In his new book, “Simplify”, Bill Hybels states that being connected to God reminds him he doesn’t “need to fulfill someone else’s agenda, because I have my hand in the hand of the one whose plans and purposes my life is all about.” It’s easy to get so caught up in the expectations of others that we become overwhelmed, over-committed, and altogether out of control. We lose sight of what matters most in life. The world we live in today is moving faster than ever before. Attention spans are almost nonexistent; patience levels are low, frustrations are high, and the result is a world spinning out of control, plummeting into an abyss of evil that is difficult for us to even comprehend. There is an answer to this madness. There is a way out of the darkness.
Genesis
Crash
There will be times in our walk where everything seems to be going well. Our ministry (personal or professional) is humming along smoothly and we are content and satisfied with our growth. Another word for content and satisfied would be comfortable. The problem is that I believe comfortable Christianity is an oxymoron. As soon as we get comfortable in our faith, that’s the time we will find ourselves tested. Our greatest tribulations often come on the heels of our greatest triumphs. Just when it looks like we have everything figured out, all the rules suddenly change and we find ourselves with more questions than answers, flailing in our faith, and desperately crying out to God.
What’s On Your Mind?
There’s a wise adage that says, “What has your attention has you”. So the question is really obvious; what has your attention today? If our focus is anywhere other than on Jesus Christ, we are captured by something other than Him. Satan is a master of distraction. Since the dawn of time he has been parading a feast of temptation before our eyes (Genesis 3:1-6). He doesn’t care if you ever go his way; he’s content to just keep your eyes off of Jesus. We make it too easy for him.
Take Action
Today is the last day of 2012. The beginning of a new year is always an exciting time for me, as it presents a clean slate and a fresh set of opportunities. I’m a goals fanatic and have found it useful to have a theme to guide my planning for each year. Last year’s theme was, “Consume Less, Contribute More.” This year I have selected, “Take Action”. As a follower of Christ, nothing could be more important. As James said, we must be doers of the word, not merely hearers (James 1:22-25). If we are going to grow in our faith, we must act on the things Jesus told us to do.
Made in the Image of God
I was recently challenged by the question, “What does it mean to be made in God’s image” (Genesis 1:27)? If we truly were living as the beings we were created to be, how would God’s image manifest itself in our daily lives? I came up with a list of things that would be true in my life. It was an interesting and revealing exercise, making me very aware of where I may be missing the mark. Being made in the image of God should dictate our actions and have a profound influence on the way we treat others. Below is the list I came up with of what my life will look like when I am reflecting His image. I’ve turned these into a set of mantra’s I read each morning to set my attitude for the day.