Success!

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Galatians 6:9

After going to the doctor for my yearly blood work a little over a month ago now, I started out on a “make better choices” routine for the good of my health and so I’ll stay around here as long as the good Lord has plans and purpose for me. It has been going pretty good since I actually made up my mind to change some of my bad habits. Isn’t there a saying about half of the battle being a made up mind?

I have both! The made up mind AND the battle.

I’ve changed my eating habits, (celery truly does satisfy the crunchiness of potato chips I crave!) but I’ve also started walking more, using steps instead of an elevator when the option has presented itself, etc. The doctor said not to go in a diet, because I’d set myself up for failure. Her advice was to make small changes here and there which would eventually lead to visible, tangible results. Makes sense, right?

I was thinking this morning, isn’t this how our Christian life is best walked?

I have a hangup with perfectionism at times and it always seems to get the best of me if I don’t catch myself — or if the Lord doesn’t kindly bring it to my attention. “All or nothing” mentality can handcuff us to disappointment and despair if we don’t learn to use the key to unlock ourselves and grow through our mistakes.

Our Christian walk is supposed to be made up a continuous cycle of a million-and-one best choices. If we get snagged on the thorn of having a perfect record, we’ll set ourselves up for Spiritual failure every time.

Success comes in continuously making the best choice over and over again.

If we have an all or nothing mindset, we’ll never be successful because we are all humans (sinners saved by grace if we’re following God’s plan) living in a fallen world. We’ll never have a perfect record, but we can be forgiven and begin again.

There are two factors that will help us though:

The first, is having a made up mind to be successful in our walk with the Lord. We have a goal (Heaven) but need to be okay with the plan to just keep walking toward that goal one good decision and moment at a time, until we reach that goal — the best choice and being consistent.

And secondly, there’s that “exercising” portion of our Christian walk. The Bible clearly says that without faith it is impossible to please God. We must keep walking, but always doing so in faith. There are other aspects of Spiritual exercise too. Fasting, praying, reading and studying the Word, attending church, forgiving, serving, loving God with all our hearts and others as ourselves. That’s just a few I’m sharing right off the top of my head.

A made up mind and right actions on our part will eventually lead us to good results. This will be a huge benefit to our quality of life; the Lord will also bless and multiply our efforts.

This weekend, we had what my grands call “Family Memory” night. We enjoy each other’s company, play together, watch a video and eat popcorn with M&Ms, and they usually spend the night. I “splurged” just a bit and enjoyed dinner and a bite of dessert with the family. You see, it was okay, because without an “all or nothing” mindset, I was able to pick up the next day and continue on my way. I didn’t have to quit!

It’s the same way with our walk with the Lord, we don’t splurge on things contrary to God’s liking; however, when we make a wrong choice or have a bad attitude (or __________ - you fill in the blank), we can stop, repent, and begin again. WE DON’T HAVE TO QUIT!

Making a mistake is human, quitting is alien.

I’ve finished my breakfast and one cup of coffee for the day, but I hope this has helped someone realize that it’s a daily decision and a choice God has given us to make. While we’ll never be perfect on this side of Heaven (our goal), and we’ll always be in a battle, if we keep being persistent, we’ll eventually reach our goal. If we keep getting back up when we fail, we’ll become stronger and be an inspiration to others. If we keep making the best choice, our lives will be a testimony of grace and perseverance. Keep in keeping on!

Hope you’ll think on this with me today…and tomorrow…and the next too. Keep making good choices and “exercising” and see what God will do for and through you.

God bless~

Yet another post I thought I had lost! Lost, but now found...isn't that just like the Lord. For such a time as this...