Well this go around hits three chapters and three very important and vast subjects- family, health and finances! If you have been around me long, you have probably had a conversation with me about all of these topics. All three are not only important but absolutely VITAL areas of our lives. The irony is that for generations the Church as a whole seemed to shy away from addressing or these subjects. At times they were even segregated from even being considered spiritual topics. People were left to navigate these often tough topics on their own.
If we have surrendered our lives to God, then EVERY area of our life is spiritual in nature and our decisions become spiritual decisions. Thankfully the Church now currently seems to consistently produced not only relationships, but teaching and resources to help people thrive in these areas.
Thankfully many of you are going through Stewardship so you are learning a great deal about a biblical view of finances. I would encourage you to never stop growing in this area.
Your health may be an area you have not focused a great deal on. Or health for you may be centered around how many calories you eat and what the scales says. I can be honest in saying that God has taken me on a journey with health and nutrition that I did not ask to go on. But as I continue to walk and learn, it has ended being one of the most profound and incredible experiences. I have grown spiritually in ways that I would have never dreamed of. We will be going through a book later this year that addresses this topic at a much deeper level and I am excited to see all God does through it!
And last but certainly not least is the topic of marriage. Dr. Stephens does a fabulous job addressing so many great qualities in a very condensed chapter. He writes about six qualities that build solid families (Chapter 4, pages 57-65)
An unwavering commitment
Spend plenty of time together
An attitude of gratitude for each other
Constant and clear communication
The ability to triumph in tribulations
Spiritual health
I would strongly encourage to read through each six of these qualities and pray over which area(s) you need to focus on growing in. Take time commit these to prayers, seek wisdom in areas you need help and make goals to succeed.
I have found that communication is an area that just about every marriage can grow in. And understandably as a man and woman can have a conversation where they have such a hard time understanding each other that they might as well have been speaking different languages! So one of my favorite quotes in the entire book is found on page 63. Dr. Stephens writes, "Communication requires that we put our family members first. In your communication, if you seek to understand before you seek to be understood, life will be much better." So simple yet so profound!
*Topics discussed from "The Plan of Your Life" by Dr. Chris Stephens
This part of the book really shook me. I mean I had to catch myself getting upset and even angry at the topics family- raising children and also spending time with your wife and children. It was easy for me to focus on the fact that I spent from the time I was 13 til I graduated home alone every weekday. It was in that moment when I realized that I can choose to be upset about my childhood or I can choose to forgive and thank God for today. I have to be honest, it has taken me all weekend to do that. These topics are so real- family, health, finances. And like you said the church is now doing a great job addressing these things. We have to do our part as well. I am very open to hearing about all these areas and to seek God on what I need to commit to at this point when it comes to Blaine. Communication is always something we are working through, but thankfully we are both way too tired to drag anything out...lol and are maturing in this area. So it has now become one of my favorite areas to work at. I need that reminder to work at understanding my spouse before I am understood. This is where I get caught up in "my right". Thankfully, there has been grace here from both of us.
ReplyDeleteI recommended the book to Blaine especially when this section came up because it was clear coming from a father to his son. I would LOVE to read something that was a Mother to her daughter. I know I would glean so much from this. Maybe I will write a book LOL. Or if you know of one, tell me about it. Looking forward to hearing someone else's perspective on health later this year. Reading has been a great discipline for me in this season. Thanks!