i was driving on the highway a few years back and saw a funny A-B billboard. it showed two sweaty women who'd just worked out, drinking lite beer. the slogan read "it's a lifestyle, not a resolution."
ironic that beer marketers understand true change better than i do, isn't it? every year i do a little self-assessment of where i am currently and what needs to change. however, inevitably the changes i need to make happen SO slowly because they are not persuaded by my dogged resolution. rather, i need help--something or someone--for me to make a lasting change in areas of my life. i need a new lifestyle.
that said, i don't think a lite beer is going to shift my life dramatically towards the real goals i have: daily consistency in my dealings with people, being on time or early for all scheduled appointments, saving more money towards the future, giving more boldly to those in need in the present, turning the tv off, writing more and more songs, listening to God in prayer and then doing what He tells me to do--love, love, love everyone--all the time.
what lifestyle change do you need God to help you become a reality in your life?
3 comments:
Weighty question. I could go on and on, but to spare you I will leave you with this.
Me? I love giving praise—in song, in a smile, in a hug, in a glance. I love loving others. Ironically, I am uncomfortable when it is given to me. I believe that God intends me to be proud of what I have done through Him, but in my attempts to avoid being prideful, I downplay my role in His works. I keep thinking I simply chose to follow the life He set before me. For example: I willingly and with a full and loving heart chose to be an adoptive single mother to my three beautiful children. I did not question the decision to be their mother. I believe God purposefully placed them in my life. I believe wonderful things are happening to them, but I believe I do not deserve the praise. He set them on their paths. He lovingly made them, crafting great things for them. My job is but to love them with His love, however messy it may get.
This leads me to my lifestyle change. I am hoping to surrender the downplaying of my role in the lifestyle I lead to living proud of the lifestyle He has given me. With God’s grace, patience and unfailing love and faith in me, I hope to obtain an acceptance of who and what I am by God’s design, without placing limits and expectations on myself. I want to honor God, and I am beginning to learn that sometimes that means honoring me. By honoring who I am I am honoring God and what he has done to, for and through me.
Of course there is always room for additional improvements, but for now I think I will tackle one thing at a time. :)
patty,
i love your lifestyle change idea. it's actually very true that many of us have a hard time "living proud" of who God has made us and how He works through our obedience. Paul says something to this when he (paul) boasts of what God has used Paul to do in Corinth (2 Corinth 1:14, 10:8), and Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:23 saying it is appopriate to boast in the LORD (2 corinth. 10:17) about how the LORD always provides the grace we need to live out our calling. if boasting is rightly understood it always leads back to the cross of Jesus Christ (galations 6:14), because we are recounting our journey in light of the BIG BIG story that God sent His Son into the world He created, to teach us how to live, to die for us condemning our sin once and for all and ultimately leading any of us who will accept Him towards freedom from sin, and fullness of life.
God is always good.
Can't wait to hear how your year is going!
Monty
P.S. can you invite me to your blog so i can read it too? thanks!
Monty,
I would be delighted to send an invite, but it does require an email address for the blog to link to. If you are okay with that, just go to my profile page and click on the email to send that info and then you will receive the invite shortly afterward.
Have a great day!
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