It is summer and chances are you will be soaking up the sun and fun of the next few months! Summer is also a time to “soak up” more than just sun and fun – what else do you plan to “soak up”? What books do you plan to read this summer? What trips do you plan to take? What about your company’s convention this Summer – what all will you soak up there?
This idea of “soaking it up” comes from the analogy of a sponge, as one of my coaching clients recently reminded me. Think of it this way – picture yourself as having a sponge. Every morning you wake up and your sponge is dry. Whatever you do the first thing every day is what you soak up into your sponge. Then as your day goes along, whenever you get “squeezed”, you pour out whatever you first soaked up. If the first thing is something positive, then when you are squeezed, you are able to pour out positive. But if the first thing you soaked up was negative, frustrating , grumpy, worry, defensive, rushed (sounds like the Seven Dwarfs – you get the picture!), then you pour out negative when you are squeezed.
So, who’s in charge of what you soak up each day? You are. So be a purposeful soak-er, not an accidental soak-er this summer! Soak up God’s Word each morning, so that when you are squeezed later, His Word will provide wisdom, guidance and blessing to you and those around you. Following are some of my favorite “soak-er scriptures” – email me some of yours, too!
“…but they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah40:31
“…being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion….” – Philippians 1:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
Soak up His Word this summer and squeeze out blessings!
