Introduction

“The more you

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, the more you hurt.” —Ecclesiastes 1:18

Apart from Jesus, we can do

.

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.—John 15:4-5

With Jesus, you are perfectly

and loved right where you are.

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:12-13

Jesus will either protect you where you are,

you to safety, or welcome you eternally.

Our

is a gift from God. Who we

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in this life is our gift to God.

Who are you becoming?

Three Things that Lead to a Cynical Heart

1. You

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   too much.
   Cynicism
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   when you start to protect yourself from future hurt.

2. You

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   the past on to the future.
   Applying
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   particular situation to
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   future situations is the death of hope.

3. You decide to

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   trusting, hoping, and believing.

   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. —1 Corinthians 13:7

Hoping to

yourself from future pain, you

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yourself from the joy and promise of the present.

“When you close your heart to people, you close your heart to God.” —Carey Nieuwhof

Practical Ways to Defeat Your Inner Cynic

1. Recognize that cynicism is a

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   !
   
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   does not make you a cynic;
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   make you a cynic.
   Cynics never
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   the world. They just tell you why the world can’t change.

2. Take

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   to strengthen the habit of
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   , which can be nurtured and developed.
   Curiosity allows the shift from wanting to “
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   ” to wanting to “
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   .”

   “

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   Leadership” is being a knower and being right.
   “

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   Leadership” is being a learner and getting it right.
   —Brené Brown

3. Remember, your past is not your future if
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   is involved!
   

   One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” —Luke 23:39-43

Our hope is in Jesus; our hope never

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.

Action Steps

our Acts 2 app and read the Good News of John with us this Lent.

Schedule

time. It’s hard to think in a hurry.

Go for a long

and ask God to help make you brave in the middle of your fear and pain.

Ask

questions, and then sit back and listen.

“If you listen longer than most people listen, you’ll hear things most people never hear.”
—Carey Nieuwhof

Ask “Why not?” to God and to others and remain

as to what God might do.