Bob at Spring Water outside Aylmer before going for his 4.27km run
Back in August I posted a list of my spiritual needs that I keep in my offline journal. I typically refer to these in my morning devotions and spend time in pray concerning them.
The list has not changed all that much in the last month, other than I added my need to have a greater burden for souls, a greater hope for Christ’s return, to exercise more, and changed the name of one of the points to “More Self Denial and Giving of Time for Others”. I have been feeling a greater conviction and burden to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal 6:10).
I am making a renewed effort in doing tract work in downtown Aylmer and in downtown London. I had a wonderful time Friday afternoon in downtown London (Dundas Richmond area) passing out literature. I found it much more profitable to be there in the afternoon then being in the same area in the evening. There just seemed to be a different crowd there in the afternoon.
The reason I am sharing my needs list (see below) is to inspire those who read this blog to make their own list. I think it is very important to know where you are weak and need help, to focus on those weaknesses, and by the grace and power of God to change them into strengths. Although I still am working to have better morning devotions (praying, reading the Bible, etc.), I have received much help in this area. By the grace of God I have gone from where this was a weakness in my Christian experience, to now where it has become a strength and source of faith and spiritual power. All glory be to God!
A list can also be used to help you discern which areas need the most work, then ordering them by putting those items at the top. In the past I have spent to much time going around in circles. I would work on something for a month, do a bit better in that area, and then forget about it for a few months before it pops back up as a serious need again. I would rotate from need to need and never really see the progress and growth in those areas that I felt like the Lord wanted me to have. Keeping track of my needs has helped me change that.
This month I have been very busy, and I have had very little time for wasting time on the Internet – for which I am very thankful. In the past I have just spend to much time doing non-importance browsing on the Internet reading gadget blogs, news, and other time wasters. Also it has been a number of months now since I have wasted any time listening to my car radio. Instead I use the radio’s tape player and have a Bible tape I have been listening to over and over.
As the Lord opens new doors for me minister to others, I also have felt the need to be more sober in my conduct and I am thanking the Lord for helping me in that area.
Here is my new list. Don’t forget to pray for me please. It is my desire to abide in the Lord and bring forth much fruit to the glory of God.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
#1 Retire Early and Get up Early.
#2 Personal Devotions.
#3 Listen to and Follow the Voice of the Spirit.
#4 Greater Holy Hatred of Sin.
#5 More Self Denial and Giving of Time for Others.
#6 More Time in Exercising.
#7 Carefulness in Words.
#8 Redeem Your Time and Make Better use of it.
#9 Greater Burden for the Lost.
#10 Increase in my Hope for the Return of Christ.
#11 Fasting and Temperance in Food.
#12 Carefulness in Thought Life.
#13 Keep your Commitments and Don’t Make More Than you can Keep.
#14 Carefulness in Interaction With the Opposite Gender.
#15 Carefulness on the Internet.
#16 Greater Soberness and Maturity.
#17 No Street Talk or Acting Tough or Cool.
#18 Temperance in Internet, News, and Chess.
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