Devotion ~ January 4 2011 ~

Make A Seismic Shift By Sharon Frame
You may not have felt it. But a monster earthquake that ravaged the South American country of Chile February of 2010 shifted your life too. It registered an 8.8 magnitude. That's mammoth! NASA's geophysicists say the massive jolt likely shifted the earth's axis by about eight centimeters, and shortened our days by 1.26 microseconds. That might not seem like a lot. But in life, every second counts. Over time they add up to minutes. And like grains of sand in an hour glass, enough minutes make days, which stretch into years.
Now, thanks to that quake in Chile, we are one microsecond shorter on time.
But way before the killer quake struck, we have been selling ourselves short by not registering the seismic shifts in our own lives. The Bible urges us to “redeem the time, or make the best use of it.” Do not waste it. (Ephesians 5:16a)
Geologically, seismic shifts occur in the earth's crust and can cause major eruptions above ground. Practically, seismic shifts are those little changes that make a big difference in our lives. Such shifts can be negative or positive. Let's examine a case in point.
What if you wanted to enjoy a rich, more joyful life? Begin by taking small, simple steps to make it happen. Start by doing a blatantly honest self- assessment. Examine what needs to be fixed in your life. Face the truth about your power-draining habits. Identify the impediments that stand in your way. With that done, it's time for another shift. Tackle your issues one at a time. If bad spending habits are the demons keeping you from being wealthy, commit to taking a money management class that offers practical and sustainable results.
The third shift is to earnestly stick with your plan of action until you conquer that weakness. I call this the FTC approach. Face. Tackle. Conquer.
Shift one: Face the problem. Shift two: Tackle the problem. Shift three: Conquer the problem.
This results in positive seismic shifts. Enough of these small steps will yield monumental changes. But remember, if we want true and lasting success, it’s imperative that we factor in God. Proverbs 16:3 instructs us to: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Doing nothing also causes a shift. Like the earthquake in Chile, you may not have felt the tremor. But it happened. You may not see how taking-no-action hurts your chance at a better, more fulfilling life. But it does. “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)
Like it or not, what we do everyday creates seismic shifts. They eventually trigger major eruptions. For some, personal success will break through. Others will just shift further into a life of self-defeat. With God as your guide, you’ve got a slight edge. Make it count.
Scripture Of The Day: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)