The Morning Dive I share on Facebook each day is currently focused on the book of Proverbs. The Proverbs are, for the most part, an assorted array of truths and I would say prophecy. If you do this, then this will happen. Many of the chapters in Proverbs, if you were to summarize each one, would read similarly. Usually something about being foolish, something about being wise, something about being a hard worker, and something about being seduced by temptation.
A week and a half ago I attended a conference with a couple of our elders and a few of our staff members. The theme of the conference was Leading from Within. Each speaker focused on an aspect of self care.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
We have a responsibility to take care of these bodies God gave us that house our soul. The trick is to do so without becoming so self absorbed that we forget we exist for God’s glory not our own. I think the best strategy for taking care of our “temple,” is strategy and action.
Here are some Proverbs to consider: 22:3 – “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Lesson? Be prudent, don’t be satisfied with simple. 20:4 – “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.” Lesson? Don’t be a sluggard. 18:1 – “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Lesson? Don’t isolate yourself.
Those are just a few examples. Proverbs has many. So, what’s your strategy for a life of action toward being what God has called us to be and not being who He wants us not to be? I can tell you that without a plan, life will be much more complex than it needs to be.
If you need a place to start, start simply. What is something you can do today to improve in an area you want to improve? If you don’t read your Bible, how can you start today by reading a verse or a chapter? If you want to avoid being a sluggard, make a list the night before of the things you want to get done the next day. If you want to be wise, seek wise counsel.
It is so easy to let life happen as opposed to strategizing and taking advantage of all the years, months, days, and hours God has granted us. I’ll leave you with one more. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” We can’t always control the things that happen to us. However, we can control what we put into each day. Let’s create some Spiritual and life goals that honor the fact that we house the Holy Spirit and God has great things in mind for us.