Essentially, we must do those things that must be done. It’s essential. If you don’t do it, it doesn’t work. If you don’t do what is essential, you won’t get the full benefit from it. Even though it’s essential, most people will never fully implement the essentials. Let’s talk about it.
Essential (noun/adjective):
Definition – Absolutely necessary, extremely important; A thing that is absolutely necessary.
I spend (or make an effort to spend) every step of my day with Jesus. Making a conscious effort to recognize His presence is important to me, though I admittedly miss it often. And so in my early time in the morning with Him, He dropped this in my heart…
“Time with Me is not a luxury or an option.”
In other words, He was making sure I understood that my time with Him is essential for my well-being.
As you know He didn’t just drop this out of nowhere. He continues to challenge Me in what He knows I need and ultimately desires. I think He also knows He has a lot of reprogramming to do with me too. So He is patient but persistent with me. He cares about my well-being.
God is Essential
He dropped this in my heart too…
“Not everything else can wait, but everything else MUST wait.”
God and I have discussed my plans and the purpose for them. So am I the only one who still tries to hang on to those things and figure it out myself? So He challenges me in good ways, like first things first. It’s not that things can’t wait. They can. But more importantly, they must!
“No God, I got this! I am cleaver enough, smart enough, and already know it all…so I got it!”
In the meantime, I am telling God to take my family, my business coaching, my businesses, and my life, “They are yours, God!” Mmmm, ya, right! He and I both know I have some work to do to get there.
Blessings Follow Obedience
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 MSG
26 I’ve brought you today to the crossroads of Blessing and Curse. 27 The Blessing: if you listen obediently to the commandments of God, your God, which I command you today. 28 The Curse: if you don’t pay attention to the commandments of God, your God, but leave the road that I command you today, following other gods of which you know nothing.
Book recommendation (not just for business owners): I recently read a book called, “God Owns My Business” by Stanley Tam. Stanley passed away recently at the age of 107. At the age of 17, he began his pursuit to get rich, but soon after He became a follower of Jesus. This began his story of eventually giving his whole business to God, legally!
Our life, no matter what part (business/work, family, personal, physical, emotional) can be paralleled to Stanley’s story. I could have titled this post, Blessings Follow Obedience. That’s essentially (no pun intended here) Stanley’s story. Hannah Spangler is another example. She did her ‘God Story’ with me, so check it out – Blessings Follow Obedience.
Psalm 37:23 NIV
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
What is your creed…
Challenge of the Week
I don’t think that I need to issue a challenge here, but I will. What one step, one thing, one action can you do this week that will bring you closer to giving everything over to God? Your life is your business essentially. What will you do to finally give Him full control? It’s none of my business, but It is for your own well-being. So be it.
I love this. God is like food and water. People can’t live life to the fullest without Him. Speaking as someone who didn’t have a personal relationship with Him until 2018 – I knew of Him, but didn’t know Him – so I was oblivious to how having Him in my life made my life more worth living. I don’t want one day, not one moment without Him in it!
That is awesome Carmen. Thanks for sharing!