July 31, 2017 www.PositiveChristianity.org presents Positive Daily Inspiration RIGIDITY "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is throwing into the oven, will God not much more cloth you, O people of little faith? Matthew 6:28 "There are three I's in the word "rigidity." Joel Hughes. Rigidity is defined by the three I's contained within – In self, Inflexible, and Incomplete. When people are rigid, they are firmly entrenched – In "self," so much so, that they are probably blind to the truth that another (or God) could offer. They miss out because they believe that they have figured it ALL out and know ALL that they need to know. They become – inflexible to other people's needs, wants, and desires. The rigid person lives only for themselves, rarely coming out of the cocoon of their own known past truth. They live within the walls of self-protection. The rigid person is not open to new ideas; they condemn themselves to lives of simple mediocrity of trying to re-find “the good-old-times.” They condemn themselves to – incomplete lives because they are not partnering with God, and other people. The rigid person fights and resists change of any kind, trying to maintain the status quo of what they know, instead of exploring what they do not know. It is true that people prefer a known hell to an unknown heaven. The unknown of God is always better than the known present human world. Rigidity stands on a foundation of fear. The lilies of the field bend with the winds of change. The lilies of the field relax and let go. They grow as the non-rigid person grows, beautiful to others on the outside, and spiritually strong and beautiful on the inside. I have been a minister for over 34 years. Much of that time I taught self-help, which is extremely important. But I also believe that a person must spiritually mature beyond that. Self-improvement is critical to grow spiritually. But the mature spiritual person must become concerned with other's improvement. We must become involved in something bigger than ourselves. We must be humble enough that we remain teachable. The rigid person can become much more than they are presently, if they allow God and others to teach them new and better ways. Life is for the living. To be totally alive we must be in a journey of discovery. Life should always be exciting and new, and never stagnant. I have found that every time I've been trapped by my own opinions and beliefs, I have missed great opportunities standing before me, waving a flag to get my attention inviting me to partake of a higher life. God always gives us the choice, and we have the free will to accept or to reject the good that God wants to give. We live from the inside out. We do not have to be self-protective and rigid. We do not have to be like a clam, clammed up in self protection. It is not protection, it is a prison. But the good news is we are the jailer. We hold the keys. We can rely upon God and be open to new ideas, new people, new ways, and new places. God will take care of us, clothing our outer and inner life with beauty and Divine good. POSITIVE DAILY PRAYER: Dear God, take away my fear. I choose to no longer live my life afraid. Jesus says, "God is love," if You are love, whom do I fear? I no longer fear God, I no longer fear life, I no longer fear new ideas. I choose to be teachable, and learn new and better ways. I am not afraid of self-reinvention. Thank You God! POSITIVE DAILY AFFIRMATION: I am always open and receptive to new and better ideas. POSITIVE DAILY QUOTE: "Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can." Thomas Carlyle POSITIVE DAILY INSPIRATION TELEVISION CHANNEL - free service http://www.youtube.com/PositiveChristianity POSITIVE PRAYER TELEVISION CHANNEL - free service http://www.youtube.com/prayerAmerica POSITIVE MEDITATION TELEVISION CHANNEL - free service http://www.youtube.com/PositiveChurch NEED PRAYER? Reply - Positive Christianity will start praying with you, daily, for an entire month. There Is Never a Charge for Prayer. FREE Encyclopedia of Prayers: http://www.positivechristianity.org/prayersearch.php FREE Positive Daily Inspiration is available by Facebook, in our homepage archives, or Get Positive Daily Inspiration direct in your email inbox every morning. Text POSITIVEMINISTRY to 22828 to easy, free subscribe. Donating – we sincerely bless you in prayer for your willingness to give back: Instant online donation: http://www.positivechristianity.org/donatepc.htm By mail: Positive Christianity Box 7993 Woodlands, TX 77380 GOD BLESS YOU, Christopher Ian Chenoweth Reply - if you have a prayer need, Positive Christianity will pray with you daily, for an entire month. There Is Never a Charge for Prayer. GOD BLESS YOU, Make It a Great Day !_______Christopher Ian Chenoweth