Start Quitting

But as for you, be strong and do not slack off, for there shall be a reward for what you do.            2 Chronicles 15:7
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As much as I might want to grumble about technology from time to time, I marvel at the way I can find inspiration and information almost instantly.  Not long ago a lady asked me, exactly how to get closer to Christ, and I offered some thoughts, but I spent the next many days pondering that question and hoping I answered it in a helpful way.  I decided to prepare a better answer because it was such a good question.  As I was thinking and praying about it, thanks to technology, I stumbled across a homily on YouTube offered by a priest whose name I can’t even remember, giving a homily about this exact question.  He was referencing something written by C.S. Lewis that offered 7 things to quit to grow in Christ and I was intrigued by the idea of quitting something rather than starting something and found it all too good not to share.
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Number one:  Quit all the things that don’t bear positive fruit and that add zero value to life. Quit the things that don’t feed your spirit and that suck your strength. 
Number two: Quit hanging out with people who bring you down.  Choose to spend time with people who will challenge you and walk with you as you strive to be better, holier and more focused on the Lord.
Number three:  Quit judging and criticizing other people and things.  Not everything happens when and how you want it but if God is your focus the noise of the world and the actions of others become less and less important.
Number four:  Quit magnifying what’s going wrong in the world. You can choose to magnify problems or magnify God…choose wisely.
Number five:  Quit overdoing it…even the good stuff.  Still, simple, quiet and humble are the focus points for keeping your balance.
Number six:  Quit trying to please people.  If your focus and energy are all wrapped up in trying to win the approval of the world, that takes the first spot in your life.  Work on pleasing God and quit making pleasing people your mission.
Number seven:  Quit overthinking everything.  Trust him…give things to him and know he has more knowledge, wisdom, power and love than we can fathom, and he works for our good using people, graces and circumstances we couldn’t possibly know about…let God do his job.

Isn’t it a huge relief to know he’s not asking us to buy more books, do more stuff, create or begin giant things to grow closer.  These seven things to quit are crystal clear and require no extra things…simply re-ordering our days with a clear focus.

A Seed To Plant:  Pray with the list for a few days and see which ones the Lord might really be calling you to focus on and ask him to show you how to start quitting.

Blessings on your day!