We’ve all heard the saying “garbage in, garbage out”….
I googled it for kicks, and in the description were these words…. “the quality of output is directly determined by the quality of input”. Pretty straightforward statement.
The phrase is typically used in a business setting but it 100% applies to daily life as well.
By nature, I am generally a very upbeat and optimistic fella, to a fault at times. So, when my motivation wanes, my spark isn’t sparking, and my outlook on life dims…. I just don’t like it.
That is not the lense that I want to see the world through.
About a week ago my funk hit a tipping point, which for me means it’s time to evaluate where I am, what I can do about it, and then do the “about it” part. So, I did.
Those morning devotionals I had been missing too often…. became a priority.
I began starting my day by meeting first thing with the Creator of the universe. Who always makes time for me, even though He has an entire universe to hold in order.
The news, on my TV, on my phone, in my car…. I turned it off.
Except for the weather today and for the week ahead, I don’t have a clue what is going on but I am certain that if something big happens, I’ll hear about it.
The radio in my vehicle…. turned it off too, except K-Love. Christian radio has been my only option for music.
For the record, I’m not a huge Christian radio fan, fake enthusiasm, sappy stories, the repetitive lyrics of some songs are not my jam, and I just turn those off.
On the flip, when I do hear my jams, I turn’em way up! Some of the snippets of scripture and the application to everyday life are inspiring, the lack of negativity or self-indulgence in the content is refreshing. It fills me as opposed to draining me, which is the whole point!
This isn’t some type of experiment. I have done this type of exercise many times over the years with the same positive results each time.
The one noticeable difference this go round was just how fast God stepped in to fill the space I had made for Him….
Over the last week or so several men that are friends of mine have reached out to me or physically crossed my path. Fellas I haven’t seen or talked to in a while were suddenly there to encourage me, as I was also able to encourage them.
The enemy that worked so hard to keep me out of church last Sunday morning lost that battle and instead of missing it I was there for the sermon about “not letting our hearts be troubled”, which was exactly the place where mine had made camp recently.
I could keep going but the summary of all of this is very simple….
When we stop putting things in that are not productive, then we leave room for things that are productive.
When we stop focusing on the “things” of this world we can do nothing about, that impact us very little if at all, then we are able to shift our focus to things we can do something about that impact us directly.
When we stop letting the enemy set the tone of our morning, our day, our life, and instead we allow God to set the tone of our morning, our day, our life…. the “things” on our radar and on our mind, will change.
All God needs to create massive change in our life…. is access to our life. From there He just does what God does, through Christ.
Jesus In…. Jesus Out. (Read that twice)
Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.
From Nose To Toes!
Shane / #16