Living On PurposeSample

MAGIC HATS

You’ve heard the phrase, “Garbage in; garbage out”? Well, the positive spin on that saying is just as true. If you want good things out of life, you’ve got to put good things in.

Many of us treat life as if it’s a magic hat we can reach into and pull out whatever we need whenever we need it. We make a habit of living hurried lives, but when a situation requires patience, we hope we can reach into our magic hat and produce that character trait at will. Or we believe we can over-commit our schedules, leaving very little time for our spouse and children. Then, when cracks begin to appear in our relationships, we think we’ll magically be able to connect with our family at a deeper level. But life doesn’t work that way.

To get good things out of your life, you have to first put good things in. If you want good health, you first have to choose healthy behaviors. If you want a successful marriage, you first have to instill within your relationship qualities that will make it successful. Want a better relationship with your children? Well, then drop some things from your busy calendar and throw the ball around, accept the invitation to that tea party with the stuffed animals, or have a picnic in the backyard.

Succeeding at changes like these requires our openness to God’s truth and a willingness to receive the counsel, support, and encouragement of those who matter most to us. In the end, however, we have to be intentional about acting on these influences and persevering in behavior and choices that are in harmony with God’s Word. After all, we don’t have a magic hat that allows us to pull something out of nothing. The positive character traits we seek can only result from a daily commitment to prioritize actions and decisions that please the Lord.

For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.