It's January. That means everyone is making new year's resolutions. The kind that last for a month, maybe two, and then fade into the fog of everyday life. As in the gym is jam packed for one month--and one month only-- kind of resolutions. (Seriously, ever tried to get a treadmill at the gym in January?) Everyone is going to exercise, eat better, watch less TV, drink more water, read more. You name it. I've never really believed in new year's resolutions for that exact reason, I just disappoint and annoy myself when I can't keep up with my own expectations of myself. Ha. Now that's never good for the ego.
But really, I often wonder if those resolutions might disguise a desperate search for a fresh start, a struggle to be freed from, well, at least parts of, this life. The "I need to get my act together so I'll start with the outside, not the inside" theory. Or the "I will be a better person next year because I know there is something missing" attitude. But then the next new year rolls around, and nothing has changed. Sound familiar?
Do you ever sit back and watch people? I don't mean the "oh that's a bad outfit" kind of people watching. I mean the really sit back and watch people kind. What they are searching for. What they are pursuing. Where they are rushing. What their stories are. How they have handled the hurt in life. How they have loved. How they have lost. How they have found contentment. Or have they? So often I fear it is an empty pursuit. A pursuit of what? It's the aimless hope that more money, another relationship, new possessions, or the fulfillment of dreams can satisfy. Take almost any mainstream music ever created--it's about the pursuit of a love yet to be found, a love lost, a life desired, or just having fun. It's about blocking out the current state of life and searching for what we want out of this life, typically the life we don't have. I've totally been there. Haven't you? It's easy to identify with the music.
Once again, however, I've discovered beauty amidst this potentially threatening and self absorbed thinking. So much of life is an oxymoron, and this is no exception. It can be summed up in one sentence. You must lose your life to find it. (Matthew 10: 39, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, John 12:25.) That sentence does not say chase after your life to find it. It does not say your life will be better as soon as you have everything you want. It does not say some superficial new year's resolutions that focus on the external (not the internal) will make anything better. It does not mean chasing after your own happiness or things that you think you need or want is the answer. It says lose your life. It means lay down your life and desires. It means understanding life is not about you. (Ya, really.) Seek after Jesus Christ with the entirety of your life first and foremost, most importantly in your heart, desires, and actions. Understand what it means to want what Christ wants--what His plan is--for your life, not what you want, or think you want. And then embrace that in every facet of life. Lay down your life plan, let go of your desires. Accept that His are far better. Pray that He will use you for His purposes. And then give of yourself--volunteer, mentor, serve, forgo the new shirt and write a check to feed a hungry child for a week. Make a difference in someone's life. Make your life count. Seek after your relationship with Christ and fall in love with Him; and then seek after anything that glorifies Him, not yourself. That is fulfillment. That is what life's all about. As soon as we understand that, everything starts to make sense. And I promise it works.
What if all it takes to get our life together is to cease striving after problems and desires, and to simply be still and know that He is God? To really attempt to glimpse who God is. Happiness does not come by seeking it, but by seeking outside yourself, outside your life. AND THEN a profound sense of purpose, a profound sense of love that will never fail surfaces, and then rewards you, not only with happiness, but with deep unabashed joy.
I've been a Christian for a long time, and have always desired to "lose my life." But this year, new light has been shed on the concept. So this is my new year's resolution: to lose my life. And to me that means letting go of the life I have planned, how I think my life should be going, or what I think I deserve. That's when frustration, anger, tension, and unhappiness disappear, because the life I've been given is right where Christ wants me, it's His perfect plan for my life. It may not necessarily be what I think I want, but it ends up being exactly what I need, and thus what I actually do want, because He knows me better than I know myself. Now that's beautiful.
This year, may we lose our lives. May He become greater and we become less. Pursue things worthy of pursuit. That means Jesus Christ and anything that glorifies Him. Keep life in perspective. You may need to pay a visit to the hospital or jail to keep life in perspective for you, but just do it. And you know what? As my heart and attitude were becoming right, everything else began to fall into place--as in I got my life together, because my head was in the right place. My priorities fell right into place behind the most important priority. And it turns out, because of that, I ended up accomplishing all those typical superficial new year's resolutions anyway without any real struggle. Because transformation starts with the inside. It starts with understanding what your priorities are, what life is all about, embracing that, and learning to live in the grace of it. When you focus on the life you have (not the one you think you want) you wish to make the most of this very moment! I organized my life. I joined the 6:00 a.m. club (don't laugh, it means I wake up at 6:00 am or 6:20 every morning) to start my day off right in the Word, in prayer, and unrushed. I am volunteering, I'm exercising regularly, I'm saving up for a missions trip. And I've never been happier.
It comes natural when I understand this world is not meant to be sought after, and most certainly not chased after, but to enjoy the present and merely look forward to the future--God's plan for the future. When I finally understand it's about letting go, investing in my relationship with my Savior and with other people, and then trusting that this, right here, right now is perfect, and that ultimately, my future is completely taken care of, that leads to an unrivaled contentment, peace, and joy. You have to deal with the inside before you can deal with the outside, and then everything will fall into place. There is one thing, and one thing only worthy of my pursuit. To lose my life for the sake of Jesus Christ. That's the oxymoron of life. That's a true new year's resolution; the only one that will actually make a difference. I dare you to embrace it.
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable
explanation is that we were made for another world.”
― C.S. Lewis
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Mercies Renewed and a Vanilla Americano
First week back to work after a two week break. Rough. And let me tell you, I had a fantastic attitude about it.
It went a little like this--and don't lie, I know you can relate. These are the moments in life I swear I fail my sanctification test for the day. You'd think I'd learn my lesson at some point. I drug myself out of bed. Scratch that, I hit snooze five times and then drug myself out of bed, (and I'm not a morning person in the first place) so it really was rough. I managed something out of my mouth that resembled "morning," poured my coffee, eyeballs half open--it's a wonder it made it into the cup. Barely made it to the shower, not smiling, not happy to be up. Convinced I was going to rip anyone's head off if they said anything to me before I downed at least one cup of coffee, determined I was going to be exhausted all day long until I hit the sack again that night. Ever wake up excited to go back to sleep that night? That's never a good sign. Anyway, you get the idea, I had a lovely attitude (not). I said a short cryptic prayer on my way to work that the Lord would "help my attitude." Sometimes I forget this, but God hears even those cryptic prayers--be careful what you pray for.
Suffice to say, He answered my prayer. In His loving way (undeserving though I was), He reminded me of how blessed I am, exhausted or not. Remember that journey I talked about in my first post? How the beauty is most often found in the journey, not necessarily in the end? Today was a perfect example. Despite my determination to be in a bad mood, He made His presence known. He reminded me of the beauty of this life.
First of all, let this not go unstated, Starbucks just so happens to be one of those blessings, I don't care what anyone says.
Thank you Vanilla Americano with room for cream. (When I'm in desperate need of caffeine, that's my drink of choice.)
Aside from my Starbucks, a gentle flood of words, thoughts, and interactions reshaped my attitude for the day. God is good. He meets you right where you are at, as ridiculous as that place might be. He is still God. And I'm still awestruck by His faithfulness.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-24
(How can you be in a bad mood being reminded of a promise as incredible as that? Hey, if He cares enough to promise me new mercies every single morning, especially after the morning attitude I had, that's a firm reminder of His constant faithfulness.)
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
(Once again, following that instruction, oh boy, there is most certainly no room for my bad attitude. Rejoice in the hope before me, both in this life as well as Heaven that awaits. That brings so much joy and excitement. It leaves the cares of this moment and this life as trivial and unimportant. Be patient in tribulation--I would say my "rough" morning was my tribulation, but good grief, that isn't even close. I just needed an attitude adjustment on that one. (Regardless, it's a good reminder for when real tribulation strikes, but honestly, there are times when even daily life can feel like tribulation.) Constant in prayer. Ha, definitely no room for a bad attitude when talking to the Creator of the Universe.
"All of my life, in every season, you are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship." A line from one of my favorite Hillsong worship songs. That's right. ALL my life, EVERY season. Even the seasons that aren't as great as others.
"In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light my strength my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All." Another favorite song. When verses like these and songs like this are shaping your thoughts...strangely, EVERYTHING else grows dim in their light.
He will reshape your attitude by reshaping the way you think.
The joy of the Lord is my strength. Because his love is perfect. My future is secure. His grace is sufficient. His plans for my life are solidified. I have nothing to worry about. And there is most certainly no room for a bad mood.
In addition, that day he blessed me with a wonderful lunch out with a coworker and friend, a productive work day, a gorgeous sunset on the way home, and a blast of an evening home with my siblings (whom I miss very much when they are away). He brought me a long way from grumpy pants this morning (which just seems so silly in comparison to the glory of the Lord).
Don't forget to reflect on the beauty of the journey, even when it's not obvious. It can always be found disguised in anything from a simple cup of coffee, a cherished relationship, a productive day, a stranger's smile, witnessing an artwork masterpiece in the sky, or a first hand account of Christ meeting you right where you are. The beauty is always there. He is always faithful.
It went a little like this--and don't lie, I know you can relate. These are the moments in life I swear I fail my sanctification test for the day. You'd think I'd learn my lesson at some point. I drug myself out of bed. Scratch that, I hit snooze five times and then drug myself out of bed, (and I'm not a morning person in the first place) so it really was rough. I managed something out of my mouth that resembled "morning," poured my coffee, eyeballs half open--it's a wonder it made it into the cup. Barely made it to the shower, not smiling, not happy to be up. Convinced I was going to rip anyone's head off if they said anything to me before I downed at least one cup of coffee, determined I was going to be exhausted all day long until I hit the sack again that night. Ever wake up excited to go back to sleep that night? That's never a good sign. Anyway, you get the idea, I had a lovely attitude (not). I said a short cryptic prayer on my way to work that the Lord would "help my attitude." Sometimes I forget this, but God hears even those cryptic prayers--be careful what you pray for.
Suffice to say, He answered my prayer. In His loving way (undeserving though I was), He reminded me of how blessed I am, exhausted or not. Remember that journey I talked about in my first post? How the beauty is most often found in the journey, not necessarily in the end? Today was a perfect example. Despite my determination to be in a bad mood, He made His presence known. He reminded me of the beauty of this life.
First of all, let this not go unstated, Starbucks just so happens to be one of those blessings, I don't care what anyone says.
Thank you Vanilla Americano with room for cream. (When I'm in desperate need of caffeine, that's my drink of choice.)
Aside from my Starbucks, a gentle flood of words, thoughts, and interactions reshaped my attitude for the day. God is good. He meets you right where you are at, as ridiculous as that place might be. He is still God. And I'm still awestruck by His faithfulness.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-24
(How can you be in a bad mood being reminded of a promise as incredible as that? Hey, if He cares enough to promise me new mercies every single morning, especially after the morning attitude I had, that's a firm reminder of His constant faithfulness.)
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
(Once again, following that instruction, oh boy, there is most certainly no room for my bad attitude. Rejoice in the hope before me, both in this life as well as Heaven that awaits. That brings so much joy and excitement. It leaves the cares of this moment and this life as trivial and unimportant. Be patient in tribulation--I would say my "rough" morning was my tribulation, but good grief, that isn't even close. I just needed an attitude adjustment on that one. (Regardless, it's a good reminder for when real tribulation strikes, but honestly, there are times when even daily life can feel like tribulation.) Constant in prayer. Ha, definitely no room for a bad attitude when talking to the Creator of the Universe.
"All of my life, in every season, you are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship." A line from one of my favorite Hillsong worship songs. That's right. ALL my life, EVERY season. Even the seasons that aren't as great as others.
"In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light my strength my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All." Another favorite song. When verses like these and songs like this are shaping your thoughts...strangely, EVERYTHING else grows dim in their light.
He will reshape your attitude by reshaping the way you think.
The joy of the Lord is my strength. Because his love is perfect. My future is secure. His grace is sufficient. His plans for my life are solidified. I have nothing to worry about. And there is most certainly no room for a bad mood.
In addition, that day he blessed me with a wonderful lunch out with a coworker and friend, a productive work day, a gorgeous sunset on the way home, and a blast of an evening home with my siblings (whom I miss very much when they are away). He brought me a long way from grumpy pants this morning (which just seems so silly in comparison to the glory of the Lord).
Don't forget to reflect on the beauty of the journey, even when it's not obvious. It can always be found disguised in anything from a simple cup of coffee, a cherished relationship, a productive day, a stranger's smile, witnessing an artwork masterpiece in the sky, or a first hand account of Christ meeting you right where you are. The beauty is always there. He is always faithful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)