Organizing the Inside 365 Days
Empowering Christian Women To Get Organized and Discover God's Plan for Their LivesArchive for Christianity
Organizing the Inside – Day 331 With Wisdom Comes Favor
1My child,never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. 2If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. 3Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Proverbs 3:1-4 (NLT)
Be open to correction and ready to make adjustments along the way. Never lock in on your plans without leaving room for God to make changes. Being guided by the Holy Spirit is a way of life. If your heart is open to His leadership then you will live securely. By binding the truth of God’s Word tight around your neck you show your ongoing commitment to follow His way and not your own. There as a constant reminder, His wisdom and love guides you through difficult decisions and challenging circumstances.
True wisdom is applied knowledge. If we are willing to go beyond the constant reminders of keeping God’s Word close and make it a part of who we are by writing it deep within our hearts, He promises three things will occur. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Proverbs 3:4 (NLT) Does your life represent one who has chosen to apply knowledge and live according to God’s Word? If so, your loyalty and kindness has brought you much favor. Better than cash and finer than gold, favor is far more valuable than material riches. What’s in your favor bank with God and man? This kind of wealthy living is not to be compared.
If you live right your favor bank will be full. Jesus made this point clear when He said, “But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Luke 7:35 (NLT) What results do your life show?
Organizing the Inside – Day 329 A Woman Who Practices Resourcefulness Glorifies God
13She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 16She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. 19Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. Proverbs 31:13-19 (NLT)
Being resourceful should be easy in this modern world. It seems there are so many resources and so much information available that tapping into what we need should be pretty straight forward. We can type in a few words and get an answer from Goggle about almost anything, and if he can’t help his buddy Bing will surely answer most any question. Do you agree we need to be careful and consider the source? As wise Christians resourcefulness requires a bit of judgment too. You can’t ask Wikipedia who God is and expect to get an answer that you can believe. God has however given us great examples of resourcefulness and it seems there is much to learn from His creativity. Did He not form man from the clay that was already there? Then when He was at the apex of His creativity He took from Adam’s side and formed a helpmeet that was suitable for him. I’m thinking you can’t be more resourceful than that.
So why should we be resourceful? Practicing resourcefulness will help simplify your life. Use what you have available to get the job done. Let’s be realistic, you can’t use something you don’t have when you need to complete an important project, but you can be creative and think outside the box. The woman in Proverbs 31 was very resourceful and she capitalized on those things that she had access to. She not only used her talents and gifts to make things happen while running a successful business and household; she also tapped into the abilities of those around her. Instead of trying to kill herself by doing it all alone, she had maidservants, organized their work and used other resources she was given. The bible also describes her traveling to out-of-the-way places, but in doing so she was still practicing resourcefulness. I believe much of the fact that her family was secure and well taken care of is contributed to her ability to work, plan and be resourceful.
What needs do you have that requires a bit of creative resourcefulness? Money is not always the answer when a need arises. Sometimes going out to buy something isn’t the best solution. When working with clients to organize their spaces, one of the most important things we look at first is how we can use what they have available. What things can you repurpose to meet a need? What do you have in your arsenal of talents, strengths and resources that you have yet to tap into? Trust me when I say, “Resourcefulness leads to contentment.” A simple, yet challenging way to organize your life and glorify God is to practice resourcefulness.
Organizing the Inside – Day 328 Authentic Living: The Way to a Rich and Satisfying Life
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)
An authentic life is not what most people live. If most of us are honest with ourselves there is a wide divide between what we do and our authentic selves. We often end up doing what other people expect and many of us get so caught up in doing what someone expects that we lose our way. Embracing your authentic self is also about understanding the way God made you and accepting what makes you different. This rich and abundant life that Jesus came to give is a life that does the will of the Father, not everyone else. Do you find that you are often doing certain things, not because you want to or love doing it, but because that’s just what you’ve always done?
Try viewing things from a different perspective. Why not let go of some things that suck up your time and get in the way of you doing what’s real and meaningful. I’m only suggesting that if you are stuck in a situation that you don’t like being stuck in, make time to think things through. With a bit of honest self-scrutiny you can fill in the missing pieces and close the gap between who you are pretending to be and who you really are. The answer to living an abundant life is in your heart. Don’t allow yourself to be so busy living and going and doing all those things that don’t add up, that you never discover the true formula that does add up to God’s will for your life. You likely already know what needs to change, but you perhaps have put off doing anything about it.
God is painting a beautiful picture on the canvas of your life. Never be ashamed of all the wonderful gifts and talents God has given you, no matter how undeveloped or unpolished they may be. Be willing to share what you have to share today (even if you only share it with God for now). Don’t allow the enemy to marginalize your strengths when you are a daughter of the living God. Finally, believe in you and embrace your authentic self. I’m not promoting self-esteem, because I don’t believe any of us should esteem ourselves as anything. I’m speaking about God-esteem, accepting who He made you by doing your best to walk in it. When you speak, speak from your heart. When you share, do so in a way that is true to your individuality. We are all so different, so unique in our own way and that’s why embracing and living your own authentic life is so important. Consider the vast array of flowers found in the most beautiful gardens in the world. There isn’t just one kind of flower or one color; there are hundreds and each one of them is uniquely different.
Stop living under the weight of all that stress. The enemy clearly wants to defeat you and keep you from enjoying life. Is it not time to experience the joy and peace that comes from being true to you? Stop hiding behind a long list of other people’s expectations (or your own expectations inside your head) and live out the life that God has chosen for you. Certainly abundant life comes through serving, but not under the weight of not being who God meant for you to be. If you’ve been pretending for a while now it may be a bit tough to discover or rediscover yourself. The Holy Spirit is able to show you all that is dormant and help you live life abundantly, by enabling you to embracing the true, authentic woman God made you to be.
Organizing the Inside – Day 325 You’re Just Not Like Most People
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
The term “like most people” is too often used within the Christian community. The fact is: we are not like most people. We must be ready to accept the appointed responsibility of being a royal priesthood. God wants you and me to be different.
(2 Corinthians 6:17) We have been called out, set aside and consecrated unto God for His good pleasure. We therefore ought to refrain from comparing our lifestyle and choices to this world’s standards of right and wrong. The things that the world finds perfectly acceptable and permissible we ought to find offensive. We don’t rely on the systems of this world like some; our source and hope is Christ. Strange and peculiar, particularly odd at times, the world may not understand how we think and react, especially if we think and react like God’s chosen people.
We bring hope and light to a lost and dying generation. “You are the salt of the earth… Matthew 5:13a (NLT) We are different; but not just for the sake of being different, but because we hold up God’s standard of righteousness as warriors in His great army. Therefore let us never again revert to comparing ourselves to the world. Stay away from being like most people; most people are on the wrong road. …For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13b-14 (NIV) Let’s take a stand for what is right and trust God to honor and reward those choices. Having been born again we are no longer of this world. We are strangers in a foreign land, but the Word and hope of God is our song. Certainly we are in the world, but we are not of the world. We do not love the world nor cling to its systems to prosper and find our way. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the light.” John 14:6 (NLT ) Because He has made Himself known to us, we know the way. He said, “…And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:4 (NLT)
14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:14-16 (NIV)
Organizing the Inside – Day 324 Overcoming Spiritual Barrenness
18Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. Matthew 21:18, 19 (NIV)
Going through the motions each day you make a plea to do well and be protected. You say a few words as you rush about your day. Never really taking time to look inside for whatever God wanted to change. Hurried out the door you think tomorrow is when I’ll do things differently; tomorrow I’ll make that much-needed adjustment in my schedule. You insist, God understands and you’re right He knows all about the reasons why you’ve decided to go about your day this way. You’re just too busy, right? On the outside your leaves are green and things appear to be growing, but underneath the lush green foliage there isn’t any fruit.
What happened to the fruit that you were meant to bear? Did your life become so busy that you simply failed to stay connected? No one needs to tell you whether your life is fruitful or not. Consider your ways, your thoughts and your time. No one needs to help with this one; you know the truth. Take time now to examine your results. If you are surfing through life doing what looks right, but on the inside you’re spiritually dying then be honest with yourself, and face the hidden truth that your life isn’t bearing much fruit. Jesus was hungry and went over to check the fig tree for figs. It looked good from afar, but under closer examination it was clear that no fruit existed. Fruitlessness is a state that many Christian women easily fall into, but it’s completely avoidable.
Your life is meant to bear much fruit; good, healthy produce that supplies nutritional value to others. When you are in Christ your life produces fruit, and that fruit endures. Without Christ you run the risk of never producing anything of value. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NLT)
Barrenness creates an urgent need for God’s help. If you look at your life and realize things just aren’t what they should be, don’t make the common mistake of trying to fix it on your own. Ask God for help. He will guide you and give the strength to make the much-needed change. Approach His throne with boldness. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) All the answers you need to live a more balanced and productive life are found there. God wants you to have huge success; slow down long enough to ask Him for His help. Not just another quick and shallow, “Lord help me today,” but really seek to know His ways. Reach out to God and seek to live your life the specific way He desires. Tarry until you push beyond your flesh (what you want and how you feel) and experience the long-awaited breakthrough.
Allow God to cut back the extra foliage. Let him cut away the unfruitful things so that your life (and the body of Christ) will be more productive. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2 (NLT) What a difference you’ll begin to experience as He prunes you and frees you from anything that slows your growth.
Organizing the Inside – Day 322 My Heart Remembers the Goodness of God
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Now about this life we’ve been granted to live by the Lord of heaven’s army. Everything He made was good. (Genesis 1:31) Indeed this includes you and me. (Psalm 119:73) In this life we sometimes experience pain, great pain and deep sorrow. Through sadness and sorrow, death and destruction, decay and deterioration who can praise Him beyond the cutting-in of the pain? Those of us who are convinced His mercy endures forever, and those who have seen the provision of His hand, who know the protection beneath the tabernacle of His wings. In the midst of all the suffering and trouble we are not consumed. In the darkest hour we are not afraid.
When I consider the works of God’s hands and the excellent greatness of His glorious strength, I fall to my knees and honor the One who created heaven and earth. I tremble in awe of His awesome power. When it seems that evil prevails, and the unexplained brokenness of your heart’s mourning core is discovered, be reminded that it is in Him that we find unending grace that redeems our soul from utter destruction. Life is but a vapor, but this life for sure is a precious gift given by God.
Organizing the Inside – Day 321 Difficult People Can’t Be Avoided
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. Proverbs 25:26 (NIV)
Decide how to deal with difficult people before you encounter them. Keep yourself free from irritation and resentment by clarifying how you plan to handle things. Difficult people are out there, and there is no way to avoid them. Difficult people can be a true blessing; they will either help you grow or wear you down, but the choice of which one depends on you. Never allow them to overwhelm and frustrate you. Approach things from a place of ministry. Is this someone who needs to experience the love of God through you?
To save you from the mental and emotional clutter they bring, I thought I’d share a few tips to help keep you internally organized when dealing with them.
Not all bad, she just tends to rub you the wrong way. She loves playing devil’s advocate and will choose the opposing side just to muddle you. You want to go the other way when you see her coming, yet you also know dealing with her, in the end will only make you better. Yes, you can stand to learn a lot from the controllers, border blockers, spammers (always wanting to share something of little value) know-it-alls, and manipulators. Try this the next time you are faced with having to work with one of those difficult people:
- Approach things from a loving perspective. (1 Peter 4:8) You never know what they’ve been through that is reflected in their behavior.
- Make sure you aren’t harboring any unforgiveness or resentment. (Colossians 3:13)
- Earnestly pray for them; don’t try to change them, leave that to God. (Revelation 22:11, 12)
Of course God knows all about it. Prayer releases you from having to spend extra time or energy trying to manage hard feeling or to get along. God understands how difficult people are wired and He can give you special insight into what to do differently. The most important thing is not that you’re no longer irritated by their demanding personality. A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) What’s important is that you let God use you and your unexplainable patience and compassion to help win them over to Christ. Deal with difficult people by showing them Christ in you.
Organizing the Inside – Day 317 Take Heart; You Are Not In This Alone
7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith… 10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5-9a-11 (NLT)
No one believes we should be picking berries and Gerber daisies all day long. Of course because we live in a fallen world, things are not easy or perfect and they simply won’t be until Christ returns. Meanwhile, those of us who are here must realize that there is definitely a great deal of work to do. Nevertheless, God’s will for our life is not based upon some long list of arduous tasks and rituals. When you choose to live a godly life it’s not something that ought to bring you grief. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3 (KJV) What motivates you to keep going and to keep pursuing righteous living in the face of opposition? For me and for many others, “… the joy of the LORD is our strength.” I believe it is that joy that brings us to a place of personal contentment, even if it seems so many others choose not to follow the same path.
Your choice to live holy is contrary to everything this world has to offer. Although the world resists the ways of God and laughs at your beliefs, take heart, your suffering is nothing new. …Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:9b (NLT) When faced with opposing forces on an everyday basis, the fight can sometimes wear you down, especially if you attempt to fight in your own strength. Challenges will come, so stay alert as you seek to live a life of righteous pursuits. The one thing to remember is that you are not alone in your desire to live right before God. It’s hard sometimes to find people who really seem determined to live for God. Many may say so, but you later find that they too seem to love the world more than they love God. But you have chosen to live for Christ; for you, there is no turning back. Draw near to God and the people of God, and you will find greater strength and protection. God will most certainly honor your commitment and see you through until the end.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)
Organizing the Inside – Day 316 Exercising Confident Judgment
4Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. 5She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. 6One day she sent for Barak …. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” 8Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” Judges 3:4-8 (NLT)
Deborah was a strong woman whose heart trusted God entirely. She never seemed to waver and found great strength in her faith. Her inner assurance that God would grant victory made her a great judge and a wonderful example of a strong godly woman.
As women we often feel as though we must first become strong before we can serve God. I believe the message God wants us to understand is that when we are in Him, then we are strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10) Indeed preparation is important in fulfilling the plan of God in our lives, but many times we make preparing the one obstacle that keeps us from actually pursuing our purpose. Go ahead, move forward with the same strong confidence that Deborah had. She relied upon God as she went about conducting business for Him. Even men looked up to her because of her unwavering certainty and trust in the God.
What kind of faith does your life show? Does it show a simple and unyielding faith in your creator, or does it show a trembling mass of uncertainty every time you must make a decision? Deborah was a confident judge who was respected by the people. She took her job as a judge seriously, but it seems clear that as she sat under the palm trees and rendered decision after decision she was not afraid of making mistakes, because she trusted the internal wisdom of the God she served.
Being confident is not about having pride in your abilities or gifts, the contrary is true. True confidence requires us to trust in the One who called us and is far greater. Be confident when faced with decisions, and reject the fear of failure. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4, 5 (NLT) Don’t allow your role as a woman to create a preconceived notion against the plan of God. Yes, Deborah was a great leader and she did it while being married. Know that just as God used Deborah’s gifts and abilities, as she led Israel to victory, He will also use your gifts to give victory over life’s battles, as you trust Him. Resist the temptation to be indecisive under the weight of responsibility. It’s easier to say, it’s all just too much, and look for the first rock to hide beneath! Remember, the greater one lives in you and has already won the victory. (1 John 4:4) The pressure is not on you to perform; that sort of thinking will only lead to defeat. Instead, trust God and rest (under the palm tree) confidently in His ability to do great things in and through you.
Trust God to minister to you and strengthen you, precisely when you need it most. Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10:18, 19 (NLT)
Organizing the Inside – Day 315 Just Let It Out
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah Psalm 4:4 (NIV)
Allow God to renew your mind, but make sure you also release the unhealthy stress and pressure at the end of your day. I’m a firm believer that we should never take it home, but that is easier said than done. Carrying around the frustration, or anger, embarrassment or anxiety that resulted from an intense business meeting or a highly emotional exchange is unhealthy. Perhaps this is why God’s Word tells us, “…and don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesians 4:26 (NLT) I think this can also be applied to other strong emotions that we experience in our everyday interactions with others. There is nothing abnormal about stress and anger, but when it comes we must not let it linger. Who among us has never been angry? Anger is likely not the problem, it’s how we deal with it and the reasons why it exists to begin with that is usually the problem.
Talking about it can sometimes help. Studies show that people who have a support system and share their feelings with a trusted friend add years to their life expectancy. It is said that people who have more close friends tend to live longer. The point is this; there is clear guidance in the Word of God about dealing with our emotions and not stuffing them down in an attempt to ignore the obvious. When you feel things are building up, as if you might go into complete emotional failure, do something about it. Be proactive when you feel frustration building. There is nothing ungodly about letting off steam, as long as you aren’t exploding in a way that hurts or offends those around you.
Keep God as your first line of defense against built up anger or stress. Telling Him how you feel and taking time to talk it through with the Lord will give you the release you need to keep your heart free. God and I have had many conversations that began in anger and ended with me laughing. I’ll ask Him things like, “Did you see how she acted?” and “Did you hear what they said?” The delayed realization that my trusted Friend and Savior is also omnipresent, has often provided a bit of comic relief. Once I get it all out I’m reminded, that of course He knows what happened. Find comfort by reminding yourself that not only does He see, our God sees and cares. Certain strong emotions and stress when left unchecked can cause problems down the road. Keeping a journal of your feelings is also another way to let it go. Whichever outlet you choose, a friend, prayer, or writing, just remember that your anger will never achieve God righteous purpose. (James 1:20) When it’s called for repent and ask for forgiveness. (Psalm 139:1, 2) Keep stress and anger in its place; it belongs far away from your heart. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit; deal with your strong emotions when they occur.
How do you handle the end of a long and stressful day?
Here is a simple and straight forward article about anger.
- 5 Reasons you should let go of Anger/Stress (muhdlawal.wordpress.com)
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 