An Ordered Life

“Order my steps, in Your word
Order my tongue, in Your word
Guide my feet, in Your word
Wash my heart, in Your word
Show me how to walk, in Your word
Show me how to talk, in Your word.
(refrain)
I want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill
Please order my steps, Lord, and I’ll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing, but You are still the same
If You order my steps, I’ll praise Your name.
~
~A hymn by Glen Burleigh~

Stress is a major issue in disrupting good health, especially for women. It may be a contributing factor to everything from backaches and insomnia to cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Disorder is large on my list of stress triggers. Disorder for me falls into three categories:

1. Disorder in my relationships
2. Disorder in my person
3. Disorder in my home

The category that completely affects the others is number 1, especially in my relationship with God. Just looking on my bookshelf lets me know how much money I spend trying to control that aspect of my life. I have 4 versions of woman's study Bibles. I have about 30 books on developing a closer walk with the Lord.

My favorite 2 books for women are Life Management for Busy Women, by Elizabeth George; and A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life, by Lysa TerKeurst and Sharon Jaynes.

The first section of each book covers our relationship to God, especially developing a passion for His Word. Elizabeth George says: "Behind the passionate saint is a passion for God and His Word." For me, a skewed priority list is the number one source of stress. If I start my day without at least 5 minutes meeting with God in His word, the whole day is more difficult. I can tell, though, even on the days that I spend more than the five minutes~if I just check Bible study off my to-do list and go about my day without dwelling on what I've read, the stress still beats me up.

I have to think the secret lies with the words from Mr. Burleigh's hymn, "Show me how to walk in Your word, show me how to talk in Your word." It's more about experiencing the true personal relationship with God than about doing my Christian "duties." Don't you think our relationship to the Lord is supposed to be a vibrant, exciting, and comfortable relationship? Something like spending time with a close confidant. Someone who loves you no matter what and is always honest with you.

My newest favorite read is a neat book by Leonard Sweet, The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion. On the subject of authentic passion, Dr. Sweet quotes jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker: "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."

The Apostle Paul put it this way:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” ~Colossians 3:16

and the psalmist put it like this:

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” ~Psalm 50:23









Lori is hosting In Other Words at her site All You Have to Give. If you want to participate, write a blog about the quote in the box above on your site then click on the link to Lori's blog and leave your URL in the Mr. Linky box. You will also find links for the other participants' blogs.

An Ordered Life

https://typingone-handed.blogspot.com/2008/08/ordered-life.html