Honoring Your Space by Tiffany McKinnon-Russell

As is the custom at the beginning of each year, people set out to establish new and sustainable resolutions to implement in their daily lives, but all too often they end up with a list of unrealistic expectations and a guilt-trip that follows them into the next year.

I have found myself in that very place one too many times over the years, until I decided that enough was enough.  What good was a list that I knew deep down inside I had no chance of accomplishing?  What was the purpose of the goals I was setting, and what benefit would they serve?

So, I made a commitment to set goals that had meaning.  Then I had to identify a way to determine what was meaningful.  Being a believer in Jesus Christ, I started my search in the Bible.  I found numerous passages of scripture that addressed the topic of meaningful action, but one specific scripture is responsible for jumpstarting my transformation from simply being busy to Honoring My Space.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV)

This verse stopped me in my tracks and completely changed the way I viewed myself, the world around me, and my contribution to the world on a daily basis.  I realized that I had been living my life thinking about what I wanted, what made me happy, and what I was willing to do, but at no point was I asking the Lord to lead me in the direction He wanted me to go.  I never asked Him what He wanted me to put on my list, or whether the Lord wanted me to have a list at all.

It became clear to me that the failures I’d experienced in the recent past, professionally and personally, were a direct result of the fact that I was living selfishly.  I began to think of the concept of honoring God as encompassing both my physical body and the space my body takes up on this earth.  I asked myself one important question: Was I focused on honoring God by using my physical space well each day?

Through much prayer and study I identified these five (5) ways to honor God each day by being intentional about how I use my time, talent, and treasure.  I funnel every decision and activity through these five areas, and as a result my spiritual relationship has been strengthened, and I feel more fulfilled, accomplished and purposeful.

Five Ways to Honor Your Space Each Day

 

1) Pray Daily (Thessalonians 5:17)

Prayer is communion with God.  If you start each day talking to God first, He will direct everything else that follows.  Prayer isn’t just about asking for things, but rather is a time to develop relationship with the Lord and allow His voice to become more familiar to you each day.

2) Delight Daily (Psalm 37:4)

If you commit to daily prayer, delighting in God will become second nature.  As you focus intently on the Lord throughout your day, you don’t have to worry about what may or may not happen.  Likewise, you don’t need to stress about your hopes and aspirations.  Instead just offer continual thanks to Him for who and what He is in your life.  God honors your desires as you honor Him.

3) Give Daily (II Corinthians 9:7)

Find some way to give of yourself each day.  You don’t have to perform some grandiose task or give large sums of money to please the Lord; you need only to give with a sincere heart.  It is in the act of giving that we most reflect Jesus, for He came to give hope, love, and ultimately His life.

4) Love Daily (I Corinthians 13:3)

Without love, everything we do is for naught.  Love should be the foundation for every thought and action, and should resonate in our words and deeds.  Love is an action word and it is a choice.  Choose to love daily and to live positively.

5) Humble Yourself Daily (I Peter 5:6)

The Lord wants to see you succeed and He wants you to have sustainable success.  Letting the Lord direct your path ensures you will never go wrong, and that He will guide you through any hardship that comes your way.  The Lord’s plan for your life far exceeds anything you could imagine, so let Him fulfill His will in your life each day.

 

The life you live is not for yourself, but rather to give glory back to God and serve as an example for others.  Make a commitment to live purposefully and Honor Your Space every day and decide to never settle for anything less!

 

Tiffany McKinnon-Russell is a wife, minister, and new mother of her 3 month old daughter, Sydney.  Tiffany received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Duke University (2001) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University (2005).  After working in the financial industry for over 10 years, Tiffany made the faithful choice to accept her call into the ministry and leave Corporate America in August 2010.  She currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer for SuccessTeam Marketing Group, LLC (an Internet marketing firm founded by her husband, Greg Russell) and as Minister of Worship at Full Gospel Church of God in Camp Hill, PA.  Tiffany travels throughout the Northeast Region living out her passion for writing and stewardship by teaching others how to find their literary voice and how to become effective stewards for the Kingdom of God.

© 2015, Shalena D.I.V.A. – Personal Branding| Content Marketing| Product Creation. All rights reserved.

2 Comments

  1. www.shalenadiva.com via Facebook on January 23, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    I’m truly grateful to have heard her first lesson on the importance of prayer! You really missed out! She made it so clear and understandable! She is truly gifted with teaching!

  2. Patt BreeZee via Facebook on January 23, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    i am going to try this 🙂

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