A little bit like riding on a train with invisible tracks, following God’s call can be a challenge, but there are uncomplicated ways to succeed. Here are a few ideas to keep you on track:
1. FOLLOW GOD.
Airplane panels come equipped with an instrument called an artificial horizon indicator. Although human senses may become confused in the murky thickness of a cloud bank, the horizon indicator is never fooled. Following its guidance, pilots are able to keep their planes safe and positioned exactly as they should be. Trying to run our own lives is like trying to fly a plane through a cloud bank without a horizon indicator. One tangible way to keep your eye on the instrument panel is to set apart time to study God’s word.
2. PUT GOD AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE.
In Moses’ time, the Lord commanded the tabernacle, the place which symbolized the presence of God, to be erected at the center of Israel’s camp. To follow this idea in our high-tech world, choosing to fast can aid our focus on God. How about taking a break from the media or even from an element of it, like Facebook, for example? While fasting, choose a different attribute of God each day to ponder. This will keep Him at the center of our thoughts and actions.
3. INCORPORATE A PLAN.
We respond to God’s commands by obeying the best way we know how, but we can also ignore God’s word by not allowing it to move us into action. For the most part this disregard is unintentional. Without a course of action it just happens. Most people know that goals not written down usually don’t come to pass. Incorporate a plan by writing down some reasonable short-term and long-term goals and start pursuing them today.
4. TURN ON YOUR LIGHT.
One night when Robert Louis Stevenson was young, his nanny called him to bed. Oblivious to her summons, he stood staring at something outside his nursery window. The nanny asked, "Robert, what are you looking at?" He pointed to the lamplighter setting the streetlamps ablaze, "Look, Nanny! That man is putting holes in the darkness!" One way to illuminate our surroundings happens when we encounter people who are hurting or struggling, even if they are strangers, by asking, “How can I pray for you today?” What a difference this simple gesture will make.
5. HELP YOURSELF BY HELPING OTHERS.
Do you think Jesus calls us to servant-hood only because other people need our service? My experience has been more than need. He calls us to help others because of what happens to us when we serve. How about choosing a worthy cause to help out every month or quarter? Performing random acts of kindness can be lots of fun, too.
Saying “Yes” to God means we exercise our faith muscle every day. Ramona C. Carroll sums it up best when she said, “Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.” Say “Yes” and live blessed.
1. FOLLOW GOD.
Airplane panels come equipped with an instrument called an artificial horizon indicator. Although human senses may become confused in the murky thickness of a cloud bank, the horizon indicator is never fooled. Following its guidance, pilots are able to keep their planes safe and positioned exactly as they should be. Trying to run our own lives is like trying to fly a plane through a cloud bank without a horizon indicator. One tangible way to keep your eye on the instrument panel is to set apart time to study God’s word.
2. PUT GOD AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE.
In Moses’ time, the Lord commanded the tabernacle, the place which symbolized the presence of God, to be erected at the center of Israel’s camp. To follow this idea in our high-tech world, choosing to fast can aid our focus on God. How about taking a break from the media or even from an element of it, like Facebook, for example? While fasting, choose a different attribute of God each day to ponder. This will keep Him at the center of our thoughts and actions.
3. INCORPORATE A PLAN.
We respond to God’s commands by obeying the best way we know how, but we can also ignore God’s word by not allowing it to move us into action. For the most part this disregard is unintentional. Without a course of action it just happens. Most people know that goals not written down usually don’t come to pass. Incorporate a plan by writing down some reasonable short-term and long-term goals and start pursuing them today.
4. TURN ON YOUR LIGHT.
One night when Robert Louis Stevenson was young, his nanny called him to bed. Oblivious to her summons, he stood staring at something outside his nursery window. The nanny asked, "Robert, what are you looking at?" He pointed to the lamplighter setting the streetlamps ablaze, "Look, Nanny! That man is putting holes in the darkness!" One way to illuminate our surroundings happens when we encounter people who are hurting or struggling, even if they are strangers, by asking, “How can I pray for you today?” What a difference this simple gesture will make.
5. HELP YOURSELF BY HELPING OTHERS.
Do you think Jesus calls us to servant-hood only because other people need our service? My experience has been more than need. He calls us to help others because of what happens to us when we serve. How about choosing a worthy cause to help out every month or quarter? Performing random acts of kindness can be lots of fun, too.
Saying “Yes” to God means we exercise our faith muscle every day. Ramona C. Carroll sums it up best when she said, “Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.” Say “Yes” and live blessed.
Photo courtesy of Christianphotos.net
