Quick, before I get Sidetrack'd

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks, months, or years) where the same topic seems to come up over and over again in various forms and in various situations? I’m having one of those seasons, and the topic seems to be discipline and self-control.

It all started back at the first of the year when I was convicted of my need to set some goals. Let me make it perfectly clear that, although I wrote them out, I have lost site of said goals – as well as the paper on which they were written. Coincidence? I think not.

Over the last few months I’ve received gentle reminders, repeatedly, that I might need to buckle down in some areas. Over the last few weeks the nudges are getting a little less gentle. I did make an attempt with my spending hiatus, which has gone pretty well; but I really feel like I’m being called to look at and work on my self-control across many areas of my life, not just my discretionary spending.

So, I am going to make a new list of a few things that I would like to accomplish or get better about doing over the next few months. Hopefully, I can manage not to lose them this time!

I know God has something to teach me through this, or something he is calling me to do. As I strive to get better in these areas I will continue to pray through it and pray for strength and determination. Do you have any goals you are working toward? Is God calling you to greater things?

Focus is not my strongest attribute; there is a reason I chose to call my blog “sidetrack’d”.

Prompted by some fleeting thoughts of going back to school (something that distracts me from time to time), I spent quite a bit of time on Thursday and Friday reflecting on what God has called me to do with my life. Much thought and prayer (over a couple of years) have led me to the following conclusions: I feel strongly that God intends for me to be home with Little and any future children; Matt and I feel that God intends for us to homeschool (though this may change…Little is only 7 months old, after all); I feel that my ultimate purpose in life is to be the wife and mother that God has designed me to be; and I feel that my highest calling is to glorify God in all I do.

These thoughts were called back to mind on Sunday when Scott, our minister, made this statement: “Jesus knew his purpose and maintained his focus.” If I know my purpose is being a wife and mother then all of my thoughts about school or work opportunities or whatever else are just noise, distractions from being satisfied with where God has placed me and what he has purposed for me at this point in life.

Might I go back to work one day? Sure, if that is what God purposes for me. Might I get another degree someday? Sure, if that is part of his plan. But right now I need to focus on doing the things I’m currently being called to do. I have books to read, beauty to enjoy, and blog posts to write. I have a home to run, a budget to balance, laundry to wash. I have diapers to change, feedings to give, a child to raise in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I have a husband to love, to respect, to live life with. I have a God to listen to, to learn about, to glorify.

John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” If I focus on being satisfied in Christ the other things will fall into place.