PRACTICAL STEPS TO EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN LIVING
Let's take a primer course today in practical Christian living. We all want to be successful, especially as opposed to being a failure. Given the choice, winning is better; provided of course, that God receives all the glory. One can do no better than to start with a few scriptures to "prime" our hearts.Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (NKJ)
Prov 18:15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Eccl 10:10 A dull axe requires great strength; be wise and sharpen the blade. (TLB)
Eph 5:15-16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (NKJ)
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. (NKJ)
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (NKJ)
1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-- meditate on these things. (NKJ)
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NKJ)
2 Pet 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (KJV)
Now let's take a look at what some of our wise forefathers have said regarding this issue of successful living.
The older I get the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first - a process which often reduces the most complex human problems to manageable proportions. Dwight Eisenhower
Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can't afford to lose. Thomas Edison
God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not the choice. You must take it. The only choice is how. Henry Ward Beecher
Take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves. Lord Chesterfield
Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin
Perhaps, it would be a good idea, fantastic as it sounds, to muffle every telephone, stop every motor, and halt all activity for an hour some day, to give people a chance to ponder for a few minutes on what it is all about, why they are living and what they really want. James Truslow Adams
Some Ideas for increased Christian Effectiveness
Be Proactive - be an initiator. Make the right decisions, take responsibility for your life. Rather than be acted upon by others, act yourself.
Set Goals - then live a life that goes after them. When living by "default" a person merely reacts to the scripts given to us by others.
First Things First - prioritize your time. Work your priorities.
Think Win-Win - Seek mutual benefit in all of your interactions. Remember the Golden Rule. Look for solutions which enable all parties to feel good about what's happened.
Seek to Understand - then be Understood - this can be wrapped up in large part by simply learning to be a good listener. Often, we seek to prescribe before we properly diagnose.
Sharpen the Saw - You've got to spend time alone with the Lord. You've got to spend time in the Word and Prayer and in nothing. Meditate upon Him for He is your strength.
Do what you Fear (or what makes you a bit anxious) - Yes, God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind. Nevertheless, many people are held hostage by fear. Identify those things that "fear" for lack of a better word is keeping you from and do it, get the job done.
Be Willing to Prepare - A life of Christian victory doesn't come about by accident. It is a life filled with preparation and action. Educate, edify, humble and strengthen yourself daily.
Be Teachable - You must remain as a sponge soaking in wisdom and knowledge, particularly in regards to things of the Lord. Note that I didn't say be gullible, but be teachable. Strive to be a good "student."
Don't be afraid of Failure - Fear of failure is what kept Israel out of the Promised Land. When God's Word makes provision for you, GO!
A Look at Time Management
There are always more things that we need to do, or would like to do. It is often difficult to decide what to do first, what can wait, and what doesn't need done at all. To effectively plan, you must ask yourself, What are my lifetime goals? What do I want to accomplish in the next 3 years? If I had 6 months to live, how would I live them?
You don't carry out goals, you can only carry out activities. Set priorities for your activities. Try to set realistic deadlines whenever possible.
Make a list of those things that need to be done. Categorize them into A for high value. B for not quite so important, and C for low value. Next prioritize by number within each category, 1 being the highest. Don't worry! You don't have to do everything that's on your list.
Focus upon your A list. Your B list can wait awhile. Your C list can wait much longer. Make sure time with the Lord, time with your spouse and/or children is on your A list. Also church attendance should be on your A list.
What about demands other people put on my time? Learn to say no. Learn to compromise without giving up control.
What about procrastination? Ask yourself - What is the best use of my time right now?
Realize the fact that, at your choosing, some tasks are better left undone.
Arrange for quiet times and times to simply do nothing.
Experiment with reducing your sleep time.
Wean yourself away from TV.
The telephone is a tool and a convenience. It shouldn't control your life.
Demonstrate will-power in little ways. It will soon grow stronger. Time management is not simply knowing what to do, but getting yourself to do it.
Practice delayed gratification. Today we focus upon reward NOW! Learn to be patient.
Dedicate yourself to looking at the Big Picture - Biblically speaking.
Try to figure out what motivates you.
Do you compulsively collect or buy items that you don't need? Things that have no particular value, bring no real joy, things that you don't have place for or can't even find? What do you have too much of? Clothes, garden tools, knickknacks, furniture? Simplify your life and get rid of those things that you don't really need. Don't simply stack things up and plan to get to them later. Sow them into someone's life who can use them now!
Keep a daily, weekly and monthly schedule if at all possible. They are inexpensive to purchase or make your own.
Let's stop here for today. I feel confident that you now have MORE than enough to keep you busy. Remember to keep in the Word, stay in prayer, make a habit of talking to God throughout the day; God has a plan and purpose for you, seek to find out exactly what it is. Glory be unto God through His Son Jesus Christ!
