Principle #7: Imani, Faith
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 We as a people have had to hold on to our faith in the face of all we have endured and continue to experience, on these shores and all over the globe. It is NOW faith that gets us up every morning to start a brand new day. That faith that our hopes and dreams will be realized, for us and our children.
Developing a strong belief in our creator, ourselves and our brothers and sisters is our task, no one else can do it for us. 2024 is the year for doing the work- whatever you have been called to do. I recognize the distractions that are always present, to pull us away from the tasks at hand. But when we get quiet, meditate and listen to the voice of God, it becomes clear where our energies should be spent. I encourage you as I encourage myself, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6.
What do you believe? For yourself, your family, your community, our world? From a counseling standpoint, I work from a Cognitive Behavioral framework. Simple put when we have an experience, we immediately form a thought around it, that thought brings about a feeling, the feeling a behavior and the behavior renders an outcome. Sometimes our immediate thought is negative which in turn causes us to have negative feeling and emotions. Having faith helps to combat these automatic negative thoughts.
Even with all that is going on around us in the world, I hope you can center your thoughts on the good...."Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without waivering, (For He is faithful who promised)." Hebrews 10:23
Thank you for reading and supporting my work. May I be found faithful in a few things and found worthy to be stewart over many. Ashe