Diligence takes.... practice

If practice makes perfect then in order to increase my level of understanding of diligence I must practice diligence with perseverence and waiting and diligence. The things I notice most about my lack of discipline are it's not hard to be diligent when pushed, it's not hard to be diligent when in a group of people, it is when I find myself alone and unfocused that I truly am not disciplined. I get lazy. I am extremely focused when surrounded but distracted when alone. I do see pro's and cons to this behaviour trait. Pro's are that when I am in public I am incredibly consistent, driven and purposed. But when left alone I dwindle time away. I am very control driven in every area of my life but when I am alone. It's like a switch turns off and I just become this fleshy blob. Now this is more physical than spiritual. Although, all systems of thought and feeling are connected (i.e. Mind, Heart, Body, and Spirit). I know that my Heart and Spirit remain constant in all this and that truth be told my body and mind just veto their suggestions in favor of less active responses. I know that this is wrong response but changing a habit that you formed isn't as easy as I thought it would be. In my mind I know I should be more persistent in pursuing purposed time. So today, I take captive the thought to be lazy and will be focused and consistent at all times. In fact I may add to this blog later.

Diligence takes....Diligence? Who knew?

This morning as I was waking up, I already knew that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. Last night I had the difficult choice: accept the temporary work at hand or pursue the work of this season. Let me be a little less cryptic, last week I applied and had my first interview for Starbucks to which I was told I would receive a call in a couple days for a second interview. Well, Monday came and went and I had no call (I also squandered my chance to go visit the store and find out what the deal was), Tuesday I worked all day which while a blessing it left me with yet again no call and no chance to go in and be persistent about my job because after all it is my job that is what I am standing on in faith but faith without action,work,diligence is dead. So that brings me to today and the difficult decision of do i go work today and make more money or do I go to Starbucks and ask why I have not been called and hired yet.

Well, by virtue that I am writing this blog I did the latter. I wrestled with this decision until about 1130 at night and sent the guy I was going to be working for a text that I didn't get an answer to until I woke up this morning. I despise leaving people hanging that I have committed to helping. Well I went to sleep with the understanding that if I had no answer I would work and if I did then I would go. I did get an answer and a residing thought from some friends that at first I didn't see the connection but I do now. So with the knowledge that I could be working today, I go. In doing this and with a gentle reminder that this is today and tomorrow doesn't hold much at this moment because it's tomorrow, it can't even enter into my mind so waiting another day is not an option, if I am going to get MY job I need to do it NOW. I need to be diligent in my diligence and be intentional, purposed, persistent, punctual, and hard at work. The definition of diligence is "constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind". I have undertaken getting this job and believe that it is mine ripe for the taking then I am to be in constant effort to accomplish that task. If I am a man of integrity, which I am, then I must be all of these things in everything I undertake I must be diligent for this is required of me.

So the result of my obedience today to what I believe I was to do was that I found out that the manager does want to call me, I was able to observe the morning rush, I was able to meet my next interviewer, tell my friend that works there to tell her manager I stopped in to find out and to call me, and ultimately write this blog without the conviction that I did what seemed to meet the need at the moment and further my walk in learning to be diligent. Obedience is bliss. Today my prayer is that I would remain diligent and in His pathway.  
Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,

so that I might observe it continually.

119:34 Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,

and keep it with all my heart.  

119:35 Guide me in the path of your commands,

for I delight to walk in it. 

119:36 Give me a desire for your rules,  

rather than for wealth gained unjustly. 

119:37 Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! 

Revive me with your word! 

119:38 Confirm to your servant your promise,  

which you made to the one who honors you. 

119:39 Take away the insults that I dread! 

Indeed, your regulations are good.

119:40 Look, I long for your precepts.

Revive me with your deliverance! 

This is what I will be standing on through this walk concerning diligence.