2/22/11
I would like to talk a little bit about what God has been teaching me through His Word.
At the beginning of the month, I was struggling with homesickness. My goal for the Race is to be present in the Race. I don’t want to focus on previous months and previous countries, future months or future countries, my life I had prior to the Race or the life I want to have after the Race.
In my attempt to manage the homesickness I felt, I tried job searching and tried to piece together what I want my life to look like after the Race, but it definitely took me out of the present. I was job searching just as I had prior to the Race but maybe with a little more “Christian” emphasis.
I think there is definitely going to be a time to prepare for my future, but right now there is no sense of urgency. Also, the way that I was going at it seemed to indicate that I don’t trust that God will provide. I have my part, too, but the whole thing is not my part.
Last month I read “Strengthening Your Grip” by Charles Swindoll and wrote some notes in my Bible from it. The book focuses on different aspects of life, such as community, finances, leisure time, and contentment and how to “strengthen your grip” as you grow in your walk with the Lord.
I have been reading through 1 Timothy this month and came across the notes from the Swindoll book which focuses on 1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Swindoll broke that verse down like this:
Consistent, authentic walk with God + An attitude of satisfaction and peace within (contentment) = That which constitutes great wealth
Then he took it a step further to say that contentment is only possible when we STOP striving for more. That’s what got me. If I am to have the inner peace of contentment, I have to stop constantly focusing on what is next. This is a year where there is always something next right around the corner, but I’ll miss it if I keep waiting for the new thing.
I think there is something really special in being able to appreciate, love, and enjoy exactly where you are at in life. That is my prayer for me and my prayer for you, dear reader.
