It’s very easy to find many things worthy of a hearty complaint. In fact, these are the things that often spring to the surface and overshadow all that it is we have to be thankful for. Yet, I’d like to encourage you to take a moment to think about all it is you have to be thankful for and truly live a life that is a reflection of your gratitude for these things.
See, there is the ever popular notion that we should compare our lives to others when in moments of potential complaints; look to the person with less than you to appreciate the fact that you have more. Or, perhaps, you ought to consider the starving children in African (or those in your city) who have a life comparably worse than yours, while still managing a genuine smile for the camera. Perhaps you ought to consider the homeless person who you see on the corner every day, asking for a spare dime. Can you spare a dime? I disagree with this theory.
We are told to be thankful for everything that we have. This notion of thankfulness is not to be taken in perspective to the misery and/or grandeur of lives around us. We are to be thankful. Period. Give thanks for everything that you have, because it has all been a gift!
It’s a common day to hear of spiritual conviction for failing to live up to certain standards; living with sins, struggles, or failing to live up to a high spiritual standard. How often do we talk about earthly conviction for failure to live up to standards we ought to be meeting? It is perfectly acceptable to preach from a pulpit that we ought to increase our faith, prayer life, and witness to others. We might get uncomfortable if we were to find that same type of preaching being applied to our personal/professional lives.
Let’s not mistake the facts, please. What I’m advocating for is that foundational elements be preached and encouraged from those in positions of authority, or those we come in contact with. I’ve been thinking a lot about the mixture of faith and action. And I believe we ought to have both of these present in our lives. Both! A man who only worked in his career without any participation in church activities would be seen as a godless sinner. Yet, a man who works only in the faith element without earning his keep in this earth is viewed as a righteous servant.
Please, please, please understand my thoughts on this topic. Lord knows, we have enough stones being thrown within the walls of the church!
What I am advocating for is in the disciplinary actions that are found in the foundations of a healthy spiritual relationship to be applied to our day-to-day lives. We are told to never be content in our relationship with our Heavenly Father; always pushing further and growing stronger in our faith. What this does is build a discipline that can and should be applied to our life! If one could discipline themselves to grow daily in their faith, can you imagine how other elements of their life would be benefited solely off of this disciplinary lifestyle?
I’ve written in the past of the long-lost warrior spirit that seems to have died within our culture. I’d like to revivify it; renewing the spiritual longing within every human being that longs to have the victorious shout after a great victory. It used to occur on battlefields. These battlefields are now silent. The bones have crumbled to dust. The armor now hangs from museum walls. However, the glory of these battles still lingers to those who dare to reach for it. Can you feel it? It’s begging for somebody, anybody to wake up from their life of lethargy and claim it as the champion’s prize.
Warriors, wake up! Get up from your slumber! Learn from the skeletons of those who have fought before you. Model yourself after their disciplines. Avoid their mistakes. Take intentional charge of your life, or somebody else will surely beat you to it!
What I speak of is just as important of a conviction as our spiritual conviction preached from behind the altars. God uses those who allow themselves to be used. However, He also chooses those who know how to slay lions and bears before they stand before their giants. What is your lion? Have you killed your bear? Perhaps you have not wakened to your call, yet. It can happen.
Go slay a bear.
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