As a man of christ what does it look like to live a full joyfilled purposeful life? Life isn’t as great as we would like it to be. Why is that? Do we even know why our life is not full? Even with Christ in my life I often feel that there is more to it. I feel that I am missing something. As a man there is no book that will teach experience. The image that we have of our future where does it come from? I don’t know about you but I often get distracted and discouraged with my dreams and the image that I have for my future. I talk with a lot of older generations mainly to love them well and to learn from what they have already lived through. I believe that as a man, it is easy to get caught up in the life of showing off and impressing (fake appearance) to receive what you want. The fake shell of what you think people want to see from you. I constantly need correction and redirection to what I already know but seem to forget. It’s not a shameful thing as a man to fail and miss the target we shoot for.
Following Christ seems to be, an easy day at church on Sunday or a step of faith to do missions around the world, possibly joining local movements. It’s becoming more clear to me that the purpose is in the process. We find it easy to dream up of shortcuts that we believe will lead us to success and joy. I have spent significant time dreaming up ideas to shorten the process in my life of finding what I long for.
The revelation that I believe as men we need is, constant reminders that in the moment the process is the most important part of our life. (The process is the means in which boys become men, men become fathers and then become grandfathers). I have spent far too much time focused on the end goal missing the point. The book of manhood has never been written. I believe that it’s a process in which God reveals to us His plan that we find what we are longing for in life. I often get caught up in the pressure of finding a bride. Have you ever asked yourself why you want to spend a life hand in hand with a woman? It’s a funny question that doesn’t often get asked. It becomes a thing that as men and women we are to do. Why? In the bible Genesis 2:18 talks about how marriage was created by God intended to purify and to make each man and woman more holy. Out of all things God created there was only one thing that was not good. It was not good for man to be alone. this is why God created a woman out of the rib of Adam Gen 2:21-25. WOW this scripture explains why as men we become better/holy not whole with women. Men it’s important that we know why we are to be married and the purpose behind it. Take up the scriptures Genesis 2:18-25 read over them very carefully and press into asking God what you need to understand from it.
I often find myself getting caught up in looking to the world for my acceptance and uplifting encouragement. As a man I am finding that it is not about fighting for something more. It’s truly about fighting to keep what I already have. I have been struggling lately with insecurity and lies from satan. It’s one thing to fight for what you believe in and fall short, not the end of the world. When it comes to fighting for everything you are and what you already have it becomes a battle you will not lose, its life or death. As a man I had lost my dreams the fire had gone out. My perspective of fighting drifted to what’s the point to fight I don’t really need anything. I gave up I saw no point to fight no point to pursue what I desire in life. I allowed satan to walk into my heart and speak lies to me. It’s one thing to fight for what we want in life. When I started to change my perspective, (still in action of shifting it) I found that I became a lot more invested when the fight is to keep what I already have. How often do you get discouraged and lose your passion to pursue dreams? What’s your perspective focused on? Who do you need to talk with to respark? What’s a change you can make to dive deeper into living a life full of joy and love?
Remember it’s the process that we need to enjoy (let’s not miss it).
the short cuts always end ugly
