It's Better to Be Proactive...Than Reactive!

"So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren’t wise. Live like people who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil. So don’t be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants.”
-Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIRV)
I learned a great quality from my wife, (out of many), and it is a quality I am thankful for because the future of our family and ministry depend on it.
​
I did not have this trait and being the man I was I didn’t want it. I was set in my ways.
You see my wife has the spirit of "getting things done."

No matter how little she is given to work with, no matter what the circumstances surrounding the project, she will take what she has and produce a great opportunity that bears the fruit of success.

Now this skill comes with the spirit of hard work, drive and endurance.  I had none of these traits.

I mean, I have done some things in my life like Army Boot Camp and the Police Academy that required physical determination but I was an athlete; and I could see the end results in my head doing these physical activities.

But I lacked the vision and that kept me from having the drive to follow through. So because of this lack of drive, I developed a spirit of 'laziness'.

And this is where my ‘routine’ methods were born. And understand, any selfish desire I had, added to time away from what was important and what should have been priority.

At first I used to look at my wife’s drive and say, “Well that’s you."

That’s not me.

I’ll work my 9 to 5 and then I’m calling it a day!” “I’m not doing anything extra because I need my time to myself.”

This was selfish and I was holding back whatever potential I had to give to our relationship and anything God had for us in the future.

But even though I didn’t want to accompany Yolanda in her ‘aggressive walking spirit’; I so admired the results of her passions. Deep down inside, I wanted to learn to live the same way.

In time and in God’s Word, I learned to live a life with drive and aspirations.  I learned what Colossians 3:23 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” ~NLT

With scriptures like this I realized it was my duty to have that driving spirit.
What I saw in my wife, God already knew I would learn when He brought us together.

He knew that what was lying dormant in me, combined in what was emanating through Yolanda, would make for a powerful combination in the purpose He had for us in our relationship, our ministry and our legacy.

I work every day to increase my will to move forward and make great use of my time. I have come to realize the time I used to want for myself, is really not my time to take.

The text says in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “…Christ has paid a price for you.” ~NIRV
I owe.

You owe.

I pray I never fall short in doing my part in what God has for me to do in this life He has chosen to bless me with; my family, my marriage, and the ministry He has blessed my wife and I with.

I pray God allows me the strength and wisdom to make the right decisions as I physically keep strict control over my body and bring it under control so that after I teach the gospel, I will not fall short, be rejected or disqualified.

I’d like to thank God for my wife, her patience in me and for her teaching ‘an old dog new tricks’. Be thankful for what you have around you because like the spices in a nice roast, those things season you for your purpose.

A purpose God made just for you.

I pray God’s strength and wisdom on you as you continue this Christian journey.
​
Until next time, live in peace!
-Billy
Like this Devotional?
Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU,  we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage.  CLICK HERE to sign up!

---