I had a great conversation this morning with a friend and it led to the meaning of the Lord’s standards. What exactly does that mean? Are we truly living by His standards?
Unfortunately we live in a very ‘materialistic’ world and often care about what people say or think about us. If we live our lives to please Our Father and no one else, we will live a much more fulfilling life. It is normal for us to worry about finances and how we will support our families, but we must learn to pray and not live our lives beyond our means.
Living a somewhat frugal life will keep us in check and definitely keep us from overspending and getting us into trouble, so to speak. Having a large family we are forced to live a frugal life, but it also teaches our children to appreciate the gifts they receive and not expect them. Today’s society is one that brainwashes our children into thinking that the latest fashions and toys are the way it should be and that is far from the truth.
I must confess that my children do have electronic games and gadgets as well as cell phones, but they had to earn them. Not like their friends who were bought certain items because of peer pressure. Our children must earn any extra items that they desire. They also understand that because they may want something doesn’t necessarily mean they will get it.
Living by His standards is something that requires a lot of dedication. Training your family is even more difficult but it can be accomplished. Our family has an ongoing wish list and it changes daily, but it is something my children can work towards. They know that we will not drop everything and run to the mall because of their desires.
Our Christmas is not as elaborate as it has been in past years, but the kids enjoy it nonetheless. We make our days meaningful and give thanks to Our Father for what we have. Our health and loving family is the most important and all else will follow if it was meant to be. Thanking and praising God for all that we do have, is extremely important and we strive to instill those values in our children. They are thankful and respectful and that is the biggest gift anyone can ask for.
This reminds me of my favorite verse:
‘I can do everything through Him who gives me strength’
Philippians 4:13
How about you? Are you living by His standards?
The Chronicles continue….
Tags: His standards, media pressure, morals, My Life, peer pressure, today's society, values
August 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Oh goodness Daisy you are so on it about living by God’s standards. A lot of God’s children would like to believe that they are living by His standards when in reality they are not.
Here is how I am beginning to determine if it is me living by His standards or my own. Psalms 37:4 states
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
I had to take a long hard look at that and really ask myself what the psalmist meant by it. For me my delighting in the Lord should also cause me to want for my life what God wants for me. My desires should be His desires and the more I delight in Him that more I desire to do His will.
So many times we desire to do our will and then expect God to bless it. Well God just does not work like that because it is not about us but about giving the glory to the one who created and designed us to be all we can for Him.
Yes He wants to enjoy life and He wants to see us pleased and having fun but not at the expense of losing sight of His purpose and design for our lives.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I needed that today. Just like I needed to read the ebook I read yesterday Thriving on One Income, its author talks alot about how we are training ourselves to meet the world’s desires and making ourselves think we have to have things that we really can live without. Both your post and her ebook have made me take a different perspective these last couple of days. Thank you Daisy!
August 31st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Daisy - this is so perfectly timed. My purse was stolen the other day and I’ve been really stressed about it. This is such a beautiful reminder to me of how absolutely blessed my children and I are. Thanks.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Our church drives this one home to us a lot. Every time it is brought up it reminds me that we need to simplify our lives. This is one message that I truely love because life is better when it is simplified and we follow the lord. Thanks for the reminder. I really needed it.