Welcome to February! The past two weeks we have looked at two of the big three health issues that impact our lives - that of physical and emotional health. This week let's take a look at our spiritual health, where it's at, and where it's going. If we are not intentional about the direction we are traveling there is a very good chance we will end up someplace we never intended to be!
Recently I read the book "I Am Not, But I Know I AM" by Louie Giglio. The first paragraph of the book says: "Life is the tale of two stories-one finite and frail, the other eternal and enduring. The tiny one - the story of us - is as brief as the blink of an eye. Yet somehow our infatuation with our own little story - and our determination to make it as big as we possibly can - blinds us to the massive God Story that surrounds us on every side."

Those words stopped me in my tracks. Am I absorbed in my story to the point that I am missing out on God's story that is taking place all around me? Or am I being intentional about looking for His story in the daily occurrences of my life? Where is my focus?

Honestly, I think most of us know better than to think our story is THE story, but the way we live our lives, the busy-ness that keeps us from God's very best, is the tell-tale sign that we think our stuff, our business and our busy-ness, is THE story. Quite frankly, if we are not taking time to include God in our day we are living our lives for ourselves.

As followers of Christ, as children of God, as His people living out our lives in the place that He has allowed us to be for such a time as this, we need to make every effort to see less of ourselves, and more of Him. Louie Giglio writes: "The way we figure it, the world doesn't need more stars - that is, not if the story we are a part of already has one. So if there really is just one Star, our challenge is not so much to shun the spotlight as it is to redirect any bright light that comes our way onto Him. Success would mean people loving Him more than any of us, clamoring for His touch more than ours."

I think most of us would say that is our goal - less of me, more of Him; light shining on Him, not myself. Yet again I would ask, are we being intentional about saturating our hearts, our lives, our days, with Him, so that when people see us what they really see is an overflow of Him? Or is He getting what is left of our day or our week, after all the other stuff of life has been taken care of?

Simply put, do you read God's word when you have time, or do you MAKE time to read God's word? The same question can be asked of intentional prayer time. Is it prayer on the run, or a time of being still before God? If we don't make time in our lives to be still before our Lord our words may say "less of me, more of Him" but our lives say "there's so much of me I don't have time for Him."

Without healthy growth in our lives we will be so stuck in our own story that His-story will be secondary. And that is not where we want to be, and it is not where God wants us to be.

Ask yourself: "Is God first in my life, or does He simply get what's left - if there's anything left?" Be honest in your answer. You know the truth; no excuses need to be given when answering yourself! Either God IS an intentional part of your day, or He is not. If you recognize the need for change ask an accountability partner to hold you to account in that area. And if you are on track have them keep asking the questions of accountability in order to continue on the path of healthiness!

And while the best time and place to get spiritually healthy is in an intimate, intentional, daily time with God, emotional AND physical healthiness can often be achieved in brisk walks with a friend!

Until next time.

Beth

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