This is an immensely, handy little phrase/question to ask yourself numerous times throughout each day (especially if you are a procrastinator):
"What is your MOST IMPORTANT NOW?" (MINute, get it?)
When it comes to money, the question becomes, "Is this money I intended to spend right now?" For example--at check out counters, while shopping for A, are you looking at (or worse, being tempted to buy) B!? Just ask, What is my MIN?"
When it comes to calories, this question stops you from snacking, or from eating second helpings, or from grabbing a candy bar instead of eating, preparing, or packing a healthy snack.
When it comes to time, of course, every minute counts--but we don't usually believe it (or at best, "live" like we believe it). You will inevitably get yourself back on course, if you simply asked yourself as you go throughout your day, "Is this what I intended to be doing right now? Is this my MIN?"
On this week's phone call, you'll be challenged to journal about your MIN every day this week! It will change how and when you eat, spend, and live...I promise.
Be encouraged,
Becky
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I hope you all won't mind a long blog. But I had a moment today, and would like to share. I am reading the book One Month to Live, and am on day 4, the "Power Source" - the focus was on Spiritual Health(powerful book)!The question was raised “In what area of my life am I struggling the most to change”? And for me it is my eating habits which have led to an unhealthy weight. I realize that part of my problem is a lack of discipline…. It is also a low energy level. It takes energy to change habits, and to change the way I am eating and exercising (not exercising). Here is the rub… one reason I potentially have low energy reserves is the diet I have chosen, so to change the energy reserves, means a change in the program. It is that proverbial cycle. I was pretty smug as I thought to myself that my spiritual health was in pretty good shape. I have a fairly good daily time of prayer and reading each morning. In fact I get up around 5:30 am to make sure that it happens. I journal often. In the course of a routine morning I average an hour a day with God. (This was a decision made almost 2 years ago to put God first in my day, to spend quality time with Him. God deserves at least an hour, out of my 16 hours of awake time). It wasn’t easy but it has become a huge part of my life now, and when it doesn’t happen, I miss it – tremendously!!! (Becky you had a huge part in that change). There is nothing like meeting with God and having Him meet and chat with you, every day. I also talk with God throughout my day, sometimes out loud… in fact there are days I am so good at it… I forget that I am chatting out loud and you should see some of the looks I receive:):):) I keep that power flowing through my vines. Like the proverb says…. Pride - in this case a false sense of smugness - goes before a fall!
Because it hit me, well I think perhaps the Holy Spirit smacked me … if my Spiritual life was really where it should be, perhaps my physical life would be too. The bottom line is the way I am eating, and moving (or not moving)- knowing that it is not good for the body God has given me, knowing that it is in part responsible for my low energy level, and is undoubtedly affecting my physical challenges as well, is pure unadulterated sin! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I have been making a conscious choice (although I would like to say it was unconscious, it isn’t). No one is forcing me…. It is a choice--- I am choosing. So today I am laying this sin at the feet of Jesus. And I may be laying it there second, by second and minute by minute. But God will be faithful! If I truly repent and rely on God I suspect there will be changes coming. The devil is going to be fighting me on this, as well as my sinful nature. I would appreciate it, if from time to time you could lift up a prayer on my behalf.
Thanks for allowing me to share this moment with all of you.
AZ: Here's what thoughts I had after reading your post and I think we all can apply it.
I'm working on some study notes for our women's ministry, and the author of a study stated we should have a more than just check off the box Christianity.
To me, that means even if we do church, quiet time, prayer etc. are we still letting God work through us and help us with every moment of every day?
That's something I need to work on. I think for me it's needing to improve on who I know, and not just what I know about Him.
Thanks for sharing, it gave me something to think about!
Becky, can you share the points you made from the J. Oswald Sanders book?
It went so fast on the phone call, I didn't really hear it.
thank you.
Yes, the limitations of a conference call probably requires (in the future) that everyone bring their journal to the call and take notes!
Here are the bullet points from J. Oswald Sanders' quote on the importance of time to a leader:
1. Poor time management increases stress.
2. "Every call for help is not from God..."
3. Procrastination is one of the devil's greatest tools for stealing our heritage.
4. "Putting off" is fatal to spiritual leadership.
5. The passing of time never makes a decision easier.
Note: The author's final comment is worth recording, "A helpful method for overcoming procrastination is to set deadlines, and never miss or postpone even one."
WOW! There's a lot of inspiration to get us all through this week.
Be encouraged,
Becky
My initial thought when Becky posed the "Most Important Now" is that some things will never get done because there will always be something more important.
It took me a moment to realize that is the point. There are some things that aren't important, and I can just take them off the "To Do" list.
My prayer...Lord, help me let go of the lesser things and fill my life and time with Your best.
Thank you Becky! I was taking notes, but I can't always write that fast!
You are so appreciated!
Thank you, Becky. I was taking notes and missed a few points. I would also like to try the drink, how much water do you add?
I am new to blogging and a little hesitate--I just wanted to say that on a scale of 1 to 10, I was a 4 this week. I let things fall apart, did not plan ahead, and put procrastination at the top of my to do list. So, this week's assignment has encouraged me!
Thank you
Sherry,
Thanks for blogging your # and feelings! We're in this together.
Sassy Water (as part of the Flat Belly Diet from Prevention Magazine):
Medium cucumber
10 mint leaves
Medium lemon
1 tsp grated ginger...
as much water as you can fit in a pitcher...and I actually cut this into 1/4-1/2 and chill in the fridge over night and drink all day!
Becky
The Flat Belly Diet is a Prevention Magazine resource and available online or in bookstores. I highly recommend it.
It is so encouraging to read the blogs. AZ...I can totally identify with your blog. Emmab,it is such a great reminder that it isn't always "what" we know that gets us on the sanctification route. But Knowing Him through His word. Also, someone, a respected woman of God told me "In choosing throughout the day, there is always the good the better and the best choice." There are so many good things to choose to do each day...but I love Becky's refinement of MIN. Most Important Now....This is such a great tool. I love it and have been trying to say it to myself at every turn in the day. I still have a long way to go because last night I found myself shoving food down my pie hole and kept thinking the MIN is stuffing this food down to feel better. WHEW...what an awakening. Emotional eating can eat me alive. This is a vulnerable confession...and I do know God can change this as I seek His face each moment.
I have had the flat belly diet book intending to follow it for some time now. I am a collector of diet's but never do them. I think I was holding off on this one just like I do all the others. Also, Becky thanks for writing down the quote points from the Sanders book. I too take notes but didn't catch them either.
Plus, I hope you accept my apology for dissing your ideas for the closet, walking and so on. It hit me after the blog that I am just procrastinating and not wanting to make the changes I know are for God's glory and my good stewardship. Whew...there I go again with confessions. This is long.
But sure feels good to put it down.
Dear GMV,
No offense taken. What you'll come to know/find about me is that I "do" the things I suggest that you "do." In fact, many times, I've done them for a long while and proven to myself that they work for the average person!
As CS Lewis wrote, "I'm just a fellow patient, who having been admitted to the hospital a little sooner could give some good advice."
Be encouraged,
Becky
I joined this group to give me hope not to give up because that's what I want to do every day. It seems this season of my family's life is a valley and daily we are reduced to shouting and chaos. I don't know when it got off track, but it did and now every area of my life seems out of balance. I react to the strife with neglecting myself. There are days where I want so badly just to stay in bed or, worse yet, run away. But I know that God is with me and knows what's going on. He's allowing this valley for a greater purpose. I have to trust that.
So hearing the words "Most Important Now" reminds that at every moment I have a choice to follow Him or to follow my feelings and circumstances.
My "scale of 1-10" numbers have been low, but I know that they would be lower if I wasn't participating in this group. So this weekly call is more than an accountability group, it is a call of HOPE. Hope that things won't always be the way they are right now. In the meantime, I am to care for myself in big and little ways and allow that to be a blessing to my husband and teenage children.
I am SO ready to turn the page on this season of life, but if I turn it too quickly I may miss God's purpose and plan for it.
My "MIN" today is to get out of bed and choose Faith over Fear..... and maybe to quit shoving OREOs in the mouth.
God bless you all!
donna.
DonnaJ~and fellow SMC&T sisters in Christ. We do not know one another but I find myself wanting to pray for each and every one of us. Now, that is definitely the Holy Spirits work as I am as selfish as can be. So, I pray right now that God in His mercy will draw each of us to Him in a mighty way. Thank you that you have chosen your faithful servant, Becky,and for her willingness to step up to the call, to help us learn new ways to glorify You. We ask for the courage to change the way we tend to our money, our physical bodies and our time. Please pour your grace and mercy on our minds and hearts as we are challenged with new ways to break old habits. In Jesus name...Amen
Also, Becky...ahhh CSLewis. Now there is a man that understands grace. Thank you for extending grace to me.
My MIN will probably come into play next weekend at the grocery store, as I am a magazine addict.
I love craft magazines and fashion magazines, and last week ended up walking out with no less than four different publications which I haven't even looked at yet. I'm reminding myself that many now have web sites where you can read some of the articles for free, and I need to cut the clutter in my home. So there will be some MIN moments next time I shop.
The other MIN--I am taking a course for fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue self-management at the same time as doing this. This is a new course, and they asked veterans of online course #1, to give input on the new course #2.
Lots of it is focused on pacing and time management.
Being self- employed, this is end of January tax statement time. I do most of our forms in order to save on accounting fees. I have a degree in theater, I dont do numbers and I hate doing this.
But I am employing this MIN concept, to try to focus on doing X amount of office work per day, not putting it off, and then getting out of the office to exercise or rest. That fits the bill of dealing with the MIN, and fulfills the tasks in the other course.
It's a great concept! I'm sure it will play out in many other areas, but this is the one I worked on today.
This topic has certainly prompted some soul-searching and some heart-felt sharing of our concerns. I want so much to share more than I have recently, but I'm feeling really overwhelmed with the pressures of the end of the semester. It seems that tonight everything has taken me longer than expected, and here I sit at the "eleventh hour"--both figuratively and literally--trying to finish composing the exams that I'll be giving my students tomorrow. I admit that procrastination, along with a too-tightly-packed schedule, has led me to the state where my MIN is taking HOURS, and my stomach is in knots. . . .
I'd really appreciate your prayers for patience and endurance as I get to school extra early to run these tests off and as I greet my students tomorrow . . . and prayers that they will be able to do well on these exams that aren't as well constructed as I'd like them to be. I don't feel good about the way the semester is winding down, and I am far from ready to begin the new one next Thursday.
AZ Purple Princess mentioned "the Holy Spirit smack[ing]" her: I think God is hitting me over the head right now to get me to slow down, reassess my priorities, and get back to planning, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly.
Good night, everyone. I'll be praying for all of you. And Becky, thank you again for your wonderful guidance and encouragement.
Lord, sometimes life gets so overwhelming (as Wanda and others have indicated).
We want to use our time the best we can for you. We get rather frustrated when we allow or when things just end up consuming us and our time. We want that to be consumed by You.
I know my small business stresses are taking me away from the things I truly want to do for You, and it seems like lots of us have those kind of distractions in many different ways.
Please help us order our time.
Please smooth the rough places where we need your intervention.
Please help us to live lives for you, filled up by your Spirit and your presence, while still taking care of our families, jobs, health needs, financial need and our time.
We so want to make you the number one thing, the MIN all day every day.
Thank you for Becky and her work with us, and for us and others.
Bless her today with your care and wisdom.
We greatly appreciate her setting this forum up for us, so we can pray for and support each other.
min=most important Now
so, i get that every time i get tempted to eat or not work out I need to think about "my goal'? ok.
this week was rockey road at work. even though i didn't have to work on Monday. Just everything got off balance.
most important now
what is more important?
I am trying to understand.
ok.....focus on each thing I need to do.
1. Apply for a job I saw online
2. Re-order the nightime stuff because my son is not getting his homework done.
3. think about finding other ways to get some walking in
I realy get tired. I know that sounds like an excuse but 4am is realy early. Maybe, it if can get a different job then I could workout in the AM. ok thanks for all the great comments. I enjoy reading about everyone.
Quick note, I had an MIN moment.
I only bought one little inexpensive magazine today at the grocery store.
I truly did think about the MIN!
Way to go! Good job!!!!!
You just saved Money...thats great.
I bought suger free sweets ...thats about a half///min
Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
1. What does it mean to deny myself and to take up my cross daily?
2. What am I willing to do daily in order to deny myself?
3. What am I willing to do to hear God's voice?
4. What am I willing to do when my voice over shawdows God's voice?
5. What ways am I walking in God's ways?
6. What do I do when the temptation to eat overwhelms me?
7. What do I do to keep my hands from evil?
8. What ways am I honoring God with my body?
9. What do I do to guard my mind from negative thoughts?
10. What ways do I worship God formally and informally?
I know that I have not denied myself when it comes to food. Daily I battle with head hunger and last night I lost the battle again. I wish that I responded to food as fuel instead of comfort. I want to win this battle with God's help. I think the MIN will help. What is my most important now. The first part of a 12 step program is to come to the realization that I need God's help and I need to be willing. The first two words that come out of willing is Will I. Will I say no to head hunger? Will I say no to late night eating? Will I say yes to exercise? Will I say yes to eating less? Will I say yes to feeling hungry? Will I exercise when I am tired? Will I turn to God for emotional comfort instead of food? Will I sacrifice the need to eat when my emotions are in turmoil? Will I sacrifice the need to have a snack at night when I have already eaten all my calories for the day? Will I sacrifice fear for success?
I answered those questions and I want more than anything to change. To stop procrastination. To stop reacting at work by eating. To seek God for my comfort instead of food. More than anything I want to slay this beast and beat compulsive overeating, procrastination, and yes laziness. Nothing can be a substitute for obedience. So for today I am going to change and not struggle to change. Diana
Diana, Luke 9:23 is my LIFE VERSE!!! It has so much meaning to me. :)
OK, I want to post some encouragement. I have been writing in my journal daily asking God for discipline and it is really helping.
Also, I purchased the book Becky recommended (Belly Fat Diet) and have been making the water (BTW, I found bunches of mint for only 59 cents each at an Asian market). I am only on Day 3 of this diet (Day 1 was brutal for me but I made it through thanks to God and a supportive husband), and today I am already into my largest pair of jeans. I own 4 beautiful pairs and these are the most relaxed but I have not been able to get into them at all prior.
Just wanted to share. Love in Christ, Steph.
Dear Sisters in Christ, I really do treasure you all and highly value your comments, willingness to be vulnerable, and your prayers. My schedule will not usually permit the "live" version of the call but I am still gratefully tracking with the recorded version otherwise. I also have limited access to my home email yet you are always here when I return. Smile.My heart breaks, is stimulated/challenged, and yet rejoices with you all. My MIN priority focus this week is with my morning time with the Lord. It is really early yet even still my mind can race into the the pressures of the day if I don't utilize the Min spirituality. I hold you all individually dear in my prayers.
*I am a 6.
*Emmab, I too am no stranger to fibromyalgia/arthritis/CFS. We shall overcome!
*Donna, hang in there! I've been close enough to where you currently are at. don't put a period where God puts a comma. Just one step in the other direction (from depression/giving up) is an awesome start.
I have been working on maintaining my focus while at work and also getting up early to have my quiet time with the Lord. As I am sitting here, I am saying to myself, "it it just so hard to get out of the bed" but what I should really be doing in the morning is saying what is "most important not". And quiet time with the Lord is most important. I know that when I get up earlier and have my quiet time my day is so much better. I do listen to praise and worship on the way to work or a teaching cd, but there is a difference. So please pray for me that I will do it.
I have been able to be more focused on work, simply avoiding the distractions. Whether email or outside noise. And it has been helping.
Thank God for all of you ladies. We all have challenges, but it is awesome to know that we have God on our side. That He is always with us and always will be. We just have to believe and depend on Him.
Have a blessed week.
Hope, your post on your morning time with God, made me think.
Because of the fibro, I usually wake up late and go to bed late. (I have energy bursts around 1 am.)
We're self employed too, so I usually have business stuff hitting me in the face in the morning first thing.
Today I actually sat in a chair I have in our upstairs loft. I could see our beautiful local mountains. Even though business is severely bad right now, I read my CYL Bible and asked God to help with the whole day. Then I took in the view of those mountains and realized it is something I do not do very often, but need to do.
So, thanks for your post about your MIN this week, which helped me. And of course, thank you Becky.
Becky, you asked us to enter successes we have had this week. I had small successes this week with MIN. I walked the dog three days in a row. I have a "bin" fettish so whenever I shop I want to buy bins to help get organized even though I have several empty bins in my messy basement already.
So, I was able to hold off on impulse buying of bins. I made the sassy water and have been drinking it. Plus I bought more healthy food at the store to prepare. I have been fairly consistent with my time with the Lord...I remembered that I have the One Year Sacred Obsession. And am adding it to my quiet time to help focus on truth from the Word for the day.
I had lots of not so good moments too. I seem to wander around a lot trying to decide what to do next. There are so many interruptions, needs of my elderly parents and mother-in-law and life in general. I find myself turning in circles a lot. I feel like I am spinning my wheels in place. However, I have the three things in my mind that Becky has taught us already. So I have hope.
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