Are you a Racecar or an Airplane?

Strange question, I know. Let me explain. Race Cars and Airplanes have something in common. They are both designed to be in motion and so they both experience resistance - wind resistance. Resistance is like life fighting you, trying to keep you from moving forward. The only way to avoid wind resistance is to sit motionless, going nowhere. 

I've learned that when I'm moving forward and making progress that's when I experience the most resistance in life. I've learned to welcome challenges and problems knowing that they're a good sign that I'm moving forward. Still resistance is no fun. It can zap your energy and blow you off course. Many people quit because of resistance while others seem to get better through the battle. 

Which brings me to my question, are you a Race Car or Airplane? While both harness wind resistance they have the opposite effect.  A Race Car's design uses wind resistance to hold it down onto the track, keeping it glued to the ground for better traction and handling. An Airplane uses wind resistance to lift it off the ground. Without the resistance of the wind an airplane couldn't fly.

How are you designed? When the resistance of life comes blowing your way do you let it push you down? Do you react with hopelessness or complaining? Are you prone to quit when things get difficult? Like a Race Car, does the wind keep you from getting off the ground? Or are you like an Airplane? Do you become more determined and tenacious as things come against you? Do you use the very problems you face as a way to learn lessons and build strength? Do the challenges you face serve to lift you to another level? 

Workin' on me

This is the time of year for life evaluations which lead to the infamous New Years Resolutions. I am certainly a proponent of self evaluation, but I am hesitant to make resolutions. Mostly, because New Years Resolutions start with selfish goals which we attempt to accomplish by human means. In other words, we pick what we want to happen in life then we try to make those things happen, which is why most resolutions don't work. We get wrapped up in changing the things around us when God is focused on changing us. So here is my simple advice - Instead of making resolutions make goals, but not goals that change your bathroom scale or bank account, goals that change you.

While you get wrapped up in the things around you God is focused on you. He wants to help you grow. He wants to make you stronger. He wants to increase your faith. God wants to make a better you, but He requires your help. You must allow Him to make changes in you, you must desire to grow and you must work with the Holy Spirit and I mean work. Instead of wasting time trying to change things out of your control you must work on you. One of the most powerful attributes of human life is that (with God's help) we can change.

No doubt some will say, "I don't need to change. My husband needs to change or my job needs to change or the economy needs to change" This may be true but in all situations God send agents of change; people who bring about a new attitude or a new way of doing things that usher in change. That agent of change in your world is you.  Your situation can't change until you do.

So as you evaluate your life make goals that focus on you. Allow God to help you grow and watch as you and the world around gets better.