| POINT TO PONDER: It’s not about me. VERSE TO REMEMBER: “Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” COLOSSIANS 1:16 | QUESTION TO CONSIDER: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? |
~ ~ My Thoughts ~ ~
For a good part of my life I had heard about the power of prayer. I have even witnessed the tremendous transformation it has had on people. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my Dad. Whenever he became noticeably stressed about something I had no understanding of, he would walk swiftly and deliberately through our humble living room towards the built in bookcase by the front door. He would reach up and grab one particular book time and time again. He would open it up and read for a few moments or on some days for several minutes or more. I began to take notice of this pattern and I could always see subtle peace engulf him while he read this precious book. No matter what I had been doing in the moments before I was transfixed on the transformation that I witnessed each time he did this. I became curious as to what was so powerful about the mighty book he grasped so desperately, clung to so tightly, read so intently, and kissed so gently as he placed it back so tenderly until the next time he needed it. Upon closer examination I discovered it was a Bible.
Now all these many decades later I have found reading the Bible helpful when I am feeling distraught. More importantly I have discovered it is imperative that I connect with God daily in meditation and prayer. Sometimes that means I read the Bible. Other days I connect with God in other ways. I can connect with God in nature and reflect on the numerous things God has already carried me through when I needed a little bit (or a lot) of help. I also remember the many things I learned simply by surviving my most difficult challenges. Survival is a great teacher.
Starting each day by expressing my gratitude for the life God has blessed me with leads me to do greater things than I might otherwise think I can do. I can never fully repay the generous gifts of loving care and insightful wisdom that kind people have showered on me when I needed help the most. So, the only way I can truly express my gratitude to God and to the multitude of people who have helped my throughout the entirety of my life is by paying it forward and helping others I will meet today in the name of My Lord and Savior. Acknowledging that my life is a divine gift from God prevents me from wasting my life. Ending each day in prayer and meditation by thanking God for helping me face down my worst fears with confidence and trusting that I am guided and protected by God in ways I am incapable of imagining warms my heart and heals any scars from the day.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed all I need do is close my eyes and ask for God to calm my racing heart and surround me with his loving peace. God holds me in the palm of his hand. He knows every hair on my head and every thought that surges through my brain. I am blessed and I am loved even when I stumble or stray. Never in my life have I ever asked God for his help and been turned away. He has never failed to help calm my nerves and soothe my soul swiftly and immediately upon my asking for his help. He continues to guide and comfort me through all things. But, he remains wise enough to allow me to strengthen myself through my struggles rather than save me from the pain I am experiencing in the given moment. Therefore, I never ask God for help when he has already given me everything I need to successfully perform the task at hand. I only ask God to be with me as I try to figure out how best to use the tools and opportunities he has blessed me with to tackle whatever is before me. I am not perfect but I do not need to be perfect for God to love me or for me to successfully fulfill my divine purpose. God's grace turns my efforts into bountiful blessings even when I fail as long as I stay focused on him by allowing me to grow in strength, wisdom, kindness, and compassion for myself and others.
I choose to focus on God. Whenever I lose my focus, instead of giving up, I recommit myself to reconnecting with God. Whenever I feel disconnected from God or my divine purpose it is always because I have lost focus on God. It is never because he has lost sight of me. I would rather lose focus and refocus my gaze upon my heavenly father, my Lord, and my Savior a thousand times a day than ever choose to redirect my focus elsewhere. My life begins, thrives, and endures in him.
So for me the answer to the question - "How can I remind my self that life is really about living for God and not myself" - is quite simple. I remind myself by never having my Bible out of sight for very long. I see it every morning when I first wake up and enjoy my first cup of tea. I remember the simple way my Dad comforted himself by bowing his head in prayer. Now that my Dad has transcended to our Heavenly Father and I must carry on with life I am eternally grateful that I had an amazing father to teach me how simple it was to turn to our Heavenly Father for comfort and guidance and not to forget to return to him to say thank you. So with gratitude and grace I say thank you for all I have been taught by the many people who have surrounded me with love and showed me every day the wonderment which is God.
Now all these many decades later I have found reading the Bible helpful when I am feeling distraught. More importantly I have discovered it is imperative that I connect with God daily in meditation and prayer. Sometimes that means I read the Bible. Other days I connect with God in other ways. I can connect with God in nature and reflect on the numerous things God has already carried me through when I needed a little bit (or a lot) of help. I also remember the many things I learned simply by surviving my most difficult challenges. Survival is a great teacher.
Starting each day by expressing my gratitude for the life God has blessed me with leads me to do greater things than I might otherwise think I can do. I can never fully repay the generous gifts of loving care and insightful wisdom that kind people have showered on me when I needed help the most. So, the only way I can truly express my gratitude to God and to the multitude of people who have helped my throughout the entirety of my life is by paying it forward and helping others I will meet today in the name of My Lord and Savior. Acknowledging that my life is a divine gift from God prevents me from wasting my life. Ending each day in prayer and meditation by thanking God for helping me face down my worst fears with confidence and trusting that I am guided and protected by God in ways I am incapable of imagining warms my heart and heals any scars from the day.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed all I need do is close my eyes and ask for God to calm my racing heart and surround me with his loving peace. God holds me in the palm of his hand. He knows every hair on my head and every thought that surges through my brain. I am blessed and I am loved even when I stumble or stray. Never in my life have I ever asked God for his help and been turned away. He has never failed to help calm my nerves and soothe my soul swiftly and immediately upon my asking for his help. He continues to guide and comfort me through all things. But, he remains wise enough to allow me to strengthen myself through my struggles rather than save me from the pain I am experiencing in the given moment. Therefore, I never ask God for help when he has already given me everything I need to successfully perform the task at hand. I only ask God to be with me as I try to figure out how best to use the tools and opportunities he has blessed me with to tackle whatever is before me. I am not perfect but I do not need to be perfect for God to love me or for me to successfully fulfill my divine purpose. God's grace turns my efforts into bountiful blessings even when I fail as long as I stay focused on him by allowing me to grow in strength, wisdom, kindness, and compassion for myself and others.
I choose to focus on God. Whenever I lose my focus, instead of giving up, I recommit myself to reconnecting with God. Whenever I feel disconnected from God or my divine purpose it is always because I have lost focus on God. It is never because he has lost sight of me. I would rather lose focus and refocus my gaze upon my heavenly father, my Lord, and my Savior a thousand times a day than ever choose to redirect my focus elsewhere. My life begins, thrives, and endures in him.
So for me the answer to the question - "How can I remind my self that life is really about living for God and not myself" - is quite simple. I remind myself by never having my Bible out of sight for very long. I see it every morning when I first wake up and enjoy my first cup of tea. I remember the simple way my Dad comforted himself by bowing his head in prayer. Now that my Dad has transcended to our Heavenly Father and I must carry on with life I am eternally grateful that I had an amazing father to teach me how simple it was to turn to our Heavenly Father for comfort and guidance and not to forget to return to him to say thank you. So with gratitude and grace I say thank you for all I have been taught by the many people who have surrounded me with love and showed me every day the wonderment which is God.
