"Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing." ~ Oswald Chambers
"Let a man set his heart only on doing the will of God and he is instantly free. No one can hinder him." ~ A.W. Tozer
"The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray." ~ Charles Gwindoll
Five Steps to Real Change in the New Year {click to read the entire blog entry beautifully written by Ann Voskamp at (In)Courage}
1. SET BACK TO THE WIND
Set back to the wind, and let His Spirit gently carry when the feet are too weak to carry on. Not to try harder but to pray new prayers that transport to new places: “Spirit, fill more of me. Lift me, Spirit.” Set out into New Year knowing,“It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing" (Jn 6:36). Set back to His Wind and let Him fill the sails of life.
2. SET JAW
Set back to the wind and set jaw to persevere. "For we add to our faith, perseverance." The day will be long, the way deep. Discouraged, we'll be tempted to turn back to familiar, rutted paths. But set hand he plow and refuse to turn back. For, really, what can go awry? The Spirit’s got your back.
3. SET TIMES
Set, fixed, times to make certain tracks each day allows for the wind to move us, for inspiration to surprise us. Sporadic creativity or intermittent commitment generally fails to forge a steady trail. Progress is born out of rhythm, routine, regularity….set times.
It is how the saints met God: Daniel prayed three times a day facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10), the psalmist purposed to praise seven times a day, the early disciples prayed at fixed hours (Acts 2:15). If set times are the necessary catalysts for spiritual growth, so are set times critically compelling elements for life growth. With back set to the wind, and jaw set, set habitual times to pioneer new habits. Uncertain times lead to certain failure.
4. SET SIGHTS
Every day keep the intermediate goals in clear line of sight.
Set goals into achievable segments, and fix sights on the these midway markers: one pound shed this week, 15 minutes of organization, one date night a week with a child. Set sights close… “By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I am not turning back” (Phil 3:13 MSG).
5. SET OUT
Simply, finally, take the first step. Again and again. The wind, hope on its wings, sweeps each new day clean before us, and sweeps over our tracks from yesterday, filling with grace.
“Jesus said...You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day” (Luke 9:62 MSG).
Seize the day!
And here are some notes I wrote in a journal entry dated August 13, 2009. Unfortunately I didn't write down where I found this.
Contentment -
- is NOT complacency. It's not saying "that's all I'll ever do or be"
- is NOT self-righteousness. It doesn't come from your own efforts
- is NOT repression. It is not staying in abuse, hunger or harm's way.
- IS sufficient. pray that God will give you joy to fill the empty places
- IS enough. It is a work within that opens your heart and eyes.
- IS full. It reveals your true blessings.
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