My mom was a model.
No, she wasn’t six feet tall. She was 5’5”. She was not a voluptuous blonde or a gorgeous brunette. She was an attractive redhead. The only thing about her looks that would have qualified her to model was her ivory skin that was clear as glass and smooth as silk. And when she wore soft pinks, she emanated a gentIle aura. She was soft…so soft…
But soft skin doesn’t translate into weakness by any measure. Going past the depth of her soft ivory skin, Margie Mullen’s interior was stronger, taller and thicker than anyone I’ve known since. Her interior was what made her a model. I was around eleven years old when I began to recognize an inner strength that I didn’t necessarily see in other women.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying your mom was lacking inner strength–it’s just that I knew my mom more intimately than I knew yours, so my mom was my model.
She was special, she was different, and even when circumstances colored her on the outside, her inner happiness was always more prevalent than any short-lived outward expression of the moment. I remember observing her responses, her habits, her character, then imitating her in my own life situations. I remember asking God to make me like my mom.
What I didn’t know then that I’ve come to understand now, is that my mom had her own model. She didn’t come by these qualities naturally. She had developed a certain way of thinking that translated into specific actions leading to supernatural results. Her lifestyle was no accident. It was not by chance. She managed all of life on purpose.
We are about to begin a new year, and it seems most of us get a little retrospective and introspective just after Christmas. That’s a good thing, because when we take an honest look back, we are hopefully propelled to take an honest approach toward what lies ahead.
A Valuable Exercise
In retrospect, we can look at our mistakes and regrets and answer questions like:
- “What was I hoping for when I took that action?”
- “What influences contributed to that decision?”
- “What line of thinking led me to make that choice?”
After answering those questions, to keep it totally real, we must also celebrate the “wins” of the year. This kind of evaluation writes our story for last year, and in remembering our story, we discover what we want to continue and what we need to change to enhance our story for this next year.
There is great value in learning from our pasts and rich reward in planning for what is to come.
So, what or who is your model? When your model lines up directly with the God’s way of thinking, you have a 100% guarantee for successful living.
This morning when I sat down for some personal time, I wasn’t thinking of my mom, I was just reading Psalm 119. The first eight verses read as though I was watching an artist paint on a canvas, brushstrokes of various memories and images of my mom in everyday life. She never told me this was her model, but the description here fits her to a T. Looking back, I predict she laid claim in Psalm 119 when looking for the model for her way of living. Having worked so successfully for her, the influence is strong and propels me to follow.
Look with me at the NLT version, and then my paraphrases using the original meanings of the words:
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.” – How happy are those whose life-path is without blemish. Not that there’s never been a blemish, but the toxicities are healed, and in their place, purity remains. It carries the thought of walking a straight, level path. Figuratively, this level of integrity pushes us to go forward, be honest, prosper in what is ahead.
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. – Happy is the one who protects and maintains God’s ways, making Him their focus.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. – Their lifestyle is intentional, and they don’t deviate from living God’s way. This is when it’s good to be “set in your ways”!
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! – I agree with and am committed to living your way, God.
Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!” – Learning from you, God, gives me confidence in your presence.Your teaching develops expert skills in living your way.
What a fabulous model for living our very best lives in the here and now! This line of thinking lays a strong foundation for whatever life presents to us in the near future.
We can move into 2019 using this 3-D Approach:
DILIGENCE – not a word we use often, but being intentional to follow the ways of God pays off in every area of life. Being intentional to stay on the “path” with God rewards us with happiness–or even better: Joy!
DIRECTION – which way do you choose when life brings you to the fork in the road? Even when we’re not sure which direction to go, when we’re moving toward God, we are heading in the right direction. Promise after promise, He guarantees to guide us as we look to Him with our whole hearts. Walk his way, and you’ll reach your destination.
DEVOTION – again, not a word we use often, but you know devotion refers to love. How do you show your devotion to God? How do you demonstrate your love for Him? God continuously expresses deep devotion toward us; His love is easy to see when we pay attention. We love Him back in 2 ways: letting HIm be our only God & showing HIs kind of love to other people around us…being devoted to God, devoted to others.
If you haven’t yet found a model for life, I invite you to try the strong model of Psalm 119:1-8.
Being Diligent to follow His Direction in the Devotion of our hearts will move us into the new year in a winning way. It’s 3 Dimensional, no matter how you look at it!