Learning What Does and Does Not Matter
A practical Christian study of “Learning What Does and Does Not Matter,” with clear application for faith, relationships, and everyday life.
It Doesn't Matter
Play the original Excel Still More episode here without leaving the article.
The principle
I'm opening myself up to criticism, but I want you to see how useful this can really be, and so I have to be very honest with you. So anyway, all of that being put out in the beginning, I want to talk to you today about the phrase it doesn't matter.
This phrase will be useful to you when you are dealing with frustrating situations, when things happen around you that you don't like, that you don't think are fair, when other people around you misbehave, when the brakes don't go your way, when someone is driving too slowly again in front of you.
The deeper lesson
And I would be lying to myself and trying to suppress and ignore real emotions if I just kept saying, I don't care. To say it doesn't matter or it doesn't really matter, the thing about that is it's actually true.
I'm saying this happened, I don't like it, I care, I'm affected by it, I'm frustrated, but it doesn't matter.
What it changes
At least hit the pause button on reactions and at most genuinely open up gratitude in your heart for the things that do matter, for the way that God has blessed you, and maybe potentially completely rearrange the way that you pray for others, even those who you believe at least have not treated you fairly. So if you are struggling to do this, if you try it this week and it's just not working for you, let me give you a couple of other things that I know will help.
So before you find yourself in your next frustrated situation, it is very important that you have already pre-identified the things in your life that really truly do matter.
Live it today
You need to be clear with yourself and God about the things that truly matter in your life so that you will stop giving weight to the things that don't. If you need help, go back a few weeks, listen to the jar of rocks and the three categories of rocks in your life, some of which we can totally do without, others of which we hope we never have to do without.
Let me give you something additional that I've been doing lately to help identify the things that matter and the things that don't.
Take the idea with you.
- 01Where do I see the problem or opportunity described in “Learning What Does and Does Not Matter” in my own life?
- 02What Scripture or spiritual principle in this study most needs my attention?
- 03What one specific change can I make this week to put this teaching into practice?
Prefer listening?
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