Day 4 - Don't be discouraged - 7 Days of Spiritual Practice

Sadhana - Day 4 of Spiritual Readings with Liz Glover Wilson

I admit that I was fighting those feelings of discouragement as 2020 came to a close. I had fought hard (on my knees in prayer daily) and yet, my relationship still fell apart, my businesses were struggling, and I just felt the fog closing in.

As I was settling into my new residence, I found myself —with cup of coffee in hand—staring out the window and praying.

The fog was thick and I could not see the ridge. I felt this uplifting message speak to my heart. . .

Event though the fog is there, you know that the ridge has not moved. It is there and it is strong and unmoving. That is how a life with the divine is.

That message was like a healing balm to my soul. From then on, each time I felt discouragement knocking on my hearts door, I remembered that vision and message. The divine pure consciousness of God is strong and unmoving. I may not see it always through the fog and sludge of life, but through my daily practice I am stronger in my ‘knowing’ that it is there.

Contemplative Practice:

We tend to closet our discouragements and unbelief—or bury them. Instead of the heart-work of working out the emotions of being discouraged with Divine revelation answer, we are prone to ‘table it,’ ‘file it' or, better yet ‘re-imagine it.’ Unresolved discouragement often reveals as disillusionment.

I once heard a great example. Your disappointments are like unpacked boxes stored in a dark room of your heart home. You know they are there and you can’t even imagine how much time it would take to unpack and sort through them.

Our practice simply let’s us walk into that room and turn on the light. We don’t have to unpack and fix it all. We just don’t need to keep that room dark any longer. We can come into the acceptance that there has been disappointments and let downs (and there will be more). We can be enlightened by our learnings and work to use the tools of the spiritual path to not fill that room with any more unnecessary boxes.

Don’t be discouraged:

Today’s practice.

Pause and Be Still
As I enter prayer and the contemplative practice, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of the Divine. May myself be guided by the greater Self/God.

Placing your hands on your heart center. Breathe in a healing light to your being. You are a representation and actualization of the Divine. You are. You may not feel like you can be because of your life and your choices. But it is not you who chooses that—it is a divine grace and blessing.

The symbols on the twelve petals of the heart chakra represent; bliss, peace, harmony, love, understanding, empathy, clarity, purity, unity, compassion, kindness and forgiveness

For many years, I kept disappointments with myself in a dark room of my heart home along with a pile of disappointments from others. These experienced have caused me to be frequently discouraged; to back off from fully entering my dharma/purpose.

Today, I know that I am meant to walk in the fullness of my calling. I open the light on my dark room of disappointment and I am not discouraged, but instead I am illuminated because now I see clearly.

Yielding Prayer

Father God
You are my rock in uncertainty,
my hope in discouragement.

This uncertainty will not last,
and I trust that even now,

As I am reminded of the prophet Habakkuk,
so remind me that even though the fig tree does not blossom.

Make my feet like a deer and let them tread in high places.
Grand me the faith and stamina to get through the hard times.

You are my steadfast rock.
I will still rejoice in the Divine God and infinite love.

My certainty is in Christ, the cornerstone.
Amen.

Fourth Chakra:

We focus on the affirmations of this chakra today, and anytime we need healing in this area of our life.