You Are Exactly Where You Thought You Would Be

If you had asked me when I was a child, what I wanted to be when I grew up, teacher and writer would have been on the list. I am nothing if not predictable. I don't remember a phase of wanting to be a veterinarian or marine biologist, like many young girls, although I remember being fascinated with manatees in sixth grade. I never wanted to be an astronaut or fire fighter. Predictable and unadventurous.

In some ways, my life doesn't look like what I planned. Thirty years on, though, I have been a teacher of pre-school children and a teacher of middle school children, and I'm a writer from beginning to end, whether or not anyone ever reads it.

It's not unusual for people to plan their career path, but how many of us plan our spiritual path?

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day." And James Allen said, "You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

Our thought life has a tremendous impact on our lives. Proverbs 23:7 tells us as a man thinks, so he is. Just like a body existing on Tasty Cakes and Oreos is not likely to run a marathon, a thought life gorged on romance novels, the anger of social media, and negative news stories will struggle to run the race set before is with the dedication and joy God intended.

But of course we can break the cycle. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2 By changing our focus, we can change direction. We want to change direction because "the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Changing what we listen to and read and meditate on will set us on the proper path, but just because you set foot on the track doesn't mean your running the race. You have to make progress, no matter how many times, no matter how often, you fall down. Spiritually speaking, we need to take a forward step.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 13-16

Take out the old thoughts. Prepare them with new thoughts. Godly, holy, beautiful thoughts.

Mentally preparing a career path -- these grades to get into this college to apply for this job and move up the ladder -- is expected, and we are frustrated with teenagers who don't understand this. You'll never get there if you don't start planning here.

But we don't do that spiritually. Do we think that we'll somehow end up as a strong, gracious, joyful Christian that can impart wisdom and love to the younger generation if we never make a plan to get there? I'm not talking about boxes to check off. But reading the Bible, spending time in honest conversation with God, and reading thought-provoking books (or listening to audio books or watching video teaching) will get us closer to that goal. Standing at the starting block and expecting the pack to carry us along is not the fulfilling life God has planned.

When I was a baby Christian, I often thought about my mentor. "I want to be Miss Betty when I grow up." A woman of such grace, beauty, kindness, and peace. I'm not there yet. But I'll keep my mind's eye focused on my Savior Jesus Christ, and eventually I'll get where my thoughts say I'm going.