Creating Consistent

Get Your BUT Out of The Way!

creating consistent

We know the goal…

We stated the why?

We named the what?

And now we deal with those pesky things that get in our way…

the big bad BUT!!!

We all have them. When was the last time your BUT got in the way?

I would like to open an Etsy shop BUT

I would like to take a mission trip BUT

I would like to be a work at home mom BUT

I would like my marriage to be different BUT

The question becomes are you going to let your BUT paralyze you or mobilize you?

I would like to think if God showed up live and in person and asked me to do something specific I would skip and jump as fast as possible but Moses shows us that even God via burning bush doesn’t elicit confidence.

 “The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Moses answered God, “BUT why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:9-10

With a few stern reprimands and some resources placed at his disposal Moses allows himself to be used by God.  Can you say the same?

I am on a quest for consistency in an effort to give my family the best possible day. I know what I need to do, even how to-do it, but it is those darn BUTS that get in my way.

Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this with a little one-on-one chat time.

cc obstacles

Carey 1: We decided last week that even though you have a list of 30 things you want to do to make consistency a reality in your life you need to focus on five. And the five you picked are quality prayer time for yourself, with your kids, and with your husband as well as Bible reading time for yourself and your kids.

Carey 2: That is correct.

Carey 1: So let’s name your BUTS. What gets in the way?

Carey 2: Nothing gets in the way of Bible time. I am held accountable by Pin God 1st. And I pray all day but if I was in my ideal world I would have a good ½ hour to journal my prayers. That is the time when I truly feel connected to God and I am able to listen. But time…time gets in my way. I already get up early so I can meet with East Coast clients and then I work out and then the kids get up and then we do our thing, then during their rest I meet with clients again, and then we do our afternoon thing and then the evening routine kicks in and then I meet with evening clients. I just don’t know where another ½ hour of time is in my day exists.

Carey 1: Are you going to tell me if you were to look at the scope of your whole day that you don’t waste ½ hour somewhere?

Carey 2: Really? Do we need to be THAT dramatic about it? Yes! I am sure I waste ½ hour somewhere. Not exactly sure where but I am sure it is there.

Carey 1: So what choice would you like to make? Quality prayer time or that “not exactly sure space”.

Carey 2: Prayer time, of course.

Carey 1: Okay, great. Moving right along. What about the other stuff? Bible time with kids and prayer time with husbands and kids?

Carey 2: Again, they are there we just aren’t consistent with it. Sometimes Bible happens in the morning or sometimes night and I always pray with them in their bed as I tuck them in but I want something more. I am not even sure what that looks like. Eric and I have been keeping a prayer journal for years and I love that. I love looking back and seeing how God has worked. Maybe something similar with the kids and we could do it over breakfast?

Carey 1: Maybe? Or you will start a prayer journal with the kids over breakfast?

Carey 2: Goodness gracious you are pushy. I will. I will start a prayer journal with the kids over breakfast and if we are eating breakfast on the go we will do it over dinner. I will introduce it tomorrow.

Carey 1: You are getting the hang of this. Last but not least you and Eric. You mentioned you have a prayer journal so you have some sort of tool in place. So what happens? What keeps you from it?

Carey 2: Oh, any number of things. Someone needs to go to bed early, or I start writing and don’t want to pull away, or I fall asleep with the kids….It has to happen though. We are so much better when it happens.

Carey 1: So when will it happen?

Carey 2: It will happen in the space of time after we go over the chore chart for the day and the kids get ½ hour of iPad time.

Carey 1: Yay! Done. Good work.

Carey 2: There is more to this, right?

Carey 1: You bet. Stay tuned.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

What about you? What are your buts that stand in your way?