Rise up 2

People of integrity will not deny or avoid problems, but face into them actively.

They are not people of denial, avoiding the proverbial “elephant in the living room,” acting as if some big issue does not exist. They actively move to face and deal with problems, including people.

This is rooted in our God, who as soon as the universe fell, actively went to Adam and Eve, dealt with the problem, and came up with a redemptive solution.

This is rooted in our God, who as soon as the universe fell, actively went to Adam and Eve, dealt with the problem, and came up with a redemptive solution.

It is similar to the wise person who gets a toothache and immediately goes to the dentist.

Prompt action will solve it and he will get his life back. Delay may cause him to wake up one night with an abscess, unable to function. People of mature, integrated character know this and are equipped to do it. That equipment is their character, and it has several components.

Joh 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

For a lot of people, freedom means that they are physically free – from imprisonment and restraint - but the ultimate and most exquisite form of freedom is making your own decisions and choices – having total control of your own life. Recognizing and exercising this freedom means that you accept responsibility for your life in every respect - your thoughts, words, actions, choices, decisions and creations.

The quality of your choices and decisions can be determined by the quality of life you experience as a result of those choices and decisions.

The fact is that we don’t always believe that we have choices. We often believe that others have power over us – and that’s why they make our choices and decisions for us. The fact is that we give them the power to make our choices and decisions for us. Not choosing something is in fact also a choice – because you choose not to choose. Just because you feel helpless or powerless in a situation doesn’t mean that you are not choosing or making decisions. When you sit by and watch others control you are ultimately responsible for it because you decided to allow the control. You choose the event by allowing it.

In order to make really good choices and decisions you need to have a very good understanding of your own needs, fears, emotions, moods, desires, pain, strengths and weaknesses. This is called self-awareness.

Phi 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. 9 Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.

It is not events or circumstances in our lives that lead to unhappiness and associated unhealthy emotional consequences, but rather our reaction to these events or circumstances. It is our irrational beliefs about and reactions to these events and circumstances that lead to unhealthy consequences.