I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13, NKJV)
This has become my daily mantra. Parenting…I can do all things. Spin class… I can do all things. Getting out of bed… I can do all things. Cleaning my house… I can do all things. Using my oven… I can do all things. You get it. Without Christ, I am hopeless.
Wanting to live out this life with purpose and intention, I have started to bring every area of my life under intentional living with Jesus. Let me see if I can explain. I have been unsettled with the age-old question, “What is the meaning of life?” I have been waking up in the middle of the night, haunted by the question, “What am I doing here?” I want to live out this life with the purpose for which I was created.
This desire can be easily derailed by busy work, day to day distractions, and the simplicity of wrong thinking about what is truly important, so this is what I have decided to do. Bring all things- parenting, friendships, work, marriage, ministry, and my dreams into partnership with the Lord. I talk to Him about wanting to be who He created me to be, in these roles. I study what God has to say about all of these things and then ask myself,
“What kind of mother, wife, friend, etc., do I want to be?”
I write it down. Then daily, I pause, trying to make all decisions under this goal. When making a decision, I ask myself,
“Does this line up with the kind of mother, wife, employee that I want to be...that Jesus wants me to be?”
Think about it. Set a goal. I want to be a mother who raises children who own their behavior. When I allow them to get away with not doing so, does this line up my intention? No. Is it fun being the mom who holds her children accountable every single time? No, it’s exhausting, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I want to be a teacher that gives 100% every day. Not easy, but I can do all things. Do I fail? Absolutely, but it doesn’t stop me from trying again. I want to be a wife who always respects my husband with my actions and words. Is this easy? Nope. But I can do all things. Do I spend a lot of time asking the Lord for strength, better yet, to be my strength? You bet!
I have begun to apply this way of living to all areas in my life.
Goal: I want a clean house.
Question? Will sitting on my butt watching hours of the Hallmark Channel get my house clean? No.
Solution: First clean house /then Hallmark.
Goal: I want to eat cleaner.
Question? Will eating this Twinkie help me feel healthy, fight off disease and have energy? No.
Solution: Leave the Twinkies at the store.
Goal: I want to share the love of Jesus.
Question? Does worrying what others think about me help me feel confident in writing and speaking the love of Christ? No.
Solution: Do all things to honor God and be obedient to what He alone asks of me, and find my value in His love alone.
Friends, start writing down your personal goals, and then the steps that will help you become who it is you are hoping to be. Pray about all of the areas of your life.
What kind of parent, friend, worker, sibling, spouse, Christian, do you want to be? What personal dreams do you have? What do you want in your life? Once you know, then live your life intentionally. If what you are doing doesn’t help you achieve your goal… get rid of it. Try something new. Is any of this easy? No way! That is why we need Jesus and the strength, wisdom, guidance, love, and support that is found in Him alone.
Get going, dear readers. You are going to be so amazed at the miraculous life that you can live once you set your goals, with Jesus’ guidance, and begin to live each day, decision to decision, moment to moment, asking yourself,
“Will this help or hurt my desire to attain who I am meant to be? Will this help or hurt me reach my goals in life?” When you are weary… simply whisper or shout,
“I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me!”
Then, get out of the bathroom (best hiding place to take a breath), lift your head and get to work!
Shelley
Comments