Friday Fight 127: Purposeful or Preventative?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF127.

Remember a time when going through our day felt a bit like being in battle? This struggle could be work, fighting the heavy traffic in our commute, or even getting to work late after hitting the snooze too many times. We may have fought a losing battle against overspending or struggled with a relationship that felt like a steep, uphill climb. For this post, let’s focus on our struggles to ensure we align with what matters most.

Purposeful or Preventative?

How often have we fought so hard to meet a goal yet repeatedly failed? I’m sure we have all been here at some point. We can all use the examples above or to change this story to our own and answer one crucial question: Are we being purposeful or preventative?

Let’s look at the instance of a long commute causing us to be late for work. Being purposeful means allowing ourselves adequate time each morning to compensate for unexpected delays. Or are we speeding on the way to work to prevent negative repercussions? A purposeful fight to arrive prepared and a preventative battle to avoid termination is different. Does our lifestyle change only occur after life as we know it is threatened?

Now, apply this to our life. With relationships, do we offer others our best to enable growth or take minor preventative measures to avoid serious problems? Personally, I struggle with drinking enough water throughout the school day. Even while writing this, I hear my daughter’s voice saying, “Hydrate or diedrate.” Rylee acknowledges and appreciates what water does for the body and its purpose in adequately hydrating us. I know how intentional this task is, yet I find myself guzzling water on the way home, hoping to avoid becoming seriously dehydrated later that evening.

What about our spiritual lives? Some of us are committed to God, church, prayer, and spending time in His presence. Others may fight for God’s presence only after a significant life change. Just like me guzzling water, are we being spiritually determined, allowing God to fill our souls, or choosing Him as a last-ditch effort to avoid the unimaginable?

Be purposeful about seeking Him. John 4:14 says, “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Imagine a person suffering the physical effects of long-term dehydration yet walking past multiple wells, each offering a lifetime of hydration if consumed. This well is the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit that fills our bodies with everything we need.

When our sinful nature drives us away from God, we must be purposeful in consistently seeking Him and the gift of essential life eternally promised to us. Life with Christ gives us a new direction, healing, purposes, and the essence and nature of freedom found in Him. Let’s remember to fight to be in His presence during the highs and lows of life. Do not pass another well or only stop when so spiritually dehydrated. The ocean does not fill anything but only receives the fresh waters of the streams that descend from the mountains. So, too, are we watered by the gentle streams of the Holy Spirit, who gives life and health to our soul each day we are open.

Photo Credit: Beth Leonard

Pastor Shannon

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