I am currently reading Lysa Terkeurst’s book, The Best Yes. I am also participating in a bible study on this book with seven other ladies. Simultaneously, I am leading two other groups of both men and women through Jen Hatmaker’s study of her book, 7 – An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. I have chosen to take the time to go through these two studies as a way of growing my faith on purpose during this Lenten Season.
I believe that taking an active approach to life is much more effective and enjoyable than taking a reactive approach. I am attempting to choose God as the guide of my daily choices verses others around me. Lysa puts it so eloquently in the book I am reading, “Here’s the reality of our current technique: Other people’s requests dictate the decisions we make. We become slaves to others’ demands when we let our time become dictated by requests. We will live reactive lives instead of proactive.” We constantly put the needs and demands of others above God’s desires for us and above our own needs. How can we truly serve our Lord if we do not love Him above all else?!?
I am not simply speaking of the constant barrage of requests to help with a campaign or a charity event or a school/church/community/work function….I am also referring to the way we let other’s dictate the choices we make financially, spiritually, physically. I don’t want to participate in activities that go against my faith or enroll my children in activities that don’t allow them the time to follow God first. So, not just during Lent, but all the year through we are choosing our faith first.
“The decisions we make dictate the schedules we keep. The schedules we keep determine the lives we live. The lives we live determine how we spend our souls. So, this isn’t just about finding time. This is about honoring God with the time we have.”
– Lysa Terkeurst
In addition to choosing to spend our time wisely, our family is participating in Jen Hatmaker’s 7 again this year. This study was so instrumental in shaping many of the choices we make in our lives last year that we couldn’t wait to participate again this year. Taking the time to focus on expanding God’s Kingdom in our daily lives has been a true blessing to our family and in turn, I hope that the choices we make in how and where we spend our time, talent and treasure has been a blessing to others as well.
My hope for you this Lent is that you will take some time to focus on expanding God’s Kingdom in your own life and choices. As I wrote last week, “fasting isn’t merely about what we give up, but what we choose to put in its place.” Let’s choose wisely and remember that the choices we make directly effect the outcome of our daily lives. Let’s raise families that choose faith first! Many of our community and world’s problems would diminish if we loved and served our God above all else.
Blessings!