Rubbish and Teaching Myself

Rubbish

There are some things that just fall apart and need to be thrown away. Of course how we dispose of them is up to us as long as we keep within the law. In fact laws have been put in place because others have decided to dump their rubbish in inappropriate places. An old lounge chair or recliner should be taken to a waste disposal depot not left in the bush. Maybe people thought the wildlife may like to rest awhile but that is beside the point. We all gather rubbish during our lifetimes and I am not just talking about material rubbish here.

We gather emotional and spiritual rubbish which needs to be checked sorted and got rid of. Of course this isn’t as easy to dispose of as an old lounge chair. Working out what is emotional and spiritual rubbish isn’t easy either. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3 God sent His spirit to help us to know the truth and we can rely on Him to always help. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13 will continue to help.

Teaching Myself

There have been many times during my life when I knew that I had to teach myself something new. It could have been something as simple as breaking an old habit or disposing of emotional and spiritual rubbish. I could also be something new like writing. The best method I have found that works for me is repeating it. It’s an old fashioned strategy. This method of teaching was used in schools when my mother was a girl. Children were taught such things as their Times Tables and spelling by what is now known as “Rout” This was achieved by the students saying them over and over again until they were permanently imprinted in the mind.

While I wouldn’t recommend this for every learning experience it does work sometimes. I have found that for myself when I begin the learning exercise I remind myself that I only have to do this differently this once. Not forever, just this once. This stops me thinking that I am trying to change to the habit forever and it is too hard and unattainable. It makes the target, this once, attainable and achievable. If I do this every time I have found that I eventually end up doing things the new way as a matter of habit.

In the Old Testament the Israelites were instructed to do the law of God constantly every day and to tell their children about the wonders of God. This was so they would remember who their God was and how wonderful He was and how He wanted them to live.

If I take this principal and ask God to help me to break an old habit one very small step at a time then I am moving forward in faith and that is all that He wants us to do.