Values, we all have them.
You may have written them down or maybe not, but each of us an underlying system that guides our daily and life decisions. An example would be, you get early each morning, giving your self more time than needed to shower, dress and get to work on time because you want to get to the gym for a workout. The value influencing this activity is your desire to stay in shape. Guiding values could also be demonstrated in the lack of values. It is the value of ‘I don’t care, or that is not important.’
Taking precedence over all aspects of who I am is my desire to follow Christ, be changed by Christ, an be on mission with Christ. From that foundation, I defined nine life core values or decision guardrails that help me focus on who God wants me to be:
Life Core Values
Developing a daily and eternal relationship with God.
Committed to my wife for life.
Committed to supporting my children.
Recognizing God has called me to serve.
Always loving, honoring, and learning from my parents.
Recognize my physical body is a gift from God.
Develop a hobby away from the workplace.
Be a lifetime learner.
Take a vacation every year.
Living a life for Christ should be lived in balance, giving equal attention to the spiritual, social, mental, and physical aspects of our being. The call to be a Christ-follower never leaves our lives until we stand face-to-face with Christ. Therefore, the challenge placed before us to be active, committed, and useful for as long as we can. A healthy, balanced life is the only way.
I once heard ‘God’s will is the ‘never-ending search for His will.’ It is not somewhere we arrive but something we are continually searching for. The same is true for finding a fulfilled life in Christ, a life of balance in His presence. Examining the core values above helps keep me on that path so that I can carry out what God has called me to do as a husband, father, friend...
Do you have personal 'core values?'
