New Shoes...

Perhaps you would expect an article on new shoes to come from Kim but sometimes God uses strange things to get our attention and this is one of those times for me. Yesterday, I went to be fitted for a new suit (thanks to my parent's generosity on my birthday) and while in the store saw a pair of shoes exactly like the ones I was wearing on my feet. Unfortunately, you would have never known the two pairs were the same type of shoe! I had been wearing the ones on my feet for a couple of years and had not realized how completely worn out they were until I saw again what they looked like new! The contrast between the shoes reminded me of something God has been recently teaching me through my study of the Book of Haggai.

Several times in the book of Haggai God tells the people of Israel to "consider their ways." We need to be reminded, especially in moments of disobedience, to consider our life for the worn out and broken spots. If we fail to "consider" we can easily live a broken and worn out life without realizing it! The people of Haggai's day had made some terrible choices regarding their priorities and their lives were headed away from God and His blessing. God wants so much better for His people! So God told the people to take inventory of their life and consider where there was need of repentance and a new way of living.

Have you taken the time to consider your life lately? Have you considered what you are doing with the time God gives you? Have you thought about the things which motivate you? Are you living a life pleasing to God? Are there people, things or habits that have become so routine in your life that they have escaped scrutiny? Sometimes it is even the "good" things in our life that need to change so we can have something better from God and give Him greater glory with our life.

We NEED to regularly consider our ways and allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of anything we need to change about the way we live. The result of such consideration and change in Haggai's day was great blessing and great opportunity to give glory to God. Because of their obedience, the people in Haggai's day were allowed to build the Temple in which Jesus would someday walk! God will bless and provide you opportunity to give Him glory if you will CONSIDER and CHANGE any unhealthy, worn out or sinful things about your life!

James