Publisher’s letter, Back to the Basics
Do you ever feel frozen in time? As if somehow paralyzed from making a decision just so you don’t make a wrong one? This would describe the recent season in my life. Day after day it’s like I’m wrestling with the same things. With many decisions needing to be made, I’ve found myself thinking and re-thinking just about everything. Many things have changed as a whole at work and at home. As a result, I’ve been trying to decide how that affects my daily routines as well as my long term goals.
Then I recall one of my pastors from years back saying some familiar phrases that could always cut to the chase. “Let’s remember to keep the main thing the main thing.” That meant get back to Jesus instead of what committee should do what. “Let’s major in the majors.” That meant let go of little things that in the scheme of things really didn’t matter.
That was his way of bringing into focus what needed to be our focus. While this concept is easier said than done, there are times when getting back to the basics is the easiest way to energize our faith and remember the Foundation on which we are called to stand.
My “Back to the Basics” list:
Facts Over Feelings: Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” This is perhaps the hardest of all. To remember that my heart can lead me astray seems contradictory to everything. My feelings can seem so worthy in the moment. Yet it is in those moments that I must remember “facts over feelings.” In other words, instead of worrying (feelings), I can recall Philippians 4 (facts) which says not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything. It’s my job as a Believer to make that shift to Trust God instead of my own frustrated feelings.
Go to my go-to’s: There are several Scriptures that have truly become life for me. We should all have our list of promises on which we stand, no matter what is happening around us. These are the ones that bring comfort, clarity and calm to the chaos. A few of mine are Psalm 91, Psalm 23, Psalm 121, Psalm 90:17, Luke 10:19, Romans 12, Philippians 4, Ephesians 1 & 2. There are many others. What are yours?
One with the One: Often I think Satan, our adversary, uses the things we use most to distract us, our phones and calendars. Do you hear that subtle message daily? “Do this, too. Go there, today. Don’t forget that. You don’t have time for quiet time.” Are you too busy? I’d assume we are all too busy. But Jesus was intentional about everything. And when chaos surrounded him, that is when he found solitude with His Father. He knew he needed to be One with the One. Nothing or no one ever tempted him away from that part of His earthly life.
We all need a personalized list of how to get back to the basics. My list won’t work for you, as it’s based on my tendencies and temptations. How about making your own? As we close in on the holiday season, let’s be intentional by protecting our path on purpose.
Join me? Let’s get back to the Basics and Trust the Lord to meet us with a new agenda.
