De-fogging

Where in the world did March go?  And why in the world won’t the snow go?

Have you ever gotten through an entire month and wondered how in the world you were unable to (or just didn’t) do ANY of your goals?  Or you just feel like you have accomplished like, nothing.  Kind of like you were in a fog for weeks? 

This happened to me this month and I’m trying to figure out why.  I had 6 goals for the month.  Want to hear them? 

#1 – 8@8 Routine / 5x week – What this means that at 8pm every night (5 nights a week) I should spend 8 minutes reviewing my day and setting my agenda for the next day. 

#2 – Kidz +3 / 5days a week – This just means that I should give one positive comment to my 3 kids every day at least 5 days a week.

#3 – Bin 30 / 5days a week – Empty/organize one Rubbermaid storage bin or spend 30 minutes a day sorting a bin 5 days a week.  (So that I can know what is in the 53 bins I have in the basement and toss what is unnecessary clutter).

#4 – Quicken 60 / 2x week – This has to do with getting our finances and budget to another level.

#5 – Die File 30 / 1x week – I’m preparing a file for my kids so that if and when I die (in 50 years!) they will know what to do, putting the least amount of strain on them.

#6 – 30-10-5 / 4x week – This is an exercise routine that I want to follow 4x a week.

Aren’t those nice goals?  Don’t they look pretty on paper? 

NOW WHY COULDN’T I TOUCH THEM THIS MONTH??

What happens to us when we get into those crazy fogs? Are they emotional fogs?  Mind fogs?  Spiritual fogs?  Physical or relational fogs? What are they anyways?

Upon observing and analyzing myself (which I find nearly impossible NOT to do) I have found three reasons:

#1 – Derailed (again) by a relational stress that sucked a lot of energy out of me and threw me into the bitter-grudge holding mode.

#2 – TV – Instead of the usual one hour news on TV, I found myself staying planted in front of TV for an additional 1 to 2 hours per NIGHT.  (There went my 8@8 goal).

#3 – Spiritual abduction – Upon examining what was going on in my head (the things I was thinking about a lot), I found that I had a lot of crap in there; quite literally a lot of lies!  Things like:  “I’m not a very good mom because 2 out of 3 kids left the house this morning disgruntled.”  “I haven’t been up early in months!  I'm really slacking.”  “I have relational issues with everyone.”  And the list goes on! And on.

One day in particular last week broke me out of the fog.  I call it my “I’m sick of this shit” day.  I’m sorry if that word offends you.  I know I’m a Christian and all, but I have to call it like I see it…and the stuff in my head was shit.   

So, a great Christian friend and I went through all the crappy crap in our heads and called the lies lies and spoke out the truth about who we are in Christ and who Jesus Christ is and what he’s done for us!  We talked warrior talk (prayer and truth telling) and told the enemy of our souls where to go.

Gotta tell ya, the fog lifted over the course of the day; love and forgiveness worked its way back into my soul; and the TV has been put back into its proper place (well, almost). 

Never underestimate the battles raged against you in the spiritual realm if you are a follower of Christ.  Satan just hates that about you - that you are a follower of Christ that is!

I leave you with two powerful truths in the form of quotes by famous people:

“All we really have to do as believers, from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night, is to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, obey his commands, and trust his promises.  That is all.  Everything else is secondary.”  --Bill Bright.

“With meekness, humility, and diligence, apply yourself to the duties of your condition.  They are the seemingly little things which make no noise that do the business.”  -- Henry More.  

I am no longer in the fog that felt like PMS on steroids (sorry guys).  I am free once again to live all out for the One who created me.  Hope you can do the same!