Purpose to have a great year - in all ways
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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all ~ Helen Keller. Choosing how we spend our hours and days is a luxury. Personally, I want to wring all there is out of it - to live life to the full! Jesus said, I came to give life - life in all its fullness. 1 Accordingly, Paul's words motivate me - "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise."
2 Wise living does not just honor God, but it increases our longevity. Found this article about a fella who went back to his home country because he was dying . . . only to find life! Check it out: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html
The Ikarians are on to something, don't you think? A little more research on longevity points to communities (blue zones) where people hold several priorities in common: faith in God, steady, years-long relationships in community, maintaining a garden, and a mostly-plant based diet. Moraitis, the man from Ikarias, swears by his daily afternoon nap and a couple glasses of red wine (from his own vineyard).
Let's take the first: our relationship with God-our faith. Jesus' brilliant reply when asked about the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."3 As we learn to love God more, our faith in him grows stronger.
Pray - set time apart to talk to your Father, like you do a friend, and seek his wisdom and direction daily. It is fine to shoot little prayers up throughout the day, but why not start your day with a few minutes of prayer? Learn to cultivate a little solitude in your life. The psalmist wrote, "Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will do it.4 Ask God to grow your desire for him and for his Word. He will - and the result is life giving, I know that full well.
Read, study Scripture The sacred pages are fascinating and informative, worth what it takes to pull out the meaning and application for yourself. Want to increase your faith? Get in the Word. Paul: Faith comes by hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ.
Worship in a local church. Do you worship God? Oh, how he loves that! Sure, I know you do not need to go to church to be a Christian or to worship, but why would you want to miss out? By the way, people involved in faith communities (attending/participating at least four times a month), extend their lives between four and 14 years!) Keeping the Sabbath--a day of rest--is one key to an unhurried life, and it is one of the commandments.
Serve God by serving others; giving of your time, physically serving is valuable in so many ways.
Would you like to grow in any of these areas this year? How so? _____________________
How will you make it happen?_________________________________
Without a vision, the people perish . . . so let's live life on purpose.
Let's purpose to make it an abundant 2019!
Christine
p.s. - thought the longevity angle was a fresh take on considering growth in the New Year; did you find it interesting? Here's a link for more: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100
Personally, it is not necessarily about extending my life, but feeling good, being well and thinking well during my lifetime. What say you? Hit 'reply' and comment.
1 - John 10.10b, CEV
2 - Ephesians 5.15, NIV
3 - Mark 12.30
4 - Psalm 37.5
5 - Romans 10.17
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