In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 2-09-25 (The Well Ordered Life Part 1)
  • Today we are going to talk about something we all crave but often struggle with—a well-ordered life.
    Now, I know when we hear "well-ordered life," some of us might imagine an overly rigid, legalistic lifestyle.
    A harden life where you are meticulously watching every step.
    Let's also consider the opposite: chaos.
    We have the thought of Extremer order or Ordered CHAOS
    Our lives often swing between chaos and order, so the real question is: Which direction do we want to gravitate towards?
    To put it another way, does your life feel more like a well-organized library or a chaotic tornado?
    For many of us, we desire things like
    health,
    strength,
    love,
    and money.
    But right up there on the list is order. Why? Because when we have order:
    Our house is clean and organized.
    We know where we need to be and when.
    Our thoughts are clear and focused.
    Think about it—when everything is in its place, we feel like we can accomplish so much more.
    But to build a well-ordered life, we must rely entirely on God and develop habits that remind us of our dependence on Him.
    Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV
    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
    STRAIGHT
    Trusting in the Lord provides the foundational alignment that transforms life's chaos into harmony.
    We must prioritize trust in our daily decisions, reflecting Christ's reliance on the Father.
    What does it mean to live a life of purpose? How do we find that purpose?

    Living with a Purpose

    What does it mean to live a life of purpose?
    How do we find that purpose?
    It's about aligning with our core values and beliefs. We need to create an environment that supports our goals and reminds us of what's important.
    Not so much about RIGIDITY or Harshness but more about ALIGNMENT
    Matthew 6:33 NIV
    33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
    FIRST
    We must remind ourselves of our priorities, or
    else other things will start to creep up the list—things that don't belong in the top spot.
    Think about it: if we're not careful, how often does the job become more important than family?
    Does money become more important than God?
    Integrity means consistency between our beliefs and actions.
    A well-ordered life is one where our inner compass guides our outward behavior. Having a sense of purpose provides direction and meaning.
             
    Now that we have purpose we must now live according to our Purpose. which Aligns our life under God

    Alignment with Core Values and Beliefs

              Purpose: Having a sense of purpose provides direction and meaning. This could be found in your work, relationships, or a cause you're passionate about.
    Now your friendships, your home, your extracurricular activities should align with God.
     Why is it important that everything
    1 Corinthians 10:23–24 NIV
    23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
    1 Corinthians 10:31–33 NIV
    31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
    Because if He is truly number 1 and we align everything with Him we can achieve that balance and harmony
    EVERYTHING???
    Aligning with God's Will: Seeking God's guidance through prayer and scripture. Discerning His purpose for our lives.
    Philippians 4:8 NIV
    8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
    Think on these things.  How can you think one “these” things if you are surrounded by “those” things?

    Balance and Harmony

    ·  Holistic well-being: A well-ordered life considers all aspects of your being – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It involves taking care of your body, mind, and soul.
    ·  life balance:
    You have different Lives...
    Finding a healthy equilibrium between your Spiritual and personal and Professional life is essential. This means setting boundaries and prioritizing what truly matters.
    Meditation is Key!!!
    Psalm 1 NIV
    1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
    Many times we think of order you think of rigidity
       Think military or very structured
    -        And while that is true it also is important to know we can’t possibly expect ourselves to be militaristic in every area of our life that we want order
    -         But one thing is true: In order to maintain order I must also maintain discipline
    Not to the point of breaking or even overbearing but it must be some form of discipline involved to show that I’m prioritizing and adhering to what I believe is important to me.
    Psalm 139:23–24 NIV
    23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
    If we don’t have harmony, which is Peace, our life starts to crack.
    Peace is like an element in your life that keeps you comfortable. Keeps you from being dry and brittle.
    Without peace we are dry and brittle.
    What I’m saying is you are going to go through life and if you are angry, dry, brittle the least bit of pressure you break. But living a life of harmony doesn’t keep life from happening it keeps you from breaking: Breaking apart, Breaking down, Breaking under pressure.
    Life keeps happening
    Psalm 37:23–24 NIV
    23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
    Reinforces the idea that God provides stability and order in our lives...even if our lives get messy.
    Once, there was a man named Bob who was organizationally challenged.
    The drawers with his stuff in it looked like somebody just dumped a bunch of items gone wrong,
    His tool was messy
    His closet … well, let’s just say it was a portal to another dimension.
    He wanted order, craved it like a caffeine addict craves… well, caffeine.
    He saw his wife, Carol's, hobby room. It was a sanctuary of serenity. Yarn was meticulously categorized by color and weight, paintbrushes stood at attention like tiny soldiers, and even the glitter was contained
    One night, Bob knelt beside his chaotic nightstand (which, incidentally, was currently playing host to a half-eaten granola bar and books and loose paper) and prayed, "Lord, please, please, PLEASE make me as organized as Carol's hobby room!"
    The next morning, Bob awoke to a world transformed. Labels adorned every drawer ("Socks - Left," "T Shirts - Right," "Ties by color). His spice rack was now alphabetized (a triumph of modern science). Even his toothbrush had a little house with a tiny welcome mat. Bob beamed. He felt… in control.
    He went to make his coffee, the lifeblood of his existence, and… disaster. His mug was gone! He searched high and low.
    He checked under the neatly folded laundry (organized by thread count, he noticed).
    He peered into the pantry, where even the cereal boxes were arranged by fiber content. Nothing.
    Finally, in a fit of caffeine-withdrawal-induced desperation, he cried out, "Lord, where's my coffee mug?!"
    A booming voice echoed, "It's right where it belongs, Bob. Top shelf, third from the left, with the other mugs marked 'Breakfast Use Only.'"
    Bob stared at the impossibly high shelf. "But… but I can't reach that comfortably! And besides, I like my mug right next to the coffee maker! That's where it lives!"
    Bob sighed. He put the mug back where he wanted it, next to the coffee maker. Over the next few weeks, the "organized" items slowly migrated back to their original, chaotic homes. The socks mingled, the spices rebelled, and the Closet… well, it became a portal again.
    One day, amidst the glorious disarray, Bob looked up and said, "Lord, I want to be organized! I saw how organized my friend Dave's garage was. Tools hung neatly on the wall, everything labeled, even his extension cords were tamed!"
    And the voice replied, "Bob, when you start walking in order, your life will be in order.”
    You can organize all you want, but if you don't change your habits, those things are just going to migrate right back to where they were comfortable, where they always were, where you want them.
    But when you ALIGN with GOD....He Aligns Your life to fit your NEW walk
    But you have to Commit to Live in HIM
    If you don’t think God...you can’t live God
    If you don’t talk God...how you prioritize God
    If you don’t walk God… how can you possibly move like God wants
    HOARDERS
    "Don't let the pursuit of order become your focus. Prioritize God, focus on God, and He will bring order to your heart, your home, and your life."

      • Proverbs 3:5–6NIV2011

      • Matthew 6:33NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 10:23–24NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 10:31–33NIV2011

      • Philippians 4:8NIV2011

      • Psalm 1NIV2011

      • Psalm 139:23–24NIV2011

      • Psalm 37:23–24NIV2011

In the Bible Christian Ministry
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