Inspirational author outlines weekly walk toward spiritual growth

Last week, we talked about the need to change our lives from being self-centered to becoming more other-centered. This means we have to strive constantly “to put on the mind of God” as St. Paul tells us.

New Orleans inspirational author and speaker Jane Trufant Harvey at a recent prayer breakfast provided us with a weekly structured way of making some of these changes.

• Sunday: Picture yourself in the scriptures. Whatever scripture is being read or studied at church, put yourself inside the scene. What are you doing, seeing saying, smelling, touching, hearing? Write it down in your notebook.

The idea is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you decide what God wants you to know about the scripture readings and how you can apply it to your everyday life.

• Monday: Bless others. Consciously let yourself become preoccupied with ideas and strategies of how you can bless someone today. It doesn’t have to be huge. It can be letting someone in line in traffic. You can compliment someone or write a note of encouragement.

Every Monday evening, sit with your family and let everyone share who and how they blessed someone that day. It’s not only fun but you can get some really good ideas for the following Monday. Be a blessing for others!

• Tuesday: Learn to be positive. Every Tuesday, find something positive about the people who come into your life and tell them what you like about them. Always focus on the good, even when the temptation to focus on the bad is overwhelming.

Make a conscious choice not to speak negatively about anyone. On Tuesdays, you are making a deliberate act of the will to choose to point out something positive about someone.

• Wednesday: Identifying with others. Every Wednesday, put yourself in someone else’s life situations. Withhold making a judgement until “you have walked a mile in their moccasins.” Understand their environment and what events have shaped that person’s heart and mind.

Remind yourself that no one is perfect. Since people do not wake up wanting to be miserable, something else must be going on in their lives. On Wednesdays we will show mercy and kindness by giving someone the benefit of the doubt.

• Thursday: Thirst for God’s word. Every Thursday, drink in wisdom and truths by dipping your spirit into the well of Sacred Scripture. Read a passage from the Bible and then write down your reflections. Also, write down what you think God might want you to know that will help you better manage your life.

Drink from the spring of living water and find out what God wants you to do in life. God’s wisdom can be found right there in Sacred Scripture. Don’t forget to put yourself into the scripture passage so it can be more personally directed to you.

• Friday: Fellowship. Too often our busy lives get in the way of spending carefree time with others. We also tend to isolate ourselves when we are dealing with problems. Fridays should remind us that we are part of a larger community.

We all have important work to do but we must also make sure that we reconnect with the significant people in our lives. Do not blame them because they failed to get in touch with us. On Fridays, take the initiative to connect with relatives and friends.

• Saturday: Practice humility. On Saturdays, practice humility by taking a position of secondary importance. This means that today you will not focus on yourself but on other people. You will let them do things their way without interfering.

Refrain from your competitive nature and take on a teachable attitude. Learn first hand that when we surrender our will to instill value in someone else’s, wonderful blessings follow.