*Don't give up.
- For six years, I have prayed for some individuals with whom I am very close to. From the day I said "amen" to my first prayer for them to this very moment, there were many tears, some hurtful experiences, and numerous opportunities to lose faith. I might have wallowed for a little bit, I certainly wasn't the most graceful about things at times, but I got back up -I chose to forgive because it is a commandment, not a feeling. Six years later, I am beginning to see prayers answered. The Lord hears, He has compassion, and He ultimately works on our behalf when we do our part. Make the lyrics "Though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm," an anthem; a battle cry. No matter what, keep praying. Keep walking with God. Keep reading your Bible. Keep expanding your knowledge of Him, because He is so much bigger than our circumstances and He is working behind the scenes. He sees the full picture; the finished puzzle. We are pieces in that puzzle who can simply see what is right in front of us. (And sometimes we can't even see THAT!)
*Identify what is truly important, and do it with pure excellence -nothing less.
- Better to do a few things really well than to spread yourself out over a million things and do them all mediocrely. Devote your time to things that you know are worth doing and that are going to have a positive impact on others. Refrain from wasting time with mundane modes of existence that don't matter. It's important to expand your perspective and realize that there is so much more to life than this moment, than the next ten years, than the next fifty years. Eternity is real. Invest in actions that carry eternal value. Be dedicated. Be devoted.
*Rest is vital.
- I've never been one to sit still. Ask anyone -I'm always moving, always going to some appointment or working on a project. I would even deal with guilt if I took a break to rest and I soon found myself having forgotten how to relax! I've realized that unfortunately, we aren't Energizer bunnies. We need rest. I mean, really, even God took a break. Who am I to deny rest when my Creator set aside time to rest? Make a conscious effort to discover what chills you out, and then do it! I'm still trying to figure out how to relax. Today I actually had to stop, sit in a chair, turn off everything, and just sit there with me, God, and my mind. Sad? Maybe. But if that's what it takes, then do it. Rest your body and rest your mind, otherwise it will be a million times harder to do everything!
All in all, I have been trying to live a life of excellence in every area. It is important that we let God invade every compartment of our lives -picking and choosing where we allow Him entry to our lives is cheating ourselves out of living the wonderful life God intended for us to live. We'll never "arrive," we'll never attain perfection on this earth, but that isn't what's important. Society demands perfection out of us, but the condition of the heart is the most important element here. We must continually seek to know God and to make Him apart of our lives more and more every day.
Eliminate "impossible" from your vocabulary, invest in eternity and remember to rest!
