As a recovering procrastinator, I relish a fresh start. As part of a fresh start in 2016 I’ve chosen a new “theme” for the year.
Last year I chose “Walk Free” from Galatians 5:1,16. Based on the liberty Christ purchased for me, “Walk free” prompted me to get out of a hedge of thorns I was in – a tangled mess caused by my procrastination. I cleaned out piles of papers, files of unneeded records, and extra books. “Walk Free” also prompted me to AVOID getting caught in new thorny hedges by prompting me to do what needs doing when it needs doing. I was often able to walk free and travel on a highway. (Proverbs 15:19)
The “theme” approach served me so well I look forward to this year’s:
“Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.” Proverbs 4:26
Scripture often speaks of our hearts and minds, but this verse admonishes me to pay attention to my feet. Where are my feet taking me?
Feet go somewhere and a path goes to some place. Where my feet go, there I am! That sounds silly, but scripture is very practical. It is what I actually DO that decides where I end up. I may want badly to be or to achieve something – but if my actions do not move me in that direction, I will not be or achieve that thing.
“Feet” and “path” clearly refer to action – to what I do, to actual movement in a direction.
I may want to be a painter. I may think about it, wish for it, desire it sincerely. However, if I do not obtain paints and put brush to canvas, I will not be a painter. I may not want to be a smoker; but if I continue smoking that is what I will be.
To ponder is to think about carefully. Here, for me, it means forethought and planning of where I want to go and how. It means evaluation and course correction. It means noticing in the moment and catching myself before I step off the path I intend to be on.
I want to be a diligent woman – to do what needs doing when it needs doing as a habit. I will be regularly checking myself this year to see if my actions (my feet) are moving me in that direction. There are some specific ways I’ll be applying that too.
Where do you want your feet to take you this year?
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