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Well well... looks like certain struggles are meant to be age-old - it's there to remind me that at every stage I have a choice to respond accordingly, to take on the right posture.

The topic for this week's discipleship training came timely... less I forget, that I'm constantly put through the growth process. I confess that I was rather affected that the usual people whom I felt I was closer to didn't even bother to message. But yeah. It's my issue to settle.. and one which was rightfully pointed out by point number 9 below.

Well... that I may learn to take on the right posture at all times.

There are many thoughts and emotions that plague our human existence. One of these I want to deal with more specifically is the issue of INSECURITY. It often corrupts our posture before God and brings about fear and anxiety. Go through the following scenarios and examine your posture:

1. When I crash and fail, is my posture one of "ADMIT MY MISTAKES AND LEARN" or "QUIT AND BLAME OTHERS"?
2. When I am being criticized or corrected, is my posture one of "IMMEDIATE DEFENSIVENESS" or "WELCOME LISTENING"?
3. When I am not given credit for a job done, is my posture one of "ENVY" or "I AM JUST GLAD TO SERVE GOD!"? Alternatively, do I carelessly take credit for what others say or do?
4. When I am challenged to come out of my comfort zone, is my posture one of "I DON'T WANT TO FAIL AND LOOK BAD" or "I CAN DO THIS WITH GOD'S HELP"?
5. When I cannot agree with God's given authority over me, is my posture one of "I MUST FIGHT FOR CONTROL" or "I CAN LET GO AND TRUST GOD"?
6. When a situation goes out of control, is my posture one of "KAN CHEONGNESS" or "MAKE THE BEST OF IT"?
7. When I lose my temper, is my posture one of "I WANT TO MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS" or "I MUST EXERCISE SELF CONTROL AND KEEP MY SPIRIT IN CHECK"?
8. When I disagree with the way things are done, is my posture one of "I THINK THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING" or "I NEED TO CLARIFY AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THIS"?
9. When I feel others do not cherish or value me, is my posture one of "THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST UNGRATEFUL AND BLIND" or "I DO NOT FIND MY WORTH SOLELY IN THE AFFIRMATIONS OF OTHERS BUT ON THE APPROVAL OF GOD"?
10. When circumstances become difficult and I feel like quitting, is my posture one of "I THINK IT'S POINTLESS TO GO ON BECAUSE NOBODY APPRECIATES WHAT I DO" or "I MUST REVIEW MY COMPASS AND CALLING AND NOT BE SWAYED BY THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES"?

A certain kind of disciple adopts a certain kind of posture. It's a choice between the way of the flesh (giving in to temptations ie of lust, spewing of expletives, etc) or the way of the cross. It is marked by brokenness before God, meekness in God and openness to God... May out inner posture bring pleasure to God rather than pain to Him and others!

(adapted from IDT Module 4 Week 7 notes - Cultivating Posture)