Are you a Productive Christian?

Productivity has always intrigued me, especially as I juggle a full-time job that occupies most of my week. In the midst of this busy schedule, I've come to understand the importance of having a solid productivity system in place. However, no matter how diligently I've built and followed this system, there are inevitably days when I fall short of achieving my desired productivity outcomes. And on those days, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment and frustration, as if I've failed to meet my own expectations.

I'm sure many of you can relate to this experience. Despite our best efforts and the countless productivity books and gurus we may follow, there are moments when we feel like we've let ourselves down. It's a feeling of inadequacy that can weigh heavily on us, leaving us questioning our abilities and worth.

But as Christians, our perspective on productivity is unique. We understand that our worth is not defined by our productivity or achievements but by our identity in Christ. In Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV), the apostle Paul reminds us that whatever we do, we are to do it wholeheartedly as if working for the Lord Himself. This biblical principle reminds us that our ultimate goal in all our endeavors, including our work, is to honor and glorify God.

Upon reflection of my own journey, I have come to the realization that God frequently provides me with particular instructions or duties to concentrate on throughout each year. He called me back to ministry and to serving others in the year 2022, and I responded to His call with complete and utter devotion. After that, in the year 2023, He instructed me to walk beside a certain spiritual mentor who would teach me the importance of humility and servanthood. And this year, God entrusted upon me a somewhat unexpected mandate: to concentrate on attaining a state of physical fitness, not merely fitness, but achieving six-pack abs and everything else 😄 I’m not kidding!

At first, it was hard for me to understand why God would give me such a specific task. I wondered what it meant in the big picture of things compared to everything else that was going on. But as I thought more about how He had helped me in the past and how my life had changed, I began to understand how heavy these duties were. God tells us to be good with our time and skills, and He also tells us to take care of our bodies first because they are His holy temples (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

On the other hand, I found that I was initially guilty of procrastinating and making excuses rather than taking action, just like many of you. It wasn't until March that I made the decision to finally make my physical health a priority, which included making mindful eating and regular workouts a part of my daily routine. In addition, as I have started to embrace this objective with determination and self-control, I have experienced a revitalized sense of purpose and of having accomplished something.

In conclusion, as Christians, our approach to productivity goes beyond mere efficiency and task completion. It's about aligning our goals and efforts with God's purposes and trusting Him to guide and empower us along the way. So, whether we're striving to excel in our careers, serve others in ministry, or care for our physical well-being, let us do so with a mindset of faithfulness and obedience to the One who has called us His own.

And so, I leave you with this question: What is God calling you to focus on this year, and how can you align your efforts with His purposes?

Thanks for taking the time to read through my thoughts on productivity and aligning our goals with God's purposes. I hope it resonated with you and perhaps sparked some reflection on your own journey.

Also How many of you would like to see me get a 6 pack abs by the end of the year Ha ha ha !, As for the challenge of achieving six-pack abs by the end of the year – well, I'm all in for the journey! It's definitely a personal milestone and would be a fun reunion with a long-lost acquaintance from my 8th-grade days. (My abs😄)

If you found yourself nodding along and have any questions about how to integrate faith and productivity, or even if you just want to share your own experiences and goals, I'd love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out anytime at jo@jogonsalves.com or shoot me a DM on my Twitter ID twitter.com/JojoGonsalves. Peace Out!!