I’ve managed to learn a few things as a wife, Mum of six kids, senior pastor, and running my own business and I’ve been thinking about what some of my top tips for living are.
Here are my top three tips:
Tip No. 1 – Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison leads to negativity, feeling alienated, feelings of unworthiness and poor self-esteem and causes us to doubt ourselves. We need to “back ourselves” and believe that what God has blessed and entrusted us with, He will also provide, strengthen and enable us to handle. God doesn’t compare us, He just loves us for the unique amazing creations we are.
“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” (Galatians 6:4-5)
Tip No. 2 – Pray. Its when we try to do everything by ourselves that we most often run into problems. Prayer quietens our souls, sharpens our minds, edifies and fine tunes our spirit and enables us to off load our burdens so that we are then more able to hear from God and glean from His wisdom on how to move forward.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
Tip No. 3 – Be prepared. From small children to adults it’s being prepared in the little things that seems to make a big difference. For example locating what you are going to wear and preparing for the next day. The issue with people’s socks, jocks and knickers and not being able to find them when you need them, seems to be widespread. It’s one thing that can mess with our morning schedules and facilitates more than one person to end up in tears. I’m sure the washing machine eats socks so that we are constantly left with odd or missing ones, and that in a strong wind our favourite pieces of clothing blows over the neighbour’s fence never to be seen again.
God wants us to be able to be focused and ready for the things He has planned for us. However our daily lives are also filled with things we just have to deal with – like socks and jocks. Being prepared and organised in the little things of life will help us find precious time, energy and space to focus our hearts, imagination and intellect on our bigger purpose, whilst also doing what needs to be done.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13)
Don’t compare yourself, make time to pray, be prepared and you’ll be set to go and have a great day.
Prayer: Lord please help me to have confidence in who you have made me to be, and to be prepared as I talk and listen to you everyday. Help me to walk in wisdom today as I listen and lean on you. In Jesus name Amen