Jim Martin's Encouragement Note #25
“You can do this,” my older friend said to me. At the moment, I wondered whether or not this was even possible but I could tell he meant these words. His confidence in me, at that moment, was encouraging.
Life is often hard and sometimes exhausting. Many of us would describe 2020 as the most difficult year of our lives. We are now in a new year which we approach with realism and hope.
The following words are intended to encourage. I would love to hear from you regarding what was particularly helpful (jmartin9669@gmail.com).
The List of Five
Decide to Choose to Life
You and I are beginning a new year. These are some intentions that I attempt to live by each day. Perhaps you might add others to your own list.
Do something intentional each day that is life-giving. Read. Write. Talk with a friend. Consider making a list of life-giving actions.
Celebrate even the very small wins in daily life.
Do something that requires movement. Walk. Run. Exercise.
Be conscious of how much anxiety producing material (news, social media, etc.) that you are reading, watching, listening. Some of us might consider consuming less media.
Live intentionally. Far too many people passively exist, waiting for something good to happen. Instead, focus on taking the next right step.
Step into the new year trusting — clinging — to God! Many of us tend to come at life negatively. We find the negative in most anything. Others attempt to be positive about most everything. Consider a third way. Dare to start 2021 with realism yet trusting God with Gospel hope. Whether the coming days are hard or smooth, we have the capacity to persevere.
Start small. You may not make all of the progress that you would like, but what if you made some movement? Far better to take a small step than to passively remain stuck, making little or no progress on the things that matter.
Stay connected with those who matter most to you. Yes, in a pandemic this may be challenging, but the effort will pay off.
Pray knowing that life is not up to you. Dare to pray for things that may be hard or even seem impossible.
Be responsible for yourself, your feelings, actions, and thoughts. Nor is life about blaming others for who you are and how you are functioning.
Break Free From Self-limiting Beliefs
As a young minister, I often felt inadequate and lagging behind my peers. I graduated from a state university with a degree in business administration and then studied at a small Bible college for two years. I began preaching for a small church in middle Tennessee. I soon realized I had no idea what to do as a minister.
Eventually, we moved to Abilene, Texas so I could study at ACU (Abilene Christian University). My first class was “Introduction to the New Testament” taught by J.D. Thomas. I recall Dr. Thomas discussing some challenging aspect of the New Testament. Several students in the class nodded their heads knowingly while others made reference to scholars who were unfamiliar to me. I felt so out of place and wondered if I belonged.
Later, I reflected on some of my beliefs which were actually very self-limiting.
I am hopelessly behind other people.
I am not as smart as many of my peers.
My worth is based on my accomplishments. Consequently, I am inferior to those who have accomplished more.
I really don’t have much to offer.
Eventually, I would learn to replace some of these self-limiting beliefs with beliefs that better reflect my faith and identity in Christ. I find Mark Batterson’s thoughts helpful:
Scripture confronts the false identities and false narratives perpetrated by the Father of Lies. It reveals the heavenly Father’s meta-narrative and the unique role that each one of us plays in it. Abraham thought he was too old. Jeremiah thought he was too young. Moses thought he was unqualified. Joseph thought he was overqualified. Gideon had an inferiority complex. Jonah had a superiority complex. Peter made too many mistakes. Nathanael was too cool for school. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. And King David was the runt of the litter. (Mark Batterson, Win the Day, Kindle location 625)
Do you find yourself stuck with beliefs that are self-limiting? These beliefs have a way of imprisoning us within our own minds. Freedom in life and ministry can be found in discovering and believing our true identity in Christ.
It may be worth the time and effort to begin to replace these beliefs with those which better reflect the truth about your identity in Christ.
What You and I Can Become
I have been thinking about the kind of person I want to become during 2021. Perhaps you are thinking about this as well. After all, you and I live on this earth once. I would really like to live as the very best version of myself.
Maybe what would bless our spouse, our children, and our friends is for them to know that in you and me, they have the following:
1. A calm voice. (What if you and I remained calm when others are anxious and demanding? In a culture where there is so much volume, this could be very refreshing.)
2. A clear but humble word. (What if our words were clear instead of speaking so as to be liked and approved by others? At the same time, what if we spoke with humility, conveying to others that we still have a lot to learn?)
3. A consistent love for others. (What if you and I were known for how kind and gracious we treated others? -- even when we or they might disagree)
4. A confident faith in God. (What if our hope was in him and not in anything else? What if we genuinely believed that HE is our treasure?)
I am a work in progress. By no means have I arrived. Yet, I do know that I will need to be intentional if my life will really reflect these four values.
What You and I Have Before Us
I love these words, again from Mark Batterson:
In 1871, a twenty-one-year-old medical student read one sentence that would change the trajectory of his life. At the time, the pressure of final exams and the prospect of starting a medical practice led to a near nervous breakdown. William Osler was destined to become the most famous medical doctor of his generation. He would organize the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, establish the first residency program for specialty training, and write the predominant medical textbook of his era. The Father of Modern Medicine would even be knighted Sir William by the king of England. Of course, Osler knew none of this at twenty-one. None of us do. All he knew was that he was overwhelmed by what felt like the weight of the world. That’s when twenty-two words, written by the Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle, changed everything: “Our grand business undoubtedly is, not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.” (Mark Batterson, Win the Day, Kindle location 128)
I remember a period on my life when I often missed the present by focusing on “someday.”
Someday, I will be at a congregation that will enable me to use my gifts . . .
Someday, I will work with a group of elders who will function well as a group . . .
Someday, we will finally have the money to enjoy life and do what we want . . .
What you and I have is not what “lies dimly at a distance” but what “lies clearly at hand.” The business you and I have is actually right in front of us.
Today, I can really love my wife - as she is.
Today, I can love and cherish my children, just the way they are.
Today, I can serve the congregation I work with and love them as they are. Whether I am in business, self-employed, or a teacher, I can serve, given the opportunities that are right in front of me.
Resources
Don’t miss Mark Batterson’s new book Win the Day. I have found this to be a helpful book to start 2021 with.
Excellent article from the Wall St. Journal — Forget Positive Thinking How Sweatpants Managers Can Stay Motivated. The article discusses how so many leaders are exhausted after 2020 and how they can “recharge their batteries.”
Do you receive James Clear’s 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter? If you don’t you might consider this one. It is brief but always has something in it that makes me think.
Each Thursday/Friday, I post about ten tweets especially for ministers and other believers as they anticipate Sunday. You can find me @jimmartin.
I serve as Vice President of Harding School of Theology, Memphis, Tennessee. You can find me at God-Hungry.org. You can find me on Facebook - @jim.martin. My e-mail address is: jmartin9669@gmail.com. Feel free to write. I would love to hear what is encouraging or helpful. — Jim Martin
YOU NAILED IT! Self-limiting thoughts and the List of 5 - Move SOMETHING!