Sunday, June 19, 2011

Compromises

Two weeks ago I decided to run the farthest I have ever ran. I got my shoes on, got in the car, and drove to Peter's Canyon. Not only was it the farthest but there are several large hills that I knew I would have to climb. I was ready for the challenge...until I started running. I hadn't even gotten half a mile (out of 6) before I started making compromises with myself. I'll only run the first part, I'll can walk when I get to the top of the hill, on and on and on and on and ON. As I realized that I was arguing with myself constantly, I started thinking about I (we) do this on a day to day basis, especially with God. This was the most challenging thing I had done in a while and all I could come up with were compromises.

I make compromises with God all the time. I wish I could have started this blog out with...Today I decided to run the farthest I have ever ran. But I didn't because I compromised with myself to write it after I took a shower, did my laundry, read blogs, read my fun book, cooked dinner....until it is literally two weeks later. SO embarrassing but true.

I've had a really hard week because I can see how compromises can get in the way of my time with God and they so have gotten in the way. My brother was here visiting from school (with his puppy) and I was dog sitting for my neighbor. I was home on average 30 min a day with work and all the events I had planned with friends and family. I made compromises to spend time doing that instead of staying in the Word and I can see the effects. I was stressed out, irritable with my brother, overeating, and not happy at all. I bummed me out because I have not been like this in a long time but it also shows me how important spending time with God every day makes the day that much better.

These are small examples of compromise in my life without trying to make my blog super long. Look at the compromises in your life...what are you compromising?

6 comments:

  1. compromising is so dangerous. it is so subtle, yet so destructive. it is crippling and it leads us into becoming completely idle. i will be praying a protection over your mind so that the devil cannot tempt you to compromise. i honestly think it just takes practice though, because after a few times of not compromising, you'll see how much better it is, until it just becomes a natural thing. so during this time, i will just pray for the strength of the Lord to overcome you in those weak times. thank you for your honestly and vulnerability in this, this is something i really needed to hear.

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  2. I have perfectionistic tendencies at times- things like being on time, letting everything happen like clockwork. But many, many times I see myself falling behind, coming up short, not being enough - and I start feeling downcast. But the nice thing is that God is all about redemption. I still have a lot of training left, but I'm learning to love others more when I realize that God accepts me as who I am, and when I accept myself. It doesn't mean that I won't have that unique perfectionistic tendencies of wanting to be clean, stay organized, etc., since God created every one of us in a unique way, but it's almost like being who I am, but still loving others through all that. I wrote this straight through without backtracking, so I hope what I wrote just now makes sense!

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  3. I think you are totally right that it is easy to make compromises when working out. I do that all the time. Like you start out wanting to do 20 reps, then 15, then 12 then 10.. I do like the connection with God, however, as that is something I know is there but never clearly recognized. I think in my life the easiest demonstration of this is when I feel like the Spirit is calling me to do something. For instance, when you walk by a homeless person and you kind of get a feeling that you should go talk to them, but excuses start arising and I start compromising well next time I will talk with them and in fact, it will be 2308423750 times better that time. I feel ya Lindsey. Thanks for sharing and I still can't imagine running 6 miles lol

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  4. Thank you for the challenging question :) Compromise is all to easy to come by & it is a downfall. Praying for you in these things. Can't wait to see you & talk more on FRIDAY. Love to you lady!!!!

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  5. so true! I thought I was just trying to live out the truths I was learning these last few weeks, but on a second look, it has been at the expense of not spending much time in His Word and the effects are absolutely there!!! thanks for writing and keeping us in the loop. : )

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  6. mmm, it's hard because compromise can be such a healthy, wonderful thing, especially interpersonally, but other times it's an avoidance issue. i hope you can take the time to discern the healthy good ways there are to compromise out of the (for lack of a better word) ways that compromise your own identity.

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