Sharpening Your Saw: Body, Mind, Soul, and Heart
In April 2018 when I started the blog “Off the Hooks,” I didn’t think about monetizing the blog, getting thousands of subscribers, or being a social media influencer. I simply wanted to create a space to write about ways to inspire and encourage others to live their best lives through sharpening their saw. The saw metaphorically being the self. After a year of blogging, I’ve learned a few lessons like living my best life works better by living God’s best life for me. Thus, living your best life is living God’s best life for you. God sharpens us best; because, he knew us before we were formed in the womb. He tells the prophet, Jeremiah, that when commissioning him to an assignment (Jeremiah 1:5). And David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways stated in Psalm 139:16.
God knows me. He knows everything about me and if I just trust him then he will order my steps. He knows I am scared to write, but I love writing. I want to stop writing, but I can’t—a blessing and a curse. He knows I have a heart for people because of the love he has poured into me. I had no idea until months after curating “Off the Hooks.” The more I thought about the theme sharpening your saw, the more I desired to pour what has been poured into me into others. As Proverbs 16:9 indicates: “Within your heart, you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there” (TPT). That’s the second lesson I learned from writing this blog.
I can’t just write about sharpening your saw if I am not sharpening my saw. I check in with myself at the end of the day, or the end of three days to be sure I’m covering what Stephen Covey calls the four dimensions. I equate his dimensions to disciplines.
Physical: Did you exercise? Did you overeat? Are you relaxing?
Mental: Did you write in your diary, or plan your week? What did you read today?
Spiritual: Did you pray, write in your diary, read morning devotion, meditate?
Social/Emotional: Have you spoke to your daughters? Called your mother? Planned a date night with your husband? Scheduled dinner plans with friends? Attended a worship service other than Sunday morning?
I try my best to live a disciplined life in all four dimensions daily, but when I don’t I’ve learned to be flexible and not be so hard on myself.
The fourth lesson I learned: slow down and be present in the moment. I’ve been working on this discipline for several years and it is and has been a process. I over plan and disappoint myself when I can’t get it all done. Thus, I become dull and surly. But when I limit my daily activities and realistically look at what I can and cannot do, the day moves smoothly. My saw glides through the day like a knife cuts butter. For example, on Wednesdays I meet with my writing buddy in the morning, then go to an exercise class, followed by grocery shopping. That’s a full day. Wednesdays are not the day I do laundry, make phone calls, or hang out on social media. I just don’t have enough time. When I slow down, I can see the whole picture instead of simply obsessing over one thing I did not do. That’s looking at the forest instead of the trees.
And finally, I have learned that writing “Off the Hooks” is a space to write all the words of faith and hope and love that I have experienced through and by God’s hand in my life. It is a space to write down how with God on my side I can share what it looks like to go through the storms, around the storms and be in the storms because I’m living God’s best life that he has for me. What about you?
Until next time.
Living God’s Best life
I’m allowing Father God to sharpen my saw, and to follow His plans. At this age in my life, I need Him more. Besides serving the homeless, nothing really interests me more. That’s not to say that my spouse or (grand) children, or family members don’t matter. They all do. But in my relationship with God, I want more. Whatever that looks like, I’m will to wait, according to His plan.
Your story is interesting and well written Queen. You know I used to follow your other blog. Keep writing, and writing, and writing. And thank you for sharing those “disciplines.”
Thank you for sharing. It’s amazing how when God puts it on your heart, he and the desire to please him are what matters most. I was thinking about my other blog, and how far I’ve come since then. Thank you for those words to keep writing. God’s has given me a new assignment and it’s scary, so your words are his confirmation and affirmation.