Hello friends! I just wanted to let you know that "Fruit Of The Spirit Woman" will return next week.
Thanks again to everyone that has shared comments about how the blog has ministered to them. I thank God for your feedback.
I hope you're enjoying your week!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Yesterday Is Gone: Let Old Mistakes Rest In Peace (Part Two)
(This is the continuation of the "Yesterday Is Gone" post that I made the other day. I apologize for the delay in publishing it.)
Following are a few tips I hope will help you if you've struggled with guilt like I once did. They occurred to me one day as I sat down and tried to figure out if there was something I could do in order to be able to kick out the guilt that had taken up residence in my life.
First, I focused on previous prayers of confession and asked myself, "Were they really sincere?" In case they weren't, I talked honestly with God about my regret over straying out of His will. Psalm 32:3-5 (NIV) says this about confession: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"--and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Next, I worked at convincing myself that, once I'd confessed and repented of (or turned away from) specific sins, God had forgiven them. I John 1:9 (NIV) helped in this area by revealing, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Finally, I had to learn to forgive myself when I messed up. This was a challenge for me since I'd often find it easier to forgive others than forgive myself. But, if my Heavenly Father--who hates sin--could forgive me, I should be able to forgive myself.
Although this wasn't usually the case for me, for some people, the guilt they're feeling may stem from the fact that they hurt someone and never apologized. A visit, phone call, letter or e-mail to the person who was offended might make a difference. On the other hand, apologizing as soon as the hurt occurs is an even shorter road to forgiveness and healing. An incident between a young woman I know--I'll call her Gigi, for the sake of her privacy--and her mother demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.
While on a weekend road trip with her husband, their son and daughter, and her parents, Gigi misplaced her purse. When they began looking for it, the woman's mother began to berate the young woman about her tendency to lose things. Gigi took offense and vented her frustration by hollering at her mom. When Gigi realized what she'd done, she apologized for her rude response, even though she had been provoked. Expressing regret over her words soon after they'd flown out of her mouth--rather than after they'd returned home (or some time later)--honored her mother and kept the long car ride home from turning into an uncomfortable one.
Other times, sharing a burdensome secret about ourselves with an understanding and trusted fellow believer who'll pray with us about it can help. James 5:16 (NIV) says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." I find special comfort in talking with my husband, my sister, and my mom when I'm bothered by something I've done. Others may opt to talk with a best friend, a prayer partner or a minister at their church. Just remember to seek God's direction before choosing a confidant and pouring out your heart to them. You'll want the Holy Spirit to go before you to pave the way for a conversation characterized by love, compassion and emotional healing, not one filled with tension or embarrassment.
Closing Thoughts:
However God leads you to deal with past mistakes, please remind yourself that yesterday is gone. We can't keep beating ourselves up about things we did 10 years ago, one year ago, last month or 24 hours ago. God loves us; we are special to Him. He alone can help us break any chains of guilt that could keep us shackled to the past. If we keep reviving disturbing memories about the past, they'll weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the abundant, joy-filled life that comes from knowing a loving--and forgiving--God.
Scripture of Encouragement:
"I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. (Jeremiah 33:8, NIV)
Following are a few tips I hope will help you if you've struggled with guilt like I once did. They occurred to me one day as I sat down and tried to figure out if there was something I could do in order to be able to kick out the guilt that had taken up residence in my life.
First, I focused on previous prayers of confession and asked myself, "Were they really sincere?" In case they weren't, I talked honestly with God about my regret over straying out of His will. Psalm 32:3-5 (NIV) says this about confession: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"--and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Next, I worked at convincing myself that, once I'd confessed and repented of (or turned away from) specific sins, God had forgiven them. I John 1:9 (NIV) helped in this area by revealing, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Finally, I had to learn to forgive myself when I messed up. This was a challenge for me since I'd often find it easier to forgive others than forgive myself. But, if my Heavenly Father--who hates sin--could forgive me, I should be able to forgive myself.
Although this wasn't usually the case for me, for some people, the guilt they're feeling may stem from the fact that they hurt someone and never apologized. A visit, phone call, letter or e-mail to the person who was offended might make a difference. On the other hand, apologizing as soon as the hurt occurs is an even shorter road to forgiveness and healing. An incident between a young woman I know--I'll call her Gigi, for the sake of her privacy--and her mother demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.
While on a weekend road trip with her husband, their son and daughter, and her parents, Gigi misplaced her purse. When they began looking for it, the woman's mother began to berate the young woman about her tendency to lose things. Gigi took offense and vented her frustration by hollering at her mom. When Gigi realized what she'd done, she apologized for her rude response, even though she had been provoked. Expressing regret over her words soon after they'd flown out of her mouth--rather than after they'd returned home (or some time later)--honored her mother and kept the long car ride home from turning into an uncomfortable one.
Other times, sharing a burdensome secret about ourselves with an understanding and trusted fellow believer who'll pray with us about it can help. James 5:16 (NIV) says: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." I find special comfort in talking with my husband, my sister, and my mom when I'm bothered by something I've done. Others may opt to talk with a best friend, a prayer partner or a minister at their church. Just remember to seek God's direction before choosing a confidant and pouring out your heart to them. You'll want the Holy Spirit to go before you to pave the way for a conversation characterized by love, compassion and emotional healing, not one filled with tension or embarrassment.
Closing Thoughts:
However God leads you to deal with past mistakes, please remind yourself that yesterday is gone. We can't keep beating ourselves up about things we did 10 years ago, one year ago, last month or 24 hours ago. God loves us; we are special to Him. He alone can help us break any chains of guilt that could keep us shackled to the past. If we keep reviving disturbing memories about the past, they'll weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the abundant, joy-filled life that comes from knowing a loving--and forgiving--God.
Scripture of Encouragement:
"I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. (Jeremiah 33:8, NIV)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Yesterday Is Gone: Let Old Mistakes Rest In Peace
Dear God, I'm so sorry for what I've done. Please forgive me for messing up and help me become a better person. Amen.
Have you ever said a prayer like that? If so, how many times do you feel you need to repeat it before God accepts it? Years ago, I would pray about the same mistakes repeatedly and I'm not sure why I did that. Perhaps it was due to a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Paul's instructions in I Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray continually." Or, maybe I just had so much guilt that I felt I should keep praying about the various ways I felt I'd messed up.
When I was a child, I went to church every Sunday. But, I rarely read the little white, gold-rimmed King James Bible that I'd once received as a gift. It wasn't until after asking Jesus Christ into my heart years later--and receiving a large, hardcover, navy blue New International Version study Bible--that I began to learn for myself what it meant to be a Christian. And, one thing I learned while engaging in hours of personal bible study was that everyone sins.
Simply put, sins are willful violations of God's commands. They damage our relationship with God, our image of ourselves, as well as our ability to relate to others. So, maybe I'd repeatedly pray about my mistakes because I realized they had far-reaching consequences.
Fortunately, one day I also came to the realization that I don't need to pray about the same old mistakes like I'm a CD player stuck in "repeat mode." If I'm sincere the first time I lift up a prayer, God hears it. In other words, it occurred to me that I must leave past mistakes where they belong--behind me. Yes, God wants us to turn from our sins and regret that we made them, but I don't believe He wants us to live a life that is soiled with--or weighed down by--guilt over things we did long ago. Living like this would be as profitable to us as lugging around an overstuffed, rancid garbage bag from place to place every day.
Closing Thoughts:
Have you been doing that? If so, please take note of this next statement: you don't have to live that way. You don't have to keep reliving past mistakes and conjuring up more and more guilt with each passing day. While it may be impossible to forget some previous mistakes, a life in Christ doesn't have to revolve around them. If you're ready to lay your old mistakes to rest, come back tomorrow and I'll share a few tips with you on how to begin to do that.
Verse of Encouragement:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Have you ever said a prayer like that? If so, how many times do you feel you need to repeat it before God accepts it? Years ago, I would pray about the same mistakes repeatedly and I'm not sure why I did that. Perhaps it was due to a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Paul's instructions in I Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray continually." Or, maybe I just had so much guilt that I felt I should keep praying about the various ways I felt I'd messed up.
When I was a child, I went to church every Sunday. But, I rarely read the little white, gold-rimmed King James Bible that I'd once received as a gift. It wasn't until after asking Jesus Christ into my heart years later--and receiving a large, hardcover, navy blue New International Version study Bible--that I began to learn for myself what it meant to be a Christian. And, one thing I learned while engaging in hours of personal bible study was that everyone sins.
Simply put, sins are willful violations of God's commands. They damage our relationship with God, our image of ourselves, as well as our ability to relate to others. So, maybe I'd repeatedly pray about my mistakes because I realized they had far-reaching consequences.
Fortunately, one day I also came to the realization that I don't need to pray about the same old mistakes like I'm a CD player stuck in "repeat mode." If I'm sincere the first time I lift up a prayer, God hears it. In other words, it occurred to me that I must leave past mistakes where they belong--behind me. Yes, God wants us to turn from our sins and regret that we made them, but I don't believe He wants us to live a life that is soiled with--or weighed down by--guilt over things we did long ago. Living like this would be as profitable to us as lugging around an overstuffed, rancid garbage bag from place to place every day.
Closing Thoughts:
Have you been doing that? If so, please take note of this next statement: you don't have to live that way. You don't have to keep reliving past mistakes and conjuring up more and more guilt with each passing day. While it may be impossible to forget some previous mistakes, a life in Christ doesn't have to revolve around them. If you're ready to lay your old mistakes to rest, come back tomorrow and I'll share a few tips with you on how to begin to do that.
Verse of Encouragement:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Are You Living Life Deliberately?--Part Four
(*This is the final posting for my four-part "Are You Living Life Deliberately?" series.)
Thanks to my maternal grandmother, I grew up knowing that wasting food was a bad thing. Although she never forced any of her four grandchildren to eat every single morsel of food we were served while dining at her house, she would say something if we didn't make an attempt to eat what she'd prepared for us. And, more likely than not, her comments contained a reminder that lots of people didn't have healthy home-cooked meals like the ones we had. In other words, she wanted us to show we appreciated the fact that she had invested money, time and energy into the meals we enjoyed at her house.
For the record, my grandmother was an amazing cook. To this day, one of my favorite meals is chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens, thanks to her. And, although she passed away more than 20 years ago, I can still taste her peach cobbler and banana pudding. All I have to do is look at photos from my childhood and I'm quickly reminded of just how much I loved her cooking! So, those comments about not wasting food were rarely said directly to me.
As I've gotten older, my eyes have been opened to other ways that people can be wasteful. And, if any of us were asked to make a list of all the things we waste in a given year, I'm sure we'd be too embarrassed to show it to anyone. Some common entries on the lists would probably be such things as time, money, skills, and talents.
When we are wasteful, we squander what God has given to us to be a blessing to us. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, to squander is to "spend extravagantly or foolishly" or "to lose (as an advantage or opportunity) through negligence or inaction." Although this is bound to happen from time to time, we should do our best to not let it be a way of life for us. We should want to be known as conquerors, not squanderers.
Maybe reminding ourselves to be more prudent from day to day would be helpful. Posting a Bible verse such as Proverbs 12:27 on a mirror, refrigerator door, or some other surface we see a couple of times a day may be a good idea. The New International Version (NIV) of this verse reads, "The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions," while the King James Version (KJV) says, "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious."
Since I enjoy eating food so much, it's hard for me to imagine that a person could have a potentially delicious meal in front of them and not do what is necessary for them to enjoy it. But, that's exactly what we do when we waste the blessings God sends to us for our use and enjoyment.
Closing Thought:
If you feel you've been squandering your time, money, relationships, talents, etc., it's time to make a change. And, if you've been allowing something--a habit, frame of mind, person, etc.--to distract you from doing what's really important to you, analyze why you've allowed that to happen and pray that God will help you break free from its grip. If you feel comfortable sharing your desire for change with a loved one, trusted friend, or prayer partner, do so. Ask them to keep you accountable and offer words of encouragement when you're in need of motivation.
Verse of Encouragement:
"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,..." (Ephesians 5:15-16a, NIV)
Thanks to my maternal grandmother, I grew up knowing that wasting food was a bad thing. Although she never forced any of her four grandchildren to eat every single morsel of food we were served while dining at her house, she would say something if we didn't make an attempt to eat what she'd prepared for us. And, more likely than not, her comments contained a reminder that lots of people didn't have healthy home-cooked meals like the ones we had. In other words, she wanted us to show we appreciated the fact that she had invested money, time and energy into the meals we enjoyed at her house.
For the record, my grandmother was an amazing cook. To this day, one of my favorite meals is chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens, thanks to her. And, although she passed away more than 20 years ago, I can still taste her peach cobbler and banana pudding. All I have to do is look at photos from my childhood and I'm quickly reminded of just how much I loved her cooking! So, those comments about not wasting food were rarely said directly to me.
As I've gotten older, my eyes have been opened to other ways that people can be wasteful. And, if any of us were asked to make a list of all the things we waste in a given year, I'm sure we'd be too embarrassed to show it to anyone. Some common entries on the lists would probably be such things as time, money, skills, and talents.
When we are wasteful, we squander what God has given to us to be a blessing to us. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, to squander is to "spend extravagantly or foolishly" or "to lose (as an advantage or opportunity) through negligence or inaction." Although this is bound to happen from time to time, we should do our best to not let it be a way of life for us. We should want to be known as conquerors, not squanderers.
Maybe reminding ourselves to be more prudent from day to day would be helpful. Posting a Bible verse such as Proverbs 12:27 on a mirror, refrigerator door, or some other surface we see a couple of times a day may be a good idea. The New International Version (NIV) of this verse reads, "The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions," while the King James Version (KJV) says, "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious."
Since I enjoy eating food so much, it's hard for me to imagine that a person could have a potentially delicious meal in front of them and not do what is necessary for them to enjoy it. But, that's exactly what we do when we waste the blessings God sends to us for our use and enjoyment.
Closing Thought:
If you feel you've been squandering your time, money, relationships, talents, etc., it's time to make a change. And, if you've been allowing something--a habit, frame of mind, person, etc.--to distract you from doing what's really important to you, analyze why you've allowed that to happen and pray that God will help you break free from its grip. If you feel comfortable sharing your desire for change with a loved one, trusted friend, or prayer partner, do so. Ask them to keep you accountable and offer words of encouragement when you're in need of motivation.
Verse of Encouragement:
"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,..." (Ephesians 5:15-16a, NIV)
Monday, July 7, 2008
Are You Living Life Deliberately?--Part Three
I also believe I've been guilty of waiting for things to happen from time to time. What I mean by this is, there have been times when I felt like I was holding out on making a major decision because I thought I should wait to receive a "divine sign" from God. But, sometimes we simply need to take action in a particular situation and not stand still waiting for the help or answer that God has already given us.
In Exodus 14:13-14, we read that Moses told the Israelites the LORD would fight for them and that they only needed to "be still" when the Egyptians were coming after them. But, in verse 15, God asked Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on." They did and, with God's help, made it to safety.
I'm sure part of my reason for wanting to hear from God in a big way was that I'd always be amazed whenever I heard someone had received what they thought to be a direct message from God or a tangible, spectacular answer to a prayer. (Some of the experiences biblical figures had probably contributed to this a little.) But, those stories were theirs. They weren't mine. God has written a unique story for my life. (And, yours, too.)
Although some answers to prayer are absolutely amazing, chances are, most won't typically be considered newsworthy enough to be included on any of the network news programs or top-rated talk shows. While God can--and will--sometimes speak directly to His children, I believe that, more often than not, we hear from Him through other means. We hear from Him when we study the Bible, learn from Holy Spirit-filled pastors/ministers, receive counsel from reputable Christian counselors, obtain advice from spiritually-mature believers, and so on.
You know, I also feel as though I hear from God when I'm talking to my children about their behavior...or should I say misbehavior. Quite often, the words I say to them are statements God could be saying to me! For those of you that are parents, see if this holds true for you the next time you're reprimanding your children about doing something they weren't supposed to do or failing to do something they were supposed to do.
Closing Thought:
God communicates His unending love for us--and His unique will for our lives--whenever and however He chooses. He may speak to us in way that is loud and bold, or He may do so quietly and gently. But, one thing is certain: the relationships He has with us don't have to be spectacular in order to be "special."
Verse of Encouragement:
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13, NIV)
In Exodus 14:13-14, we read that Moses told the Israelites the LORD would fight for them and that they only needed to "be still" when the Egyptians were coming after them. But, in verse 15, God asked Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on." They did and, with God's help, made it to safety.
I'm sure part of my reason for wanting to hear from God in a big way was that I'd always be amazed whenever I heard someone had received what they thought to be a direct message from God or a tangible, spectacular answer to a prayer. (Some of the experiences biblical figures had probably contributed to this a little.) But, those stories were theirs. They weren't mine. God has written a unique story for my life. (And, yours, too.)
Although some answers to prayer are absolutely amazing, chances are, most won't typically be considered newsworthy enough to be included on any of the network news programs or top-rated talk shows. While God can--and will--sometimes speak directly to His children, I believe that, more often than not, we hear from Him through other means. We hear from Him when we study the Bible, learn from Holy Spirit-filled pastors/ministers, receive counsel from reputable Christian counselors, obtain advice from spiritually-mature believers, and so on.
You know, I also feel as though I hear from God when I'm talking to my children about their behavior...or should I say misbehavior. Quite often, the words I say to them are statements God could be saying to me! For those of you that are parents, see if this holds true for you the next time you're reprimanding your children about doing something they weren't supposed to do or failing to do something they were supposed to do.
Closing Thought:
God communicates His unending love for us--and His unique will for our lives--whenever and however He chooses. He may speak to us in way that is loud and bold, or He may do so quietly and gently. But, one thing is certain: the relationships He has with us don't have to be spectacular in order to be "special."
Verse of Encouragement:
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13, NIV)
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Are You Living Life Deliberately?--Part Two (revised ed.)
Cruising on autopilot was another habit that I believe was keeping me from living life deliberately. I think this sometimes happened when I was feeling overwhelmed by what was going on in my life, such as experiencing a relocation, starting a new job, having a baby, etc.
It also can happen when a person feels they must handle multiple tasks each and every second of their waking hours. While such a mindset may initially seem to be a good idea, many times people (like me) find they're really not as productive as they think because they end up accepting--and dishing out--information without taking the time and mental energy to accurately process it.
Thanks to overcrowded schedules, lengthy "to do" lists, and over-inflated expectations of ourselves, many of us are walking around like this on a daily basis. We don't intend to have cloudy thinking and tune out the people or things that are important to us; this inadvertently happens as we search for ways to maintain our sanity in the midst of frantic, unbalanced lifestyles. But, as that old saying goes, "To fail to think is to prepare to sink." '
Although that quote provided some motivation to begin to approach each day with more clarity and attention to detail, the message found in Proverbs 14:15 & 18 also hit home. It reads: "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps...The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." A crown of knowledge? Now, that sounds like something fit for a daughter of the King!
Closing Thought:
If you've been struggling with remembering important details, dates and other facts, set aside some time to pray that God will bless your mind and help you to pay attention to--and remember--them. If your mind wanders during conversations with others, meetings, etc., ask God to help you stay focused so that you won't become distracted or disinterested. Additionally, don't hesitate to employ such tools as notebooks, calendars, or special computer programs to help you keep vital information at your fingertips and at the forefront of your mind. If you pray for God's wisdom regarding how you should deal with this concern, He'll give it to you.
Verse of Encouragement:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, NIV)
It also can happen when a person feels they must handle multiple tasks each and every second of their waking hours. While such a mindset may initially seem to be a good idea, many times people (like me) find they're really not as productive as they think because they end up accepting--and dishing out--information without taking the time and mental energy to accurately process it.
Thanks to overcrowded schedules, lengthy "to do" lists, and over-inflated expectations of ourselves, many of us are walking around like this on a daily basis. We don't intend to have cloudy thinking and tune out the people or things that are important to us; this inadvertently happens as we search for ways to maintain our sanity in the midst of frantic, unbalanced lifestyles. But, as that old saying goes, "To fail to think is to prepare to sink." '
Although that quote provided some motivation to begin to approach each day with more clarity and attention to detail, the message found in Proverbs 14:15 & 18 also hit home. It reads: "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps...The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." A crown of knowledge? Now, that sounds like something fit for a daughter of the King!
Closing Thought:
If you've been struggling with remembering important details, dates and other facts, set aside some time to pray that God will bless your mind and help you to pay attention to--and remember--them. If your mind wanders during conversations with others, meetings, etc., ask God to help you stay focused so that you won't become distracted or disinterested. Additionally, don't hesitate to employ such tools as notebooks, calendars, or special computer programs to help you keep vital information at your fingertips and at the forefront of your mind. If you pray for God's wisdom regarding how you should deal with this concern, He'll give it to you.
Verse of Encouragement:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, NIV)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Are You Living Life Deliberately?--Part One
I was tired of being asked, "Why are you so slow?" and "How could you leave your checkbook at home again?" Why? Because these types of questions highlighted the fact that I had messed up again. Basically, they were beginning to negatively impact my self-esteem.
While inquiries like this from relatives or friends would be bad enough, mine actually came from someone I spent even more time with--myself! Fortunately, one of the last times I entered into one of those periods of personal interrogation something different happened. Instead of the questions chipping away at my self-esteem, they led me to a place of reflection where I uncovered the source of my scattered thinking: I was not living life deliberately.
To live life deliberately means to live it "with full awareness of the nature and consequences of our actions, motives and decisions." I believe we're most capable of living a life in which we maximize the gifts and opportunities God gives us--and are able to experience the type of peace and sense of productivity that comes from Him--when we're keenly aware of how we're living.
For me, such things as procrastination, cruising on autopilot, waiting for things to happen (rather than making them happen), and being wasteful kept me from living life deliberately. If you, too, have been struggling with some of the same habits or hindrances, please read on. I'd like to share with you some tips you may find helpful.
Whether you're 20-something or 40-ish, married or single, a corporate executive or a work-from-home parent, you've probably had moments in your life when you procrastinated and put off doing something you knew you needed to do. But, don't worry. You're not the first person to be guilty of procrastinating. Just turn to the book of Joshua in the bible.
It is there that we learn that seven of the Israelite tribes who were to receive the land promised to them by God put off conquering--and taking possession of--their land. In Chapter 18, verse 3, Joshua asks them, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?" God had already given them all the instructions they needed for success; their next step was simply to obey his command.
We may not be hesitating to move into a spread of land promised to us, but if we let such feelings as fear, self-doubt, or laziness keep us from doing what we know is right in a given situation, we could be delaying receipt of other types of blessings. If we truly want to live full, productive lives, we must get out of the habit of playing catch-up and move ahead with whatever marching orders we've received from God.
Closing Thought:
If you've been putting off doing something that you know is right, don't wait. Decide today that you'll turn to God for guidance and direction about how to handle the situation or circumstance and that you'll seek His courage, strength and peace as you carry out your plans.
Verse of Encouragement:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
While inquiries like this from relatives or friends would be bad enough, mine actually came from someone I spent even more time with--myself! Fortunately, one of the last times I entered into one of those periods of personal interrogation something different happened. Instead of the questions chipping away at my self-esteem, they led me to a place of reflection where I uncovered the source of my scattered thinking: I was not living life deliberately.
To live life deliberately means to live it "with full awareness of the nature and consequences of our actions, motives and decisions." I believe we're most capable of living a life in which we maximize the gifts and opportunities God gives us--and are able to experience the type of peace and sense of productivity that comes from Him--when we're keenly aware of how we're living.
For me, such things as procrastination, cruising on autopilot, waiting for things to happen (rather than making them happen), and being wasteful kept me from living life deliberately. If you, too, have been struggling with some of the same habits or hindrances, please read on. I'd like to share with you some tips you may find helpful.
Whether you're 20-something or 40-ish, married or single, a corporate executive or a work-from-home parent, you've probably had moments in your life when you procrastinated and put off doing something you knew you needed to do. But, don't worry. You're not the first person to be guilty of procrastinating. Just turn to the book of Joshua in the bible.
It is there that we learn that seven of the Israelite tribes who were to receive the land promised to them by God put off conquering--and taking possession of--their land. In Chapter 18, verse 3, Joshua asks them, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?" God had already given them all the instructions they needed for success; their next step was simply to obey his command.
We may not be hesitating to move into a spread of land promised to us, but if we let such feelings as fear, self-doubt, or laziness keep us from doing what we know is right in a given situation, we could be delaying receipt of other types of blessings. If we truly want to live full, productive lives, we must get out of the habit of playing catch-up and move ahead with whatever marching orders we've received from God.
Closing Thought:
If you've been putting off doing something that you know is right, don't wait. Decide today that you'll turn to God for guidance and direction about how to handle the situation or circumstance and that you'll seek His courage, strength and peace as you carry out your plans.
Verse of Encouragement:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
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