Have you ever not done something that you know you should do? Maybe it is because you have too much on your mind and you forgot or it is something you just didn't place enough importance on or you thought someone else would take care of it. Regardless of the reason, it was something you should have done and you didn't do it. I know that I have overcommitted myself before and not been able to fulfill all of my commitments. Maybe it is as simple as not paying attention to a friend saying they need someone to hang out with or talk to.
Jesus told us that when we mistreat others though our lack of action, that we treat Him the same way (Matthew 26:41-45). We are taught to provide simple, honest answers (James 5:12)...and that God wants us to show others mercy (Hosea 6:6). Jesus is a great example of how using the playbook and video room (the Bible) and continual communication with the Father makes the knowing and doing the right thing so natural. It is kind of like someone who has never seen a football playbook can't understand much of the information inside...but it makes more and more sense when the person spends more time in it and talks to the writer/creator of the playbook...of course, seeing the playbook executed is helpful as well. God will continually prepare us for His use if we will let Him...unlike football, helping meet people's needs and pointing them towards Him isn't a one day a week game...it's an on-call 24/7 thing.
Showing posts with label pratice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pratice. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Mike Tyson and Focus
You may not think that Mike Tyson has anything to offer when it comes to being focused. You may think that someone who has had domestic violence issues and put a tattoo on his face has nothing to offer. However, one of his famous quotes, "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." offers some insights that we can utilize in our daily lives.
We usually think we have our plan in place to deal with temptation until it comes. Then we get hit in the mouth and think we have to rely on our own strength to overcome the temptation. James 4:8 says "Come near to God and He will come near to you". Psalm 23:5 tells us that the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies…so coming near to God doesn't mean that we no longer have enemies. Jesus provided us with the blueprint to overcome Satan's attacks: 1) be in consistent communication with the Father through prayer, 2) be familiar with His word, 3) remember that whose we are matters much more than who the world thinks we are (or thinks we should be). So, as the saying goes "practice makes perfect"…it is much easier to execute something in a game that a team has practiced over and over until it is second nature…so let's make our practice help our fight against temptation and not to work against us.
We usually think we have our plan in place to deal with temptation until it comes. Then we get hit in the mouth and think we have to rely on our own strength to overcome the temptation. James 4:8 says "Come near to God and He will come near to you". Psalm 23:5 tells us that the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies…so coming near to God doesn't mean that we no longer have enemies. Jesus provided us with the blueprint to overcome Satan's attacks: 1) be in consistent communication with the Father through prayer, 2) be familiar with His word, 3) remember that whose we are matters much more than who the world thinks we are (or thinks we should be). So, as the saying goes "practice makes perfect"…it is much easier to execute something in a game that a team has practiced over and over until it is second nature…so let's make our practice help our fight against temptation and not to work against us.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Burger King Mentality
"Have it Your Way"….sounds great, doesn't it? Wouldn't it be great to get what you want and when you want it? But this brings up a bigger question…do we actually know what is best for us? You might question my sanity at first for asking this…you might ask me who else knows what we want/need better than ourselves. However, you don't have to look very far around to see that our desire to fulfill our short-term wants can have some unintended consequences. Do you think the cheating spouse, the gossiping co-worker, the person suffering from addiction really thought about how much their actions could cost them in the long run?
Fortunately, God is able to see our past, present, and future all at once (remember that foreknowing is not the same as forechoosing). He knows what is best for us, even if we can't see why at the time (see the account of Noah as an example, Genesis 6:9-9:28). Does any athlete really enjoy having to run in practice for hours on end? But this training is necessary for the athlete to be able to perform at his/her best during the competition (2nd Timothy 4:7).
It is easy to think we have all the answers and that the world should run he we see fit. Think about how that would really work out…do you really know how to run the world better than its Creator? How about our own lives? Are we able to do any better there? We need almighty God to make our ways straight (Proverbs 3:6). Isn't it time for us to turn to the greatest Counselor of all time to lead our steps?
Fortunately, God is able to see our past, present, and future all at once (remember that foreknowing is not the same as forechoosing). He knows what is best for us, even if we can't see why at the time (see the account of Noah as an example, Genesis 6:9-9:28). Does any athlete really enjoy having to run in practice for hours on end? But this training is necessary for the athlete to be able to perform at his/her best during the competition (2nd Timothy 4:7).
It is easy to think we have all the answers and that the world should run he we see fit. Think about how that would really work out…do you really know how to run the world better than its Creator? How about our own lives? Are we able to do any better there? We need almighty God to make our ways straight (Proverbs 3:6). Isn't it time for us to turn to the greatest Counselor of all time to lead our steps?
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