Comments on: “I Don’t” Lists Make Possible “I Do” Lists. You Must Revise Your Life.

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[…] 5 I Don’t Lists Make Possible I Do lists: You Must Revise Your Life. […]

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Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:01:48 +0000

[…] 4 “I Don’t” Lists Make Possible “I Do” Lists. You Must Revise Your Life. […]

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:01:45 +0000

In reply to Don.

Hi Don, Yes, of course, these I do and I don’t lists need to be set in prayer, and will vary person by person. For instance, Shauna, the writer I quoted, doesn’t garden, but does cook. I do the reverse.
For me, stress and distress and a lack of joy could signal I am doing too much, and then I prune what I can 🙂

By: Don

Don — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:19:00 +0000

A beautifully simple and freeing view of repentance. “I Don’t Do” in order to make room for “I Do”: how brilliant! Reminds me of Isaiah 35:15 [In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength].
There’s rest and freedom that results from repentance. My “old” self thinks of repentance only in connection with the “I Don’t” part, but if I learn to think of it in this positive way it’s the way to reclaim my true life.

However, it begs the question, “What things belong in the “I don’t” and “I do” categories? To avoid falling into the trap of making this into law, rather than grace, I find it important to listen to what Jesus tells me, day by day. If I hear his command to do or not do something, I also receive his grace to obey.