When Changing Our Priorities Shouldn't Change Our Actions

So, after my last post, I am left with a really difficult and important question. How do I do what I need to do and should do and all the while keep my motivations and thoughts focused on God?

Surely, God would want me to take good care of my house and my body. Those are two biggies for me right now. So, I have to clean, exercise, and eat right, but my motivation must not become pride or vanity. I easily get so caught up in worrying about what other people think of what my house looks like or what I look like. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but my motivation needs to be bringing honor to God.

How does one practically bring honor to God in everyday things? Well, I was just riding my bike and thanking Him for the ability to do so, for my health, and for giving me a body to take care of. (Yes, I ended a sentence in a preposition, but "of which to take care" sounded dumb.) I know that keeping my body in relatively good shape allows me to go on walks, bike rides, runs, and hikes with my husband. Anything that builds our marriage brings glory to God.

I could also thank God for my cute little house and use it to show others hospitality and love.

Bottom line: I need to take care of my house and body because I am thankful for them and want God to be able to use them.

So, to piggy-back on my last post, keeping God as our top priority or thought priority is not always about changing our actions, but many times about changing our motivations, our thoughts, our hearts.

I bump into the idea that motivation is important to God so very, very often.

1 Samuel 16:7b says, "People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Jordon

Thought Priority

A few days ago, I was reading the first letter in the Screwtape Letters to my junior high students. C.S. Lewis explains things so clearly and still inspires (and requires) thinking. What a wonderful combination for junior high students! If you haven't read it, it is a book made up of letters to Wormwood from his uncle, Screwtape. The letters are advice--from one demon to another--about keeping humans away from the "Enemy." Of course, for us, the book brings to light what we let distract us from God.

There is part where Screwtape describes to Wormwood how he successfully kept a man from thinking deep, logical thoughts which would have led him to God by planting in his mind thoughts about lunch. Screwtape advises Wormwood to keep his "patient" thinking about the "ordinary."

So, I examined my thoughts. Whether I have been persuaded by demons or not, I don't know. But, I have been thinking rather ordinary thoughts. I have been obsessed with finding natural ways to cure acne, making natural shampoos and soaps, keeping the house clean, starting and sticking to a exercise routine, what to make for supper this week, etc. My thoughts and time so easily are taken up with all the things I should do that I thank and seek God less and less often. A case of the "shoulds" inevitably leads to worry and stress.

The day after reading C.S. Lewis to my Bible class and evaluating how caught up I get in my ordinary thoughts, we started a new unit in Bible. It is about priorities. Yep, God was making it very clear.

I won't beat you over the head with the message. Here's the central verse:

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I am sure if you've been a Christian for even a short while, God has brought this verse to your attention before. I've certainly worked on this in my life before now, but I needed a reminder, do you?

Seeking Him,

Jordon