9/5/18
Brandy, Addy, and Grace,
“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” – Carol Burnett
All change begins with a vision, a realization, and a decision:
- Vision – Is a clear picture of what we want the future to look like. It shows us the direction we need to head, which guides our life journies. My Girls, what direction is your life’s compass pointing?
- Realization – Once we get a vision for the future, we need to do a good self-assessment to see where we are so that we can realize that we’re not where we want to be. My Girls, where are you at in relation to your vision?
- Decision – Once we realize the gap between reality and vision, it’s time to decide, and this decision is where things really begin. It’s in this decision that we consider our resources (time, money, support, etc…) required to go on the journey and most important we measure our commitment to the vision. If we decide that we’re committed and we’re willing to invest our resources, then we begin the change process… if not, then we don’t. My Girls, what decisions do you need to make?
If we decide to move forward, then the next step is to develop a plan – a roadmap that outlines our journey from where we are to where we want to be. Now depending on what we want to accomplish, we may develop our own plan from scratch, we might follow someone else’s plan that worked for them, or we might combine the two, modifying someone else’s plan to meet our specific needs. For example:
- As an endurance athlete, I often follow training plans that experts line out for me (ok… I don’t follow them perfectly, which is why I’m still fat and slow, but they help).
- As a father, I get ideas from other successful fathers and try to adapt them for each of your personalities and life situations (often not very well, but I still try).
- As a Christian, I take the outline God has given me in the Bible, allow Him to transform my heart throughout my days, and remember that He Provides everything I need to be the man, husband, father, and friend that He’s Called me to be, if I’m willing the make the decision to lay my selfish ways down, Walk with Him, and live to serve others.
A Little Christian Life Side Note: (Try to read this with a good heart, because that’s where mine is) I believe far too many Christians sit back in spiritual laziness, waiting for God to perform some sort of Miracle that makes something happen with no effort on their part, and sometimes He does just that; however, from what I read in the Bible, the majority of the time, God’s Miracle comes in the form of His Provision through my effort, and after I decide to change or take action that Miracle continues as I proceed down the path. A good friend once told me that if he was going to Pray that God would provide a house for his family, then he would say, “Amen,” by picking up a hammer and getting to work.
Lastly, we need good friends along for the ride who share our vision for the future to help us stay on the path that’s heading in the right direction.
My Girls, I Hope and Pray that you’ll take action to be the change that you want to see within yourself and in the world, founding your vision (your dreams) in Loving God and Loving People, and continually moving in the direction God Calls you – Praying for Provision along the way and saying, “Amen,” by picking up whatever hammer is required for your dreams to come true.
Challenge Question: What needs to change TODAY, so that you can find success in the tomorrows to come?
God’s Word: 2nd Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:17-32, and Romans 12
Dad's Wisdom 