February 13 are You Ready To Cross The Border. What About Your Own.

Are you in the import and export business? Perhaps you travel to other countries for business or pleasure. If you are, then you are familiar with the customs organization that controls what comes into and out of a country over borders.

There are rules and laws that must be enforced because countries do not necessarily agree on what should and should not be allowed. But there is another concept of customs. Those events or habits repeated on a recurring basis become our customs.

The customs will become powerful mind constructs that we will learn to obey. We will not cross them, and our subconscious mind will be the enforcer. What customs are you keeping in your business and personal life that are keeping your business from growing, your team expanding and limiting your relationships?

This is a time of year where New Year’s resolutions for many are a thing of the past. Those resolutions were made about forty-five days or so ago and it has been that long for many since they were in people’s minds.

A new custom to consider might be to look at this time of year to see or measure how we are doing with those enhancements. Perhaps it could be associated with Valentine’s Day as a reminder.

Serious resolutions are thought on and reflected about to determine that they were worthy when we established them. How powerful of an effect could following through on our resolutions be? That is a custom that would make a difference to your entire family, your team, and your clients.

Making sure that you grow in relationships, team impact, and value for clients is an expression of love. What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next twenty-four hours?

In the book of Matthew we read, “Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.” Matthew 27:15 NLT. What a celebration for the released! Imagine the feeling.

They had be en found guilty and imprisoned, and then the governor comes, and you happen to be the one that the crowd requests to be released. That would be liberating, freeing and change one’s perspective. Do you have a custom yearly to forgive and release someone from their past issues with you?

Could that be for a customer, a vendor, or an employee? What if it were a son or daughter, maybe an ex-spouse, a neighbor, a pastor or maybe just a totally undeserving person? When we give thought to our customs, we can shape new thoughts to enhance and not to harm.

If we are enhancing, we are building, not tearing down. We are called to be building up. Where might we be able to build this year? Perhaps it can become a new custom that we might be deliberate about by this time annually. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days??

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, your love is never ending. Neither are our human failures. We thank you for the forgiveness that you have extended to us, again, again and again. Your custom of forgiveness is an example to me of how to love and enhance others.

Help us to shape customs in our lives and businesses that honor and glorify you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,