesians 5:25 NIV

The following hilarious letter illustrates what Paul didn't mean by "Husbands, love your wives".

"Dear friends: Men must remember that as women grow older it's harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping. When men notice this, they should try not to yell. Let me relate how I handle the situation. When I took early retirement, it became necessary for Nancy to get a full time job. Shortly after she started working I noticed she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from fishing about the same time she gets home from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always has to rest before she starts making dinner. I try not to yell, instead I tell her to take her time and just wake me up when she does get dinner on the table. She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. Now they sit several hours after dinner. I do what I can by reminding her each evening that they aren't cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates this, as it does seem to help her get them done before she goes to bed. It also gives her more time to do things like shampooing the dog, vacuuming and dusting. And if I have had a good day fishing, it allows her to gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace. Now I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Nancy. However, guys, if you just yell at your wife a little less often because of this letter, writing it was worthwhile. Signed, Bob. P.S. Bob's funeral was on Saturday. P.P.S. Nancy was acquitted on Monday."

The Inner Journey: Choose differently today

"It is always your next move."

-- Napoleon Hill

The great benefit of heightened awareness is that we have more choice in how we live our lives. At any moment, we can purposefully choose a new experience for ourselves. We can choose to pay attention, breathe more deeply, laugh, rest, play, appreciate, do something different - the possibilities are endless.

Whenever you remember, TAKE YOURSELF OFF AUTO-PILOT and really examine your situation. Take charge and make a choice that will enrich your experience. At the end of the day, reflect on what happened and how you felt when you chose a new line of thought, feeling or action.

"We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us -- how we can take it, what we do with it -- and that is what really counts in the end."

-- Joseph Fort Newton

"When a defining moment comes along, you can do one of two things. Define the moment, or let the moment define you."

-- Tin Cup (the movie)

"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

-- Neil Peart

Willing To Be A Servant

He who is the greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11

What do you think of when you hear the word servant? Someone who's pathetic, without will or purpose? Our false definition of the word servant is expressed in The Sarcastic Beatitudes by J.B. Phillips, who also wrote a paraphrase of the New Testament: "Blessed are the pushers, for they get their way. Blessed are the hard-boiled, for they never get hurt. Blessed are those who complain, for they get all the attention. Blessed are the blas�, for they never worry about sin. Blessed are the slave-drivers, for they get results. Blessed are the greedy, for they get what they want."

How did Jesus introduce himself? "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life" (Mark 10:45 NIV). And He practiced what He preached. Listen to the sound of water splashing in a basin as God incarnate sponges the grime from the feet of His undeserving disciples, then says, "He who is the greatest among you shall be your servant." Some of us wish we could echo His humility.

Ruth Calkin, author and poet, expressed that wish in her poem "I Wonder": "You know, Lord, how I serve you with great emotional fervour in the limelight, how eagerly I speak for you at the Women's Club, how I radiate what I promote at a fellowship group. But how would I react, I wonder, if you pointed to a basin of water and asked me to wash the calloused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman, day after day and month after month, in a room where nobody saw and nobody knew? I wonder? Do you also wonder?!"

The Inner Journey: Ask your body for advice

"The body has its own way of knowing, a knowing that has little to do with logic, and much to do with truth, little to do with control, and much to do with acceptance, little to do with division and analysis, and much to do with union."

-- Marilyn Sewell

Are you aware of your body’s wisdom? Our bodies usually know us better than our minds do. If you have a decision to make, consult your body before making a final choice.

Reflect on an option before you and then pay attention to your body. Are you breathing deeply or barely at all? Are your muscles tense or relaxed? Is your energy blocked or flowing?

Your body knows what it likes and it feels good when it's happy. As your body is the source of your vitality, your motivation, your inspiration and enthusiasm and most importantly, your intuition, it's best to get that part of you on-side if you are venturing into a new activity.

"When you are saying that you are happy and you are not, there will be a disturbance in your breathing. Your breathing cannot be natural. It is impossible."

-- Osho

"Our inner guidance comes to us through our feelings and body wisdom first -- not through intellectual understanding. ...The intellect works best in service to our intuition, our inner guidance, soul, God or higher power -- whichever term we choose for the spiritual energy that animates life."

-- Christiane Northrup

The Inner Journey: You are worthy!

"A person's worth is contingent upon who he is, not upon what he does, or how much he has. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having."

-- Alice Mary Hilton

As a human being, as spirit manifested in form, you are innately worthy. Your worthiness does not have to be strengthened or improved. However, you may not PERCEIVE yourself to be worthy.

If you doubt your self-worth, consciously or unconsciously, you will limit the good things you will allow into your life.

Do you consider yourself worthy? It may help to answer these questions:

- Do you find it easier to give than to receive?
- Do you have as much money as you would like?
- Do you feel driven to improve yourself?
- Do you value other people's time more highly than your own?
- How would you feel if someone offered to pay you a salary of $1 million/year?

If you find you lack self-worth, don't despair. Just being aware of your self-worth issues will help you let them go.

"Every achiever that I have ever met says, ‘My life turned around when I began to believe in me.’"

-- Dr. Robert H. Schuller

"We cannot achieve more in life than what we believe in our heart of hearts we deserve to have."

-- James R. Ball

You Have To Give It Away

Give, and it will be given to you.
Luke 6:38

Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, dying for water. He came upon a shack and saw a rusty old water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle and began to pump up and down. But nothing came out. Then he noticed a nearby jug with these words, "My friend, you have to prime the pump with the water in this jug. P.S. Be sure to fill the jug again before you leave." As he popped the cork, suddenly he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water he could live. But if he poured it into the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield from down deep in the well all the water he wanted later. He studied his options. What should he do, pour it into the pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water, or drink what was in the jug and ignore its message? Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump… squeak, squeak, squeak. Nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the old rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents. Then he filled the jug for the next traveller. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: "Believe me, it really works."

Friend, don't ignore the message Jesus left: "Give, and it will be given to you."

The Inner Journey: Shifting consciousness

"The world we are experiencing today is the result of our collective consciousness, and if we want a new world, each of us must start taking responsibility for helping create it."
-- Rosemary Fillmore Rhea

Below are 7 levels of consciousness that clearly outline a path for our evolving consciousness:
- tribal and mass consciousness - one obeys the group and lives by trial and error
- individual consciousness - one develops a stronger sense of self and ego
- seeker’s consciousness - one asks questions and seeks independence
- intuitive consciousness - one develops the heart and is becoming spiritually aware
- group consciousness - one serves a higher good filling the needs of others
- soul consciousness - one experiences spiritual service.

On which level do you spend most of your time? What are you doing to shift to the next level of being?

There are as many paths to understanding, awareness, peace, freedom, love and meaningful service as there are people. Enjoy your journey!

"Consciousness is not just some by-product of the human brain mass. Consciousness is all pervasive. It is in everything and is everywhere. Your individual human consciousness exists within and is a part of a universal consciousness."
-- Delfin Knowledge System

"God acts in history: that is, God provides ideas, methods, and experiences intended to bring comprehension to man, an understanding heart, a conscious life."
-- Jacob Needleman

The Inner Journey: Explore with questions

"The word ‘question’ is derived from the Latin ‘quarrier’ (to seek) which is also the root of ‘quest.’ A creative life is a continued quest, and good questions can be very useful guides. Most useful are open-ended questions; they allow for fresh unanticipated answers to reveal themselves."
-- Source Unknown

Questions hold the power to draw out answers that surprise us. If we are on an inner journey to greater self-knowledge, we must seek to understand unfamiliar parts of ourselves. The most enlightening answers are released by our subconscious minds or by our intuition. Use questions frequently to go exploring.

Try these out:
- What qualities do you find most attractive in others?- How do you exhibit those same qualities?- What is your greatest fear? Why do you fear that?- What message is your body trying to get through to you?

"If we would have new knowledge, we must get a whole world of new questions."
-- Susanne K. Langer

"You don't want a million answers as much as you want a few forever questions."
-- Richard Bach

Read Your Bible (3rd of 3 parts)

They... searched the Scriptures daily.
Acts 17:11

You have to 'live' with a Scripture until it takes root within you and begins to grow. Butterflies cover more ground, but bees gather more honey. Sometimes you have to stay with a particular Scripture until you extract the honey. God may work on one area of your life for several weeks, or months. It takes time to change ingrained character traits. New habits and ways of thinking are not formed in a day. We must be aware of this and let God reinforce a new truth in our lives. Don't fool yourself into thinking that just because you've read a certain truth it'll produce instant change. It must be applied, and that takes time!

Rick Warren writes: "On one occasion my application was to work on the quality of sensitivity. It took several months for God to build that into my life. I needed to see how this quality related to all areas of my life. He kept putting me into situations where I was tempted to do the opposite - to be insensitive. He may do the same with you. God may teach you to love others by putting you in the midst of unlovely people. You may have to learn patience while experiencing irritations, and learn peace in the midst of chaos. You are then discovering how to have joy even in times of sorrow and testing. You must realise that when God wants to build a positive quality into your life, He must allow you to encounter situations where you choose to do the right thing instead of following your natural inclinations." The real test is, "How will applying this Scripture to my situation help me become more like Jesus?"

Read Your Bible (2nd of 3 parts)

Continue in... the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise.
2 Timothy 3:14-15

Why don't we read God's Word more?
Three reasons: (1) We don't know how! We hear the pastor preach a great sermon and think, "Why didn't I see that?" Because the pastor spends hours praying over it and studying the Scriptures; we don't! (2) We're not motivated! That's because we haven't experienced the joy that comes from personally discovering great truths from God's Word. We've become satisfied with getting what we need from somebody else rather than finding it out for ourselves. Understand this: If you ever get serious about studying the Bible on your own, you'll never fully be satisfied with a second-hand knowledge of the Scriptures. Dr. Paul Lyttle once compared personal Bible study to eating peanuts: "Once you start doing it, you're hooked! When you discover how good Bible study 'tastes' you'll find yourself going back for more and more. Yes, personal Bible study can be habit-forming!" (3) We are lazy! Bible study is hard work. There are no shortcuts to it. It takes time, effort, concentration and persistence. Most of its great truths don't lie on the surface; we have to dig for them.

Dr. Howard Hendricks describes the three stages of Bible study: (a) The 'castor oil' stage - we study the Bible because we know it's good for us, but it's not too enjoyable. (b) The 'cereal' stage - our Bible study is dry and uninteresting, but we know it's nourishing. (c) The 'peaches and cream' stage - we are really feasting on the Word of God. Bottom line? "Continue in… the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise."

Read Your Bible (1st of 3 parts)

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
John 8:31

You cannot be a disciple of Jesus without a regular intake of God's Word. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." This word "abide" means to live each day by its principles. The story's told of a man who came to pick his wife up after church: "Is the sermon over?" he asked. A turned-on member replied, "No, it has just begun. Now the rest is up to us!"
The common denominator of every great man and woman of God in history is that they disciplined themselves to spend regular time with the Lord in His Word. What made George Muller so successful? During his lifetime he read through the Bible over 200 times - and more than half of those readings on his knees, praying over the Word while studying it. When you know God that well, you'll pray specifically and get specific answers.

Most of us who say we believe the Bible from cover to cover - have never read it from cover to cover! We are more faithful to the advice columnists and the sports pages of the newspaper than we are to God's Word. Some people who are not professing Christians wouldn't dream of leaving their homes in the morning until they've read their horoscope. Imagine what would happen if you committed yourself with equal vigour to reading your Bible before you leave for work, school, or wherever? It would change your life, and impact those around you! So, read your Bible!