Forgiveness and Restful Emptiness are two of the four elements of change in our life and legacy. Click here to read about the other two, Bravery and Passion.
Forgiveness
If we do not build our legacy from a place of quick and full forgiveness we will end up stuck in life. Stuck means we will experience a lack of productivity and creativity until we forgive. Being stuck will also cause us to be blind to what we should be grateful for in that area and halts fruitfulness. Being a forgiving person release a spirit of gratitude in our life.
Just like gratitude, forgiveness must be expressed. If I do not express it, it can not be activated in my life and legacy. I express my gratitude to God first and then to those that He uses to give me cause to be grateful.
I express my forgiveness to God first and then to those that were used by the enemy to hurt me.
If I am hurt by leadership and do not forgive, I will stop being available to those leaders. My unforgiveness blocks me from potential growth and blessings and overtime could cause me to not be as trusting as God expects us to be.
Colossians 3:13
Bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving
each other if one has a cause for complaint against another;
just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.
Forgiveness is key in building a well-crafted legacy that will be full of reasons to be grateful. Forgive quickly, and choose to forget completely. It is in our power to make that meaningful choice.
Restful Emptiness
Restful Emptiness is the final of the four elements of change in a well-crafted life and legacy. No one can be effective in the other three elements of change if we do not practice restfully emptiness.
Bravery, Passion, and Forgiveness will wain in the building of our legacy unless we intentionally set time aside for restful emptiness.
Intentionally means to purpose, plan, and execute this time like you would any other life-impacting meeting.
Rest is personal, what I call to rest, may not be restful for you, but regardless of how you describe rest, the rest you find in emptiness is necessary to being fruitful.
Mark 6:31
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.” For many were coming and going,
and they had no leisure even to eat.
Our rest can be for an hour, a day, or a few minutes. The length of time we rest does not matter as much as heartfelt emptiness and deep rest we enter into with the expectation of God filling us again.
Rest without first emptying ourselves is physical rest, which is needed and good. But rest that follows emptying will enable us to find a fruit-bearing rest of mind, soul, body, and spirit, that will enrich our building ability in God.
Emptiness
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Emptiness is releasing our burdens, plans, and thoughts to God. This can be by journaling, engaging with nature, singing, praying, or meditation, whichever works for you. Then after we release all these cares to God, rest, be still, and breathe deeply.
Rest
Rest is to cease from your normal movement and refresh yourself in a way that allows strength to be renewed.
It is finding your soft place to land and abide until you know you are empty and ready to be filled again.
Restful emptiness allows us to arise empty and ready to be filled, directed, and aligned once again with God and our purpose or calling. This restful emptiness gives us renewed focus to build our legacy every day as if it was our first.
As we bring Passion, Bravery, Forgiveness and Restful Emptiness into our life and legacy we experience a greater measure of peace, joy, focus, and fulfillment, as only God can provide.
