DAY 31, TEFERES SHE’BI’HOD
Reflect on how the stars and the planets praise Hashem constantly, but when we praise Hashem they are silent and say, “Happy is the king who created this People”. When you think about this, you may find that you have far more desire to join this praise than before. The tefillot were composed by the Men of the Great Assembly and were written with enormous care about each letter and each word. Shmone esre is the most important of the tefillot, and therefore say the words that they gave us with your heart. Don’t add or subtract from these words because they were composed by people who had ruach hakodesh. (The exception is that in the brachot of request you may add requests to the brachot that are relevant to what it is that you want to pray for – for instance you may add a short prayer for the recovery of someone you wish to pray for in the paragraph in which we ask for healing).
When you praise Hashem, you yourself (not just the words you say) are part of the glory that the angels and the heavenly bodies are as they praise Hashem.
WITH PEOPLE
Dress with dignity when you stand and praise Hashem. This inspires other people to observe that you feel Hashem’s presence, and to open their hearts to do the same.
If there is someone for whom you feel real gratitude, show him appreciation by sharing the Torah that you know with him. You are giving him a treasure, which is the eternal life that Torah has within it.
Similarly, if you are grateful to someone and want to acknowledge your recognition of what he did, be sure that everything that you say is true, and not exaggerated praise.
LIMB- LEFT LEG
TIME- MORNING
TEFILLAH- REFAEINU – HEAL US
HOLY NAME- YKVK
__________________________
DAY 32, NETZACH SHE’BE’HOD
There are times when you are facing challenges (or even are in a state of mind where objectively transient things feel overwhelming, and don’t give you peace). Don’t let these (understandable TG) feelings keep you from praising Hashem. The fact that He gave you life even at these times, tells you that He believes your life to be important, and that better and clearer moments will arrive and allow you to see what you accomplished when your challenges didn’t destroy your sense of significance. When you praise Hashem, you are living an important life.
Also, when you praise Hashem, your praise will be honest if it comes from your essential self. The key is reflecting on how Hashem is there now, yesterday, and tomorrow; He is involved with your life, and in every world event. When you do this regularly, you can win your battles, and your thanks and praise is coming from a much more sincere place within you.
WITH PEOPLE
When your friend helps you and you recognize this and feel gratitude towards him, you have to also recognize that Hashem is also in the picture, not only your friend. It is His providence that brought about each step that made his helping you possible.
The same thing is true when your friend (for whatever reason) tries to draw you down (perhaps out of guilt TG), this too is from Hashem, and be strong enough not to be overly impressed by his efforts.
It sometimes happens that you do a favor to someone and that person shows no appreciation. Instead, they turn the event around in his mind until he convinces himself that he did you a favor. For instance, if you gave a class for his benefit, and he thinks you should be grateful that he attended. Thank him. It will engrave the middah of gratitude in your heart.
When you thank your friend, at times give him a small fit to engrave that moment in his heart, so the good feeling of being validated and appreciated stays there forever. This is the literal way to do Netzach (prevailing eternally) with Hod (gratitude)
LIMB- LEFT LEG
TIME- MORNING
TEFILLAH- BAREICH ALENU (BLESS US) WITH THE INTENT THAT YOU RECTIFY THROUGH THE WAY YOU SAY THIS PRAYER ALL OF THE TIMES THAT YOU FAILED TO ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS MATERIALLY TO HASHEM
HOLY NAME- YKVK TZIVAKOT
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