Execution over Emotion.

Have you ever had a really crappy day?  Maybe even a series of crappy days strung together?  Life just isn’t going as you would like.  It seems like the world is against you.  

Somewhere in your mind you think, “if I could just get to a meeting, a church service, pray with someone” this would all be better.  Emotions are frazzled.  Emotions are swinging all over the place.  Does any of that sound familiar?

If we take a look at most of the interactions Jesus had with the folks around him we see two things repeatedly.  First, the person in desperate need has a life changing, course straightening conversation with Jesus.  Then the person that has met with Jesus leaves changed, healed, set free and restored.  It is amazing!  

They walk away on an emotional high that is hard to describe.  What a great feeling!

You know what you never see in these meetings with Jesus?  Jesus never changes the person’s behavior, habits, and worldly desires.  However, Jesus does tell several folks something along the lines of stop behaving the way you have been or what ever may come next will be worse that what you were just delivered from.

Jesus tells us to stop looking for shortcuts, stop shying away from the hard work. The “popular” and easy way will not work.  He goes on to say, if we want to be a part of the Kingdom of God, we have to be willing to change our behavior.  

It comes down to execution over emotion.  Emotions are easy.  If we are honest, we love the emotional roller coaster.  Executing or living out the changes we so desperately desire is hard.  And most of us do not want to do the hard things.  

What if we start out small?  No unattainable goals.  Just small steps.  And we may see a string of small steps leading us to great changes.  

Psalms 119:33 says, “God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay on course.  Give me insight so I can do what you tell me - my whole life on long, obedient response.”

What if you and I start right there.  We begin to pray that everyday, throughout our day and see what happens.

Those few sentences are us asking God to change our focus from an emotional response to an action that is rooted in the Kingdom of God.

Stop being driven by emotions and begin to focus on the execution of Godly behaviors.  Are you willing to put in the effort?  

Start small.  Just start!  Execute!