Due Diligence

 

I have a confession to make. I love my couch.

I could sit on my couch all day reading a book or watching a movie and never get up except if I have to go tinkle.

This is not an exaggeration.

I could live in my pajamas permanently.

I am a fan of naps, binge watching Fixer Upper for extensive hours, and trolling Facebook until my finger hurts.

I’d rather eat potato chips on the couch than clean my house or go to the grocery store.

I feel that you should know this about me before we move any deeper into our friendship.

At the core, I am secretly a couch potato who would love to have a personal valet so that things would get done around my messy house.

The other night I was sitting comfy on my couch in my jammies when I read a verse in Proverbs that made my want to curl up into the fetal position and have a good cry:

The soul appetite of the lazy person craves and gets nothing for lethargy overcomes ambition, But the soul appetite of the diligent who works willingly is rich and abundantly supplied. ~ Proverbs 13:4, AMP

I’m not giving God due diligence.

God isn’t interested in my leftovers. He doesn’t like it when I am inattentive and indifferent to what He’s placed in my care.

He hasn’t called me to a vigilant focus on Instagram and Amazon daily deals.

Tonight I read up on diligence in my Bible because I hear God impressing that word on my heart. The words of Isaiah challenged me: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Is 55:2, ESV).

Am I diligently delighting in what will feed my spirit?

I want my heart to zealously pursue what pleases my Father. So, I am taking notes on what He considers due diligence.

4 Ways to Give God Due Diligence

Fuel your faith with ARDOR and zeal: Fan the flames of your faith daily and continue growing in your reverence for God. Stamp out any flickers of doubt and apathy.

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall (II Peter 1:3-10, ESV).


Choose to APPLY your energy toward eternal priorities: Remember that today is a gift and purpose to make every minute count for God’s Kingdom purposes. Pursue what pleases your Master with the goal of greatly glorying Him.

“Therefore see that you walk carefully living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil, not as the unwise, but as wise sensible, intelligent, discerning people, making the very most of your time on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence, because the days are filled with evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, AMP).


Keep hope ACTIVE in your heart: Keep looking forward with expectation trusting that your faithful God is at work. Continue patiently putting feet to your faith and moving forward with eagerness because you know that greater things are yet to come.

“God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times” (Lamentations 3:25-27, MSG).


Stay ALERT to His handiwork: Remember to look for splashes of His grace in your day and write down how His hand is evident and at work in your life. Be mindful of His abundant blessings and live with a thankful disposition.

“Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude” (Colossians 4:2, MSG).

Hear the heart of your Savior: “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference” (Revelation 3:19, NLT).

I’m praying for God to give me a diligent heart.

I want to get up from the couch and cozy up to Jesus.

The diligent effort required to walk with prudence and purpose will have an eternal payoff. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Something to think about…

 
I’m sharing “Due Diligence” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

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