TRIBES: 5 Weeks | 5 Challenges: Week 1
A few weeks ago as I was spending some time with God and read:
1 Thessalonians 4:7b – God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside.
Something about that verse struck me and I’ve been mulling it ever since. It’s as if it is saying that a “disorderly, unkempt life” – or, a disorganized undisciplined life – is not holy and pleasing to God. Ouch! I couldn’t help but sit and examine my own life. Were there areas in my life that were “disorderly and unkempt” and keeping me from honoring God? My response was yes. Yes there was. And I needed to do something about it.
So for the next 5 weeks I want to invite you to join me on a journey: 5 Weeks | 5 Challenges.
The 5 Areas of Self-Care We’ll Focus On Are:
Devotion, Health, Words, Appearance, & Time.
Wow – it’s hard in this fast paced, technology-dependent culture to just stop and sit at the feet of Jesus. Obviously, we have 10 times more distractions than our grandparents ever had. I believe this means we’re going to have to be 10 times more tenacious to maintain our walk with God. And just because we’re in the ministry does not mean we’re exempt from struggling in this area. In reality, we might actually have a harder time. We might say things like, “I spent time prepping my lesson or sermon series for this weekend – that counts for time in the God’s WORD!”
“Life Management is really spiritual life management”. ~ Elizabeth George
I know that we may be tempted to say we don’t have time to read God’s word but let me suggest that reading God’s word does not have to be time-consuming! Let’s clarify ~ If you want to do an in-depth study or read through the Bible in a year or journal long passages – it’s going to take time… lots of time. And truthfully it’s going to be the best time of your life!!!
But grace reminds us that in some seasons of life we truly are up to our ears in bottles, binkies, babies and blankies. Or driver's tests, sporting events, and college visits. Others of us have plates so full of ministry obligations they look like platters!
Just look at David in the Bible! If ever someone went through “seasons” it was him! He lingered in the presence of God in all seasons of life – morning, noon, night, in times of fear, weakness, sadness, joy and delight. And he wrote about it:
1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
So let's get started, shall we?
Alright, my dear friends in ministry, who is willing to commit the first week of 5 Weeks | 5 Challenges? Leave a comment below and let us know!