1. Calibrate Your Perspective
The first is to calibrate our perspective to the truth. We will not be successful in our endeavors, nor hoped-for life-style changes without aligning our understanding with where true change flows. "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." The promise is really clear. Whatever it is that we need to change in our lives is covered in this promise. But human effort or will-power falls short. So do good intentions and motivational thinking, by the way. It is through Christ that true change occurs. If we do not calibrate our perspective daily to this understanding . . . no further steps will result in ultimate success. True life-style change is rare. When people get set in their ways . . . they tend to revert to those ways, even after bursts of energy or short-term alterations. However, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit our ways can be changed from within. This then leads to the outward change we desire. Calibrating our perspective daily will develop new thought pathways in our mind and soul. It also fuels the application of step two.
2. Choose Daily Conscious Surrender
We have to make a choice each day. Not making a conscious choice IS making a choice. Not only is life full of choices . . . so is each day. The choices we make at the beginning of the day often heavily influence the bulk of our day. Acknowledge God in your day. In doing so, you are taking the first step of surrender. It is the day the He has made. The success of the day will depend upon whether we live it in Him, and through Him, or not. This is a simple choice to make . . .
"Father, this is the day that You have made. Teach me to live in it through Your eyes, Your words and Your actions. Let me see You in it and experience Your transforming power through it."
So simple . . . yet we forget this simple prayer, do we not? How different a day may be, depending on whether we chose the conscious surrender or not.
3. Get Back Up When You Falter Or Fail
Truth is . . . we will have moments where we fail. When we fail, it does not mean we are a failure. Don't let a single frame of failure define the motion picture of your life. It is not the last word on the matter. It is not the last word on your value, your worth, nor the outcome of your journey. The Father calls us to a simple acknowledgement of our failings and then to step back into His empowerment to go and live. And that is precisely the point . . . we want to LIVE. He wants us to LIVE as well. In fact, He came to give us life in greater abundance than we are experiencing.
So remember . . . wake up and calibrate your perspective to the truth. The Father is rooting for you and has paved a path of empowerment for you this day. Make the conscious choice to surrender by acknowledging Him as God, and you as in need of Him. When you fail, remember that it is a moment of failure. You are not a failure. Look back into your Father's eyes and see Him loving look back with extended hand. He will lift you up into success.
" . . . His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue . . . "
