Planning for Next Year – Reflections on How We Evaluate Our Lives
Today at church I was strongly convicted to change my perspective on how I evaluate my life. How is it that we… you and I… judge if we are on or off track.
Are we living our purpose and potential or are we slacking?
Do we allow our sins and mistakes to condemn us or make us feel guilty?
Do we look at our relationships… the broken ones, the missing ones and feel empty? Does this make us feel that we are missing out.
And what about our money? Our careers or our hustle. Do ever feel that you are not reaching your potential? Do you think you shoulda, coulda, woulda had more or done more if you were just.. more focused. Smarter. Worked harder?
Most of these feelings I have felt. And do feel them on a regular basis. But today – as i listened to my paster talk about, what would you and I ask for if God said, ‘ask of me, what ever you want.’
The big idea that I took from it, was… (1) I am not noticing all the good things God has already given me. And, (2) I am judging and evaluating my life on earthy standards and values – not heavens. And the problem with this is… as long as I am a christian – if I continue evaluating my life according to earths standards.. I was always feel unsatisfied. I will crave for me. I will never find the place of contentment. We will never find the sabbath rest promised in scripture, but it does not come from making “x” dollars or even reaching the peak of our natural potential.
Look – I am not against earning and hustling and working to be all God created us to be. Because, since we are on earth, we need to play earth’s games to be relevant to speak to real everyday people with every day issues. But just because… do like Paul said, becoming all things to all men, that we might win one. We must not get swept away with thinking the same as the world we are endeavoring to win and rescue and save.
As we come to the conclusion of this year – and either evaluate this year or plan out next year… my word of admonition to you and to myself, is to because -not to get caught up vain pursuits. Don’t strive for temporal and fleeting pleasures.
Let us stand from heavenly places / positioned as a son and daughter within the bosom of grace – and from that place of eternal security – what now do we really need. What now are we striving for?
I believe children of kings never worry – they don’t strive to be – anything.
As joint heirs with Christ Jesus, let everything we do come from a loving response, not an anxious prove anything to anyone. Amen.
Create a Great Day! – AC
Notes:
My church’s message this past Sunday.
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Music from Jalen Thomas:
noisetrade.com/jalenthomas/in-this-place
jalenthomas.bandcamp.com/album/in-this-place-ep