Bite-sized goes down easier... and helps you eat more (Photo: "highlimitzz")
This is not what I planned to post today. Instead, it’s what I wrote last night/this morning at about 1:30 am.
For whatever reason, I felt off balance last night. I felt somewhat overwhelmed. I felt uncertain. The heart of the problem, though, was that I stopped trusted God… even a smidgen can break my link.
You already know this, but it’s really, really difficult to serve others when you’re struggling yourself. (This is actually material from a future post, Survival mode vs. dependence mode, so I won’t go into it too much here.) This is one method I’ve used to un-struggle… and specifically what I did last night.
Create and review your encouragement list
I have a list of ten encouraging phrases. I’ve purposely included experiences from my own life, from others, and from the Bible (some are quoted straight from the Bible). The idea is to go back over this list whenever I feel out of balance or feel like serving others is a chore.
Keeping my thoughts and emotions grounded in thankfulness keeps my life others-oriented without it feeling like a chore.
Why? Because then I’m focused on God and as a result on how I can spread His blessings to others. That’s how it works. I could do this by studying the Bible or praying or fellowshipping with others, but sometimes I need something quick and simple and already put together in bite-sized chunks.
Three examples from my list:
- Jesus died and came back to life FOR ME.
- The day a friend told me I was her best friend through high school.
- My mom’s reminder, “You have to choose what kind of person you want to be.”
For me, each of those can easily make me cry (in a good way) – my emotion levels are so high for them. Your list will be different, but that’s what you want. Even if you’re not the crying type, you want reminders that grab you.
Important: This isn’t about being led by emotions – this is about using emotions as tools to help lead you where you’re trying to go.
Make a list for others too
Not only will an encouragement list help you refocus, you can also create these lists for other people so you can help them refocus too. This is trickier to do, but still worth the effort for sure.
The whole idea behind this exercise is to stay grounded in encouragement instead of focusing on circumstances that feel scary. Because if your head and heart are passionate about serving others, God will make the way to actually pull it off.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” -Philippians 4:8
Serving Suggestions:
(1) Make your own list. Draw from stories and promises in the Bible, encouraging words from friends, encouraging words to friends – diversify your list because they’ll impact you differently in different situations.
(2) When you feel out of balance, review your list. Re-copy it by hand. (Try to add another item while you’re at it.)
(3) Help someone else create their own list. Say, “Hey, this seems to really work for me – do you mind if I share what I’ve done and see if it might help you also?” (Notice I didn’t share my list with you? You don’t have to share the specifics from your list, just how you came up with it and how it works.) Not only will it help them when they want to return to their list, it’ll also help you understand and become a better encourager for your friend.
Twitter Updates
Why? Because then I’m focused on God and as a result on how I can spread His blessings to others
Amen. I am the guy who walks around with those business cards that have inspirational verses on them. I carry 3 at all times. They are what get’s me back in balance.
I love the idea of making a list and re-writing it when we feel that we need to. Good stuff.
That’s a good add, Michael. I could even make my own on 3×5 cards cut in thirds. I’ll have to try that. Thanks.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
The best way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time.
Nice analogy – elephants happen to be my favorite animal, so I’m all over that. :>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Marshall, you would eat your favorite animal? Shocking!
I would if they were in the form of an animal cracker which elephants happen to be.
Enough of this craziness…
Animal cracker’s are wonderful. But that’s an interesting question about eating my favorite animal. If it weren’t illegal, I probably would… but I’d never really considered it.
As you said, though, enough of this craziness… :>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Good stuff. Reminds me of something someone told me that I’ve taken to heart recently. They talked about preaching the gospel to yourself daily. Sometimes we accept Christ and then try to do everything on our own strength. There’s something to be said for remembering the Gospel and abiding in Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches. Only through his strength and power do we produce fruit.
Wow, yes, I love that. My favorite Bible verse is John 15:5 – “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him bares much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing.”
We need that constant reminder to stay grounded, or planted, in Christ and His gospel.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Sometimes it’s just as good to look back re-evaluate, refocus, and remember. How else will you get anywhere, especially if you’ve already been there.
That’s what learning’s all about, right, Sarah? Taking what we’ve learned in the past and remembering it to apply to our future choices. Excellent point.
-Marshall Jones Jr.