What's more important in personal growth? Attitudes or Actions? Both are necessary. But which starts the process?
My growing sense is that personal development has as much as to do (if not more) with attitudes as it does with actions. The actions are often obvious. They are the habits/disciplines of life: Exercise, Diet, Prayer Time, Bible Reading, Small Group Attendance, Church Attendance, Tithing/Giving, etc.
What a difference it makes when we do any of the above with intensity!
Sometimes we just go through the motions. We do the stuff but without passion or expectation. To be balanced, there are times when we need to just SHOW UP. We will not always have passion or excitement about the disciplines of life. And we can't afford to only do disciplines when we feel excited about them. If that was the case, we might rarely do anything.
Often, however, the best thing we can do for our momentum is not to attempt to do more activity. Maybe the best thing that we can do is do less activity with greater intensity. Remove the clutter. Determine the priorities of your life. Adjust your focus. Then pour into the most important things with a fresh drive and desire.
Can you imagine if you lived your life today with passion?
What if everyone attended church this week with expectation and intensity? What if we did the same activity of worship but with total abandon?
What if we loved our spouses and children more deeply today?
What if we approached our Bible reading time as if those verses were great treasures to be prized?
Today, I have decided not just to do the stuff I have to do. I have decided to do it with all my heart. I invite you to join me. Let's live with passion!
