_­ “Wow, I have a lot to work on”

Lately, I have been doing a lot of self-reflecting and realizing that there are a lot of qualities and actions of myself that I want to improve; things that the Bible specifically points out as characteristics of followers of Him that I don’t feel I am living out to the best of my ability. Examples are: I want to be less controlling and I want to love others better. After thinking about all that I wanted to improve and even going forth and making a list, I felt a little overwhelmed, scared and even a little defeated. “There is no way I can tackle all of these,” I thought.

What are my motivations? Why do I want to improve?

As Christians, we are called to love and serve God, to be a His light here on Earth. We are called to not seek after earthly things, but those that are eternal. Taking time to reflect and figuring out how we can improve are ways of living out these commands, a way of pursuing our love for God by doing better for Him.

One step at a time

Often times, when things get overwhelming, what is our natural reaction? To quit.

Often people quit trying to serve God, to change their lives and habits for Him, because they are overwhelmed by the sacrifices it requires. But ask yourself this: “What is one thing I can focus on improving this week, just one thing?” If you can do that, focus on one thing for just one week, you can overcome the overwhelmed feelings. And after the end of the week if you feel like you need more time with the improvement, then work on it for another week, or pick something new to work on. Remember, you aren’t looking for perfection, just improvement.

Another reaction may be, “I can’t change, this is just who I am.” Although, by saying this, we are actually denying God’s power to create change in us. I have been guilty of this many times. It is important to remember just how great God’s power is – that we can do anything with His strength.

Although results may not show right away, be patient. The work you are putting in to be better at serving God is worth it. Remember your motivations and why this is so important.

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You can change with God’s help. One step at a time, these changes can become a reality.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – Philippians 4:13

Tackling the challenge

What is the best way to tackle self-improvement? Use God’s word to guide you – read it, meditate on it, write it everywhere and even memorize verses. That way, when your bad habit or struggle comes up again, you can remind yourself of God’s word; this will help strengthen you.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. – Joshua 1:8

Make a list and pick something to work on each week. Have a verse tied to what you are working on, and repeat it to yourself multiple times a day. Diligently be aware of what you want to change, and take action to change it.

Lord, we understand that knowing what changes we need to make is not enough. We understand that we need to take action to make the changes, and Your word and strength are the best sources of guidance for us. Help us to rely on You when we are trying to make changes, to remember that our motivation is to better serve You every day of our lives.

A Walk on the Train Tracks

Have your sights set a little bit ahead, but not too far

Photography by Zach Sumners

https://www.flickr.com/photos/130465591@N06/

We went exploring by the railroad tracks. Naturally, while Zach was taking some cool pictures, I walked on the rails. Not only did I learn that I have terrible balance (well I kinda already knew that), but I was thinking about how I want it to be summer and I want to be home with my family. But it’s not summer yet; I still have a lot to do before school ends. So where do I set my sights?

When you are walking on the train rails, it’s hard to just look straight down at where you are walking. Sure it may help you to stay balanced, but then you don’t know what is ahead of you. You may be staying on the rails, but you are completely unprepared for what’s next.

Let’s say you completely give into the urge to look up. With your eyes set straight ahead, you can see what is in the distance, but you are missing what is just one step ahead of you. You may not notice a curve in the rail, so your foot slips, and you fall.

How about just looking a little bit ahead? Just a few feet ahead so you can still see the steps right in front of you, but also a glimpse of what’s in the distance? I found this to work best for me as I was walking on the rails, trying to keep my balance. This way I was able to stay on the tracks, but still see the scenery ahead of me.

I need to focus on what is right in front of me, which is school. I will keep my sights set on that, but I will also give into the urge to lift my ahead just a little to see what is coming up, summer. Maybe in your life it is focusing on the job you are working at right now, but lifting your sights a little to see the opportunities for new employment in the future. Maybe you are waiting for a relative to visit in a few weeks, a sickness to pass, or focused on helping someone through a difficult situation. Whatever it is, set your sights a little bit ahead, but not too far. Do your best in whatever you are doing, and do your best to stay on the rails of the train tracks.

The tangled sin of doubt

          Doubting your supporters

                    Doubting yourself

                              And ultimately, doubting God’s strength and power

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ~Romans 6:13

What sin is holding you back from fully glorifying God?

For me, it’s a simple, yet very tangled sin – doubt. I know that doubt is bad, I know that there is no reason for it, but why do I continue to let it creep into my life and hold me back?

Why do I always blame myself if something goes wrong?

Why do I think that I am not “enough?”

Why do I beat myself up for having a hard time with something that everyone else seems to be doing fine with?

Why do I worry about what God has in store for me?

The answer: Because I am imperfect. As children of God, we are perfectly made in His image and likeness, but at the same time, we are humans, we are sinners, we are not perfect.

The good news that overcomes the bad: The good news is all over the place in the Bible, check out Romans Chapter 6 for some pretty sweet verses on how sin has been overcome because of what Christ Jesus has done. It is hard to wrap our heads around it, but the truth is that we have died with Jesus so that we may be set free and live with him forever. We have been reborn.

We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ~Romans 6: 2-5

So what’s the solution? I don’t really know if there is a clear-cut solution for overcoming doubt, but I do know that God wants us to lay down all our sins, even our doubt, before Him. He wants us to truly be free from sin so that we may focus on living a life glorifying Him.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ~Hebrews 12:1

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating us in your image, and as human beings that need to rely and trust in You. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross so that we may be free from sin. Help us to live a life that glorifies Your name. Amen. 

The “turnovers” of life

Celebrating Holy Week

Holy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

This past Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday – where Jesus came in to the city on a donkey and the disciples praised God saying: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Luke 19:38).

But as we know, just a week later, people were no longer shouting praises, but rather exclaiming: Crucify him!

That is a pretty fast “turnover.”

Are there fast “turnovers” in your life? Times when life tips you upside down?

Battling a sin that you thought you already overcame

Feelings of doubt or guilt

A loss of a family member

A hardship of a close friend

One week you feel as if everything is going great and you are going down a positive path, and the next week you are thrown in a totally different direction. How can one week go so smoothly and the next you are crumbling and feeling totally lost?

During these times, I think it is important to remember, especially as we celebrate Holy Week this week, that Jesus suffered in the same way. Not only is He there to help us when life turns us in a difficult direction, but He knows what we are going through.  

God is the God of all comfort; He will comfort us in any situation.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Lord, we know that even through our sufferings and quick turnovers in life, you are always there to comfort us. Thank you for sacrificing your Son on the cross for our sins. Help us to especially reflect on this during this Holy Week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.