Week to week….Sunday to Sunday…friends and family will ask, how was your week? They may also ask: what did you do this past week? How often do you actually remember what took place this past week? I really have to think about it. Recently I have been struck by the fact that I have been living week by week without much thought to my doings…why else could I not remember? Doesn’t this reveal a lack of purposefulness? Yes, I try my best to plan my day, but in the long run, am I really thinking about how I as a wife and mother can invest purposefully in the lives of my family and others around me this week.
2 Cor. 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.”
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was “the best-known evangelist of the eighteenth century and one of the greatest itinerant preachers in the history of Protestantism.” Before he retired each night, he opened his journal and probed his soul with questions such as these he’d placed in the flyleaf:
Have I,
- Been fervent in prayer?
- After or before every deliberate conversation or action, considered how it might tend to God’s glory?
- After any pleasure, immediately given thanks?
- Planned business for the day?
- Been simple and recollected in everything?
- Been meek, cheerful, affable in everything I said or did?
- Been proud, vain, unchaste, or enviable of others?
- Recollected in eating and drinking? Thankful? Temperate in sleep?
- Thought or spoken unkindly of anyone?
- Confessed all sins?
You don’t have to be limited to the above questions. Donald Whitney suggests: “In addition to your individual spirituality you could also ask yourself specifically about your marriage and family life, work, Internet habits, financial stewardship, or any other area of life where frequent reminders to obedience would help.”
Wow! How inspiring! Here are a few questions I have written in my journal, specific to my life. I am answering each one on Monday mornings, as I start each week afresh, and write out ONE simple step I can take each week. Keep it simple. I want to continue to grow and be purposeful in my role as wife and mother.
1. In what area did I stumble in sin this past week and what steps can I take to change and grow in this area this week?
Where am I lacking the fruit of the Spirit? This week I have been mediating on spiritual pride in my life (more to come on this), and seeking to evaluate my heart and words in a more Biblical and edifying manner. I am so quick to be critical and judgmental.
2. What practical steps can I take this week to:
a. Strengthen my relationship with the Lord
My simple goal this week is to finish writing out a few prayer cards with specific areas of prayer to place in the car and in my nursing chair. These cover different topics with verses specific to missionaries, government, family, etc. I hope to be more purposeful in pray by placing these in places I reside the most, to assist in reminding me.
b. Bless my husband
I am striving to be more purposeful by asking my husband at the beginning of each week: How can I serve you this week? Is there anything I have been doing that is distracting or preventing you from your work and vision? This week he answered that being that he works from home, if I leave the baby in the office with him, it is very distracting to him. I need to guard his work time more deliberately and not bring the baby in and cause him to loose focus.
c. Love my baby more effectively
I have failed in loving my baby by getting to consumed with writing and reading on my computer. By God’s grace, I am limiting my time to 1 hour during her morning or afternoon nap. That way when she is awake, she gets my full attention.
d. Serve others, express thankfulness and/or encouragement to one person each week
I want to send a note of encouragement and appreciation to two friends this week. This gives me opportunity to, Lord willing, encourage my sisters in the Lord.
e. Simplify my life – what is one area I need to simplify to provide more peace in our home
My goal this week is to rest more purposefully, after the challenging events of last week.
Check out Jonathan Edwards’ inspiring resolutions: Jonathan Edwards Resolutions
Consider how you might take a few moments on a regular basis to probe your soul and become more purposeful for the furtherance of His kingdom!
Lindsay, I know this is an old post now, but I wanted to thank you for this post, and also for many many others you’ve written. I am so blessed and encouraged to see your focus always coming back to the Lord and how you can become closer to him and honor and glorify him in all you do. Sometimes I get swept up in this whole “real foods” movement but I am always happy to visit your blog for that and much much more. I’m beginning to see why you value simplicity in all things (including nutrition/meals) so that you have more time and energy to focus on things like this… things like evaluating your soul before the Lord. Wherever are time is spent (where your treasure is), there your heart will be also (Matt 6:21). Thanks for reminding us where to keep our hearts & minds focused!
-Carrie
Oh and these questions seem very similar to those that were in the Intentional Planner that I found through your homemaking binder post. I did answer those ?s for a couple weeks and really need to get back at it again!
Carrie, Thanks for your sweet comments. Such a blessing to hear from you!
Thank you Lindsay! This was very encouraging! I plan on starting a journal with these questions.