Effort

As I noted a few months ago, I have this acronym P.E.A.C.E. which serves as a simple formula for success in the various roles that the good Lord has placed me in.  I also mentioned that before implementing P.E.A.C.E., it is important to identify and prioritize your roles.  Nothing creates more stress and havoc in a person’s life than to have conflicting priorities.  I’ve witnessed friends who tell me that their relationship with God and their family is their first and second priorities in life, but they continuously neglect both in order to have fun with their friends.  Anyway, once you’ve identified your roles and priorities it becomes easier to carry out P.E.A.C.E. on a daily basis…P is for Plan, E is for Effort, A is for Attitude, C is for Community (people) and the second E is for Energy.   During my morning devotion I remind myself of this simple way of living by reviewing my roles and reading the following…”With the power of the Holy Spirit I will responsibly Plan my life, discipline myself by putting forth maximim Effort, take ownership of my Attitude, draw strength from my Community while nourishing my spiritual, emotional and physical being in order to have the Energy that will be required to fulfill God’s vision for my life today.”  As an addict, I know I am a creature of habit and reciting this simple phrase on a daily basis is a part of my morning “prep” and has slowly become a part of “me”.

While reading today’s Proverb, chapter 26 (Another part of my morning “prep” is reading the Proverb that corresponds with the day of the month), I am reminded of the importance of Effort.  In Proverbs 26:13-16 Solomon writes about the sluggard in verse 14 Solomon states…”As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.” 

During my life of recovery I’ve witnessed many people come and go.  The people who make it are the ones that are willing to put forth Effort.  The amount of effort put forth in recovery is proportionate to the peace, serenity and stability of a recovery person’s life.  The same holds true for anything in life.  The most effective spouses, parents, workers, athletes….whatever…are usually the ones that put forth the most effort.  As a former jock I know the meaning of “no pain, no gain.”

This also holds true for our Christian walk as followers of Jesus.  The more time spent in reading God’s word and then acting upon what it tells us to do the more effective our walk becomes.  As a part of my daily Plan in my role as a follower of Jesus, I put forth the Effort by reading and studying God’s word and then trying to carry out the word in my life.  This morning’s Proverb reminded me of the fact that I could have been like the sluggard and turned back over in bed, which is what my mind said I should do, but instead I got up and chose to continue to grow in the word.

The gain we get for this simple “pain” of putting forth effort pales in comparison to the pain Jesus suffered in order for us to “gain” eternal life.  

P.E.A.C.E