Stay in the fight ‘til the final round
You're not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it's hopeless
That's when He reminds You
That you're an overcomer
You're an overcomer
Everybody's been down
Hit the bottom, hit the ground
Oh, you're not alone
Just take a breath, don't forget
Hang on to His promises
He wants You to know
The same Man, the Great I am
The one who overcame death
Is living inside of You
So just hold tight, fix your eyes
On the one who holds your life
There's nothing He can't do
He's telling You...." -Mandisa, Overcomer
Well, today I finished up my quiet time study in the gospels. Tomorrow I will start Acts. I have been frustrated the last two weeks, because it seems I have been moving backwards instead of forwards, spiritually. I have not been diligent in my study of the Word these last two weeks, and I have wasted more time than I should have just reading things on the internet of no consequence. I guess it's hilarious that I wrote that post on a media diet, then binged myself on less than excellent time wasters. I have never pretended to be someone who has mastered all this stuff, though, in my defense. I have only ever tried to share my journey with others, and I am as much learning and growing as anyone.
So two days ago, I sat down and made a list of boundaries for myself with regards to how I spend my time online and with electronic devices. I prefer to use the word "boundaries" over rules, because it has the connotation to me of limits that are to help me, rather than just more rules to hold me back. (That is just how the word "rules" feels to me; it's a personal hang up, I freely admit. I suppose it just shows how far I have to go with regards to humbling myself in accepting rightful submission, even for my good in certain situations. But I digress.) Anyway, I talked to my kids, came up with penalties of losing devices for two days, and have humbly asked for my children to help me by calling me out if I cross the boundaries I have set for myself. All of this, actually goes back to my manifesto. Here is the beginning of my manifesto, or creed, if you will:
To live
my life in such a way as will bring glory to my Father in Heaven, and
that I would reach the end of my life and hear the words, “Well
done, good and faithful servant”; that by observing my life, those
around me would be able to testify that the grace of God was made
manifest to them; that I would be faithful with the ministries God
has given me, and a good stewards of the talents and gifts the Lord
has bestowed upon me, to the service of the Kingdom of God; that my
ministry to others would be authentic and true, and that those most
deeply impacted for the good would be those closest to me, as a
testimony of the work of God in and through my life.
This is what I want for my life. And that goal doesn't happen by accident. I see so clearly how all the little decisions we make eventually add up to the big picture. I can talk all day about writing a novel, and having a vision for a godly legacy for my family, but in the end the actions I make each day are going to determine if I ever grow into the kind of person that I want to be. So anyways, here is where I am at today.
No comments:
Post a Comment