Photo by Louise Pilgaard on Unsplash
We live our lives in day tight compartments. We wake up. We go about our daily life and at night we return to the mystery of sleep. This may seem shockingly obvious. However, I point this out because our brains seem to constantly churn with thoughts about our past and our future – skipping right over the present. I think we can often over complicate our life. No matter the activities that fill our day, I believe there are some simple things we can do to stay close in our daily spiritual walk and to let our light shine before others.
Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). There are endless things to occupy our every waking moment. There will always be email in the inbox. I think about how absurd it would seem if the post office delivered mail every five minutes from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. Would I spend all day checking my mailbox and feverishly sending out mail to others? Take five minutes today to enjoy rest in God.
Show Forgiveness
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” (Proverbs 12:16) There are countless insults that come our way every day both large and small. It is folly to think that people will not let us down. We are fallen creatures. While we are quick to notice the slightest insults or wrongs against us, we are often blind to how our own daily actions may be negatively impacting others. A life in faith is one where we drink deeply from the cup of God’s grace towards us, and our cup overflows daily with a life of grace for those around us. The next time someone wrongs you consider pausing and reacting in love versus anger.
Be Generous
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow’—when you now have it with you.” (Proverbs 3:27). In over thirty years in the business world, I have continually been amazed how people’s true colors come out when significant money is involved.
As most of you know, there is more written about money in the Bible than almost any other topic. I think it is because God knows that we are selfish creatures, and it is only through his grace that we can look beyond our own needs and consider the needs of others. My own observation is that the happiest people I know are also the most generous. Look for opportunities each day to act with a generous spirit.
Ask Questions
“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) I believe when we stop learning we stop truly living. I have found that the wisest people are not those who talk the most; instead they are those who listen the most. They recognize that there is always more to learn.
I believe we each have unique journeys in life full of rich and diverse experiences. Shame on me if I don’t take the time to ask questions and learn from others. What you will find when you cultivate the habit of asking questions is that one of the greatest gifts you can ever give someone is to take time to ask great questions and truly listen to the response. Who can you learn from today?