KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fl. March 6, 2012—As an athlete, I learned the importance of constantly reviewing my performance and making changes when necessary. This simple act kept me moving forward in my career and prevented me from growing stagnant. In life, I’ve learned that it is equally important to take time to review my actions, commitments and in general, my life pattern. Just as I desired to move forward to victory as an athlete, I want event more to live a victorious life.
Haggai 1:7 says “Thus says the Lord of hosts: consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.” (Amplified Version)
In this verse, the Lord is challenging His people to look at their lives and the fruit of it. According to Haggai 1:6 the people of Haggai’s time were sowing much but reaping little. They were eating and drinking but they were never filled. They were clothing themselves but were never warm. They were earning wages but they were putting what they earned into bags with holes in it. These people were going through a lot of effort but were reaping a poor harvest in their lives. I imagine these people were frustrated, worn out, and wandering through life.
What a sad state these people of God had found themselves. How sad that many of God’s people today live in this same state of frustration and weariness. People work so hard and invest their lives in so much but all too often they are never satisfied or have anything to show for it.
I think it’s time we “consider our ways.” It’s time we examine our lives and evaluate the fruit we produce. It’s time to throw off anything that hinders us from moving forward in the plan God has for our individual lives.
I encourage you to pray as David did in Psalms 139. Ask God to search your life (your ways) and to know your thoughts and motives. Ask Him to show you any offensive way in you so that He can lead you in the way He desires for you.
As you seek God’s direction for your life, He promises to lead you and give you the wisdom and provision to make changes and to move forward. Jeremiah 33:3 says if you call to Him, He will answer you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says if you trust in Him and acknowledge your need for Him, He will direct your path…a path that guarantees fulfillment, hope, satisfaction, purpose and worth.
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Kristi Overton Johnson is a wife, mother, and the world record holder in water-skiing from 1992-2010. Having retired from professional sports, Kristi now helps others fulfill their God-given destiny.
With a passion to share the life lessons she learned on the water and a desire to encourage the hearts of people through her faith, Kristi founded her non-profit ministry Champion’s Heart.
Champion’s Heart provides life resources, addiction recovery, quarterly magazine publications, leadership training, and sports outreaches. In His Wakes, the water-sports outreach of Champion’s Heart, has helped over 10,000 at-risk youth from across the nation and world have hope, experience victory and discover their purpose through the sport that brought Kristi fame.
Kristi currently resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.
To read more by Kristi go to http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/his-wakes
To learn about her mission and work visit Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries.
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