Biggest Loser: Losing the Noise - Final in Series

Phone calls....commitments....kids' activities....text messages....updating Facebook....laundry....household duties....doctor's appointments....work....meetings....stalled traffic....kids....spouse...the more there are on your list, the louder life becomes and the more likely other things will get drowned out. 

There is a lot of noise in life, so where do we find God?  Maybe God is found in some of those different noises (and I'll bet you could find Him in many of them if you just listened).  However, it is possible that all those noises, and possible stressors are drowning out your focus to even find God in your life or those situations. 

Yesterday, we looked at finding God and losing noise to pick out where He may be.  We looked at a situation in I Kings 19, in which Elijah has run from another human.  He has come to a cave and God tells him to go to the mouth of the cave.  There comes a great wind - God was not found in the wind.  There comes an earthquake - God was not found in the earthquake.  There comes fire - God was not found in the fire.  There comes a whisper or thin silence - God is found in the whisper. 

Sometimes when someone speaks softly, they gather more attention and it can be more effective.  However, there must be focus to hear the whisper.  Maybe God used the first three to get Elijah's attention.  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Be Aware of the Noises ~ Nothing is ever made better when denial is overpowering reality.  Take some time and think about what all is going on in your life to see if things are noisier than others and see if there are noises which you need to lose in order to live a healthier life.
2. Look for God in the Noise ~ Sometimes I've been in situations where I've spent a few hours being distracted before I realized that I hadn't looked for a time where God may have been in this situation. Try to see how God is in the noise or what God is wanting you to do or see in the situation you're in...you may be surprised.
3. Fog Ahead ~ Occasionally you may experience a "fog" in your life that screens the real possibility.  This fog may not allow you to see the end point, but it is well within reach.  These fogs are distractions, just like noise.  Keep going, through the fog, so that you may be able to reach a destination God is desiring for you.
4. Listen for the Whispers ~ God sometimes comes loudly and sometimes comes softly.  He spoke to Elijah in a whisper.  Become closer with God to be able to discern when is God coming loudly or when He is coming to you in a whisper. 

Noises can soothe, penetrate, and pierce.  They come in all tones, from low to high.  Each has a purpose but when they come mixed together or in extremes they can form an upleasant sound. 

Don't be afraid to lose some noise so that you will be a more healthy person and even a bit lighter.

How's your quest to becoming a "biggest 'spiritual' loser" so that you can have a healthier life?




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Biggest Loser: Losing Control

Some people really like to have control. Not just self-control in the sense of managing themselves like normal citizens, but to be able to have all the say in their life.  To have someone else responsible for things in one's life takes a lot of willingness to submit.  Too often, even when forced, we just cannot do it.  Ever known a parent that leaves their child(ren) with a babysitter and is either calling the sitter or wondering how the child(ren) is/are doing?  They've given up control physically, but can't mentally.

One area I wish I could control is the highway and other drivers.  I hate to be in slow moving traffic, being stuck behind semi trucks, construction zones, bad weather and anything else that interferes with my travel time.  I hate to be trying to get home with drive-thru and not have the ability to just pull out from the restaurant or be stuck behind a driver that won't "go" when there is plenty of time to make a turn.  Those are all things that get under my skin.  You may not be bothered by those things, but there are probably things you are bothered by.  That is us trying to be in control.  I've tried to learn to seek God in those "slow" situations - but I can't say I've never lost focus back on my irritation.

As we try to have all the control, God has probably reminded us several times that we're not in control, but He is in control.  As much as I try, there always seems to be something to remind me that I am not.  It may not always be a "God-thing" but just that I'm not in control.  Yesterday, as we continued on our series about the "Biggest Loser" we talked about how we sometimes need to lose the weight of "control".  As we think about that message from Daniel 4, dealing with Nebuchadnezzar, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Think about an area you may struggle for control:
• food (buffet or sweets)
• driving
• kids
• spouse
• money spending in your household
• workplace
• sports team
• time management
• Other:______________
• Pick one to pray about this week.
2. Do you know of an area to pray about for someone else this week? (if not, pray for me)
3. Reflect on why you may struggle with control and what do you gain from trying to control it.
4. Tragedies tend to humble us very quickly.  Imagine if the area that you tried to control was taken away, how important would it be then?  I am thinking about the book "The Shack" as I write that question.
5. Are there areas you need to lose to be a "healthier" person (control, priorities, yourself, fear)?  Are you struggling to give up control so that you can give up the area that you are trying to shed?

If I were a delivery person, I would have be so focused on the driving aspect of control it would test me continually. To give up the control that I would be aspiring to have would be so freeing.  I would not be so concerned with the other drivers, in the area of selfishness or control.

You too, my friend, would do well to lose the "weight" of control that is keeping you unhealthy and slowed down.  Will you join in with me on this quest to be a "Biggest Loser"?

 

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Biggest Loser: Unpriority Priorities

We're all probably guilty of allowing something small become big enough to get in our way by ruining our mood/day or causing us to put other things to the back burner.  Waking up late isn't that big of a deal but we may allow it to have some major impacts on the day.  We could deal with it and understand that this is the situation and not allow things to be affected by it.  I could write several examples of areas where we allow the little things to grow to sizes they shouldn't become close to growing.

Life tends to be filled up with lots of little things: daily duties, new duties, unexpected twists.  With those little things that fill us up we may lose focus on the "one thing" that Jesus spoke of when He was in a teachable moment with Martha and Mary.

As life hands us things that "pack on the weight", we need to think about how we can shed some of that extra poundage so that we will live a healthier life for Him.  One way to think about that is to understand that we tend to prioritize things that are not much of a priority.  Therefore, we need to unprioritize the priorities.  Yesterday, we discussed that, leaping off from Habakkuk 3:17-18.  Here are some applications you can choose to use this week...

1. Make a List (literally or figuratively) ~ Over the next week you may want to make a list of the different areas in which you tend to give your attention to.  Think about those areas and see if they are important - really important.  Are some of them taking you or your attention away from the things that are actual priorities?  If so, put your priorities first and the one of less priority after.
2. Accountability ~ Grab someone to be your partner to make sure that you are following up on your newly found habit.
3. Rejoice in the Lord ~ Take time to count your blessings.  This is helpful all the time, but when life doesn't seem to be going well for you, realizing your blessings can make a big difference.
4. Praise God ~ Thank Him for the things you like in your life.  However, do not limit it to that.  You may want to praise Him for the areas you don't realize are worth praising about.  Praise Him for all the little things - name some of them.  Praise Him for bigger things by naming some of them, too.  Praising Him humbles us and encourages us.
5. Don't Worry...Be Happy ~ Easier said than done, that's for sure. If you're like me you worry or analyze things that shouldn't.  Those habits weigh you down.  I can't even think to imagine how many things I have forgotten to do because I was worrying about something else.  It is really frustrating, which doesn't make one happy.  So, try to reduce your "caloric intake" of worry, so that you will have room to concentrate.

As the week progresses keep in mind the little things that are collecting on your plate.  Are they beginning to weigh you down?  There may be nothing wrong with these things.  You don't necessarily have to avoid them, just be disciplined enough to put them to the bottom of your list, so they do not cloud with the most important.  Some of these "least important" may be what you are carrying around with you continually, just like fat on a body.  Do you put more emphasis on your job or your friends than you do your family?  Do you rush to the phone the moment a text message comes in, even if it is conflicting with other events going on at that time (time with family, school, job, etc.), not realizing that the message isn't that urgent, generally.

Have a great week shedding the calories of "unpriority priorities" and "ME" (from last week).

 

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