Components of Striving For the MAsteries

If we are to move forward confidently in life, we need to have a clear sense of where we need to go. By his life and death, Jesus Christ provides us with the ultimate ideal we are to pursue.

If we live under an unclear or false sense of identity, our lives will be limited and misdirected. As we understand and embrace who we are in Christ, we can overcome the mistakes of our past and start pushing the boundaries of who we can be.

Jesus calls His disciples to live their lives by the highest possible standards. As we build integrity into our lives, it givs us strength to weather the storms of life so that nothing will hinder us from achieving our potential.

Having an unbalanced relationship with food can greatly hinder our function in all areas of life; As we regain balance, we can properly fuel our bodies and minds to function at a high level

God never intended for any of us to live inactive, sedentary lives. The more physical activity becomes a discipline of our lives, the more productive and fulfilling our lives can become.

Sleep gives our souls and bodies the time needed to recharge and heal; as we get the proper amount of sleep, we can function at a high level, both physically and cognitively.

When we have peace within, we can think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and get much more enjoyment out of life. As we allow God to speak peace into our hurts, we can remain calm in the midst of life's storms.

Our pridefulness is our greatest liability in life. By developing and maintaining an attitude of humility, we become less reactionary, less susceptible to temptation  and more relatable to both God and man.

It is God's will for us to be thankful, not so much for his sake as for our own. Developing an attitude of gratitude enables us to maintain the right mindset in approaching the difficult situations we will encounter in life.

God's mercy endures forever, and He is ready to forgive and cleanse us of our sins so that we can be set free from guilt and shame. As we experience His forgiveness, God wants us to show that same forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

Prayer is a spiritual exercise, and it does not come naturally to us. Nevertheless, as we learn to make prayer a daily discipline we connect with God and receive His guidance, peace and power to meet and overcome the challenges of life.

 We are bombarded with words, sounds and images each day, which serve only to distract and disturb us. By proactively choosing to focus our minds on the life-changing truths of God's word, we can maintain a healthy mental, emotional and spiritual state.

Learning to listen is key to deepening our relationships with others. When others know they are heard, it shows them that we care, and that we are worthy of their trust and respect.

We must never underestimate the power the tongue has, to either hurt or heal. Learning to control our tongues testifies to our wisdom and maturity as an individual, and to the authenticity of our spirituality.

The value of developing diligence cannot be overstated, as it is the key to our personal growth and spiritual vitality, ensuring we will grow in favour with both God and man.

A failure to manage money wisely can be a great hindrance in helping us move forward in life. As we instead learn to become faithful stewards of what God has blessed us with, we can not only meet our needs but be able to help others.

Time is the most valuable resource we have. As we cease from squandering it on empty pursuits and instead learn to manage it wisely, we can accomplish much more than we ever thought possible.

When we are disorganized, we waste time and money and bring unnecessary stress into our lives. When we bring our lives out of chaos, clutter, and confusion we can become more functional, focused, efficient,and effective.

Personal transformation doesn't happen by accident. We need to make an honest assessment of where we presently are and where we want to go, so that we can then clearly see the path we must take.

If we want to move consistently towards the goals we have set, developing a daily, disciplined routine is essential. As we are intentional in how we start and end each day we can make sustained progress.

We cannot be certain of our progress if we have no means of measuring that progress Taking time to perform regular evaluations enables us to see where we are as well as what has and has not been working.