Day 18 – Eliminate Distractions

How can we focus more on Christ?

The first thing I learned in health coaching school was we must clear the clutter before making changes in our lives. The old sofa must come out of the living room before the new sofa has a place to reside.

Lately, I have been feeling like clutter is all around me. My home is full. There are Christmas presents everywhere, furniture I need to get rid of, and a spare bedroom that I literally cannot walk-in right now. Mentally I am cluttered. There’s a lot on the calendar, it’s year end as an accountant, and there’s so much on my mind I want to write and share.

I need to eliminate the distractions and organize that clutter so I can go and do the things that bring me closer to Christ. But first, I need to pray for help. 😊 Seek Him in all things, Right? Then I am going to tackle the cluttered house and get all the mental things sorted and organized on my planner and calendar.

What about other distractions like our phones? Our phone will tell us how many hours and what apps we used each month. That can be an eye opener. Do we need to limit our screen time? Is our phone a distraction in our quest to get closer to Christ?

What about habits or parts of our daily routine that need to be eliminated? Is there any part of our day where we may be wasting too much time?

Let’s take time today to think about the distractions in our life. God gives us just enough time each day to do the things we are called to do. Are we focusing on God’s list or our own?

Day 17 – Listen & Be Obedient

How can we focus more on Christ?

I like to have a word or words for the upcoming year, like setting a theme for the year. There have been a few words that come to mind for the upcoming 2023 year, Faithful & Obedient and Worship & Praise. Unless something changes between now and December 31st, these are my words for 2023.

I have already written about Worship this month. It’s been on my heart the last few years. I have already been taking actions to spend more time in worship by spending more time in praise and worship in church and in my walks with the music turned up. I will continue that path.

Let’s talk about Faithful and Obedient. God calls us to things, are we doing them? Do you ever get little nudges that tell you to do something? It’s usually something that’s positive, benefits someone else, or just feel like the right thing to do.

Two questions to ponder this day.

1. Do you hear Him?

2. Do you take action?

If we are not hearing Him, then we must spend more time in the Bible and in prayer. Even if we feel lost in what we are reading or just don’t understand, we just must read.

Take Action! I’m much better at reading the Bible than taking action. Sometimes it feels the task or thing we are called to is just too hard. I have learned that God shows up just when you need Him. If He called you to it, He will get you through it.

I put off teaching a Revelation Wellness fitness class for two years after I completed training. I had plenty of excuses. I am out of shape. I am an accountant, not a fitness teacher. I don’t have the space or the time. It’s just not me. But God has other plans. Maybe I’ll wrap up the month of December classes and that will be it. Or maybe He will call me to host more? I don’t know. I have to stay in the Word, pray, and do my best to be obedient. (And BTW, He has helped me through every single class. He's given me the words and the strength to make it through each class. It has been such a blessing to share His word while moving our bodies.)

What is God calling you to today? It can be something as simple as helping a neighbor or assisting with a Sunday School class? What’s on your heart? He is ready to use you!!!

Day 16 – Serve One Another

How can we focus more on Christ?

God loves it when we serve one another!

John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Jesus washed the disciple’s feet!

How can we serve one another? It can be as simple as opening the door for others or saying thank you. We can pray for our those around us, take food to our friends when they are sick, and offer that listening ear (instead of giving advice) when they just need to talk about their day. We can visit and call those that are home bound or in assisted living, buy lunch for a co-worker, or devote our precious time to others. There are so many ways to serve one another. How can you serve someone today?