We live in a country and time period that offers a lot of choices. When I lived briefly in China, I would sometimes dream of grocery aisles filled with twenty varieties of peanut butter and jelly. I would wake up sweating because I had forgotten what it was like to have that many choices.
Having so many choices isn't necessarily a bad thing; however, if we aren't clear what we are all about, these choices can unnecessarily complicate our lives. What we all need is a simple break down of what are the most important areas of our lives. What are our purposes and goals?
When we understand our mission, it becomes easier to make our choices because we want the consequences of our choices to line up with our vision for our lives.
The early church nailed this mindset. They knew they had one purpose---Christ made this clear before his ascension in Acts 1:8. Their job was primarily to share the Gospel and make disciples. This single-mindedness inspired many to give specifically and to reach out to those around them. This single-mindedness also strengthened them when the winds of persecution blew up on them. They didn't give up their faith, they didn't grow quiet because they knew that what they were doing was important.
When we understand our mission, it becomes easier to make our choices because we want the consequences of our choices to line up with our vision for our lives.
The early church nailed this mindset. They knew they had one purpose---Christ made this clear before his ascension in Acts 1:8. Their job was primarily to share the Gospel and make disciples. This single-mindedness inspired many to give specifically and to reach out to those around them. This single-mindedness also strengthened them when the winds of persecution blew up on them. They didn't give up their faith, they didn't grow quiet because they knew that what they were doing was important.
So what is important to you? What do you focus on as your primary goal in life? What about your children? What goals do you have for them?
Do our goals line up with Scripture? Are we focusing our time, energy, and money on things that really matter?
Psalm 86:11 "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite [give me singleness of heart] my heart to fear Your name."
Lord, help us to focus on what is essential, so that we might be about Your business. You know our hearts and how easily they are led astray. Unite our hearts, give us a singleness of heart, to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Burden and inspire our hearts with what burdens and inspires Your heart. Remove those distracting things from our lives that only serve to complicate and confuse.
Amen
