How To Improve Your Life
We all know people who have spent a fortune attending motivational seminars, leadership conferences, purchased a dozen self-help books, read a hundred articles online about this subject, yet still don’t have a clue how to accomplish this ‘how-to.’ If you are like me, you’re probably guilty of this as well as to an extent. I’m not saying any of these things are bad ideas but I will argue they should only provide supplements to the truths I am about to leave with you today. They are ineffective substitutes if we don’t subscribe to and implement what I am about to share with you.
1. Be more like God.
Stop trying to be like everyone around you and try to be more like Him. The more you look like all of your friends or co-workers or your buddies, the less you will be like Him. This is where the term Godly comes from. Here is some truth—you and I were created to be like Him—in His image—and with Him, and for Him. Every moment we spend in the world and surrounding ourselves with all of the thoughts and opinions and perspectives and things this world bombards us with—it just separates us from who we were created to be. God gave us the perfect example of how we should live through the example of His Son Jesus Christ #jesuschrist. The further you and I drift—or in some cases run—away from the Man we were created to be then the worse things will continue to be in our lives. It’s a very slippery slope yet one that we ALL struggle with. Instead of feeling shamed or embarrassed by society for being considered or labeled as ‘Godly,’ embrace it! Embrace it! To miss this part of your legacy is to miss arguably the greatest calling on your life and reason for your existence.
2. Spend more time with God.
We cannot accomplish No. 1 without fulfilling No. 2. Spending time with God provides the fuel, the knowledge, the wisdom, the strength, the desire, the focus. As men especially, we cannot or will not have all of these vital tools in our tool box without getting them directly from our Heavenly Father. There is no substitute. It would be like trying to give your car a tune-up without having the right tools. It would be impossible. How do we spend more time with God? See #3.
3. Listen to God. Listen for His voice. Talk to God.
Tell him what is on your mind. This is called prayer. He already knows but he wants you to share these things with Him. You cannot accomplish #1 and #2 without doing #3. Ask God—in some cases—beg God to speak to you. You want to engage in an incredible study? Study scripture and see what God has to say about the different ways he speaks to us. He died in order to have a relationship with us. You don’t think he wants to hear from us? It would be similar to the boyfriend who never called his girlfriend or never went to visit her and maybe only texted her once a week or a month. That’s not a relationship. If you and I don’t hear from God and feel his presence in our lives our tanks will be empty. We will not possess any of the things discussed above that make it possible to achieve #1 in order to significantly improve our lives.
4. Choose well.
Practically speaking, every single one of us make many decisions every single day. We choose how we are going to start our day. What we eat, what we wear, what we think, what we spend our time doing, what we read, what we listen to. ALL of these things and so many more effect our lives directly and indirectly every day and in the future. This is why it’s almost impossible to accomplish this how-to without starting with #1 and walking through this list step by step every single day. Our choices in almost every case bring reward and accomplishment or they bring destruction. Their is seldom middle ground.
I would argue that we may first have to define what improvement looks like. What is improvement for you? A bigger bank account? More stuff? More fame? More fortune? Or being found faithful and obedient in the eyes of God?
WARNING: If you omit one of these steps, you will miss out on what your life or at least this season of your life could have been. This is why this step by step guide is so critical. Don’t forget or neglect a single step.
I know you are saying to yourself, “This isn't very profound. Nothing earth shattering here.” Oh yes it is! If you don’t believe me, then just disregard these steps in your life and see where life takes you. Life isn’t easy, but where you end up is intentional. God has a plan for your life. But if you avoid it and refuse or neglect to pursue it, you will never be the best you can be or could have been. God knows best. He is smarter than us.
You and I didn’t make you and me.
He made you and me in His image. So why do we choose our way over His? You want to be the best 'you' you can be? Be more like Him.
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