More pithy quotes !

My method is to transfer them onto the blog so I don't have to keep them on my notice board or desk!

"Dis-toi d'abord ce que tu veux être, puis fais ce qu'il faut pour le devenir." Epictète

"First tell yourself what you want to be, then do what is necessary to become what you want to be."

I grew up with this idea: expounded in our chic private girls' school, learned through models of successful women following the feminist era, absorbed as motivational life principles through an extensive study of literature (if only as a counter-example of being in control of one's life against the pressures of particular societies or social groups). This idea undergirds all Positive Thinking type seminars and teaching.

I think it can be applied to our Christian walk as well. Faith in Christ is a choice we make. When we first make a commitment to following Him it's a choice we make, or a positive response to an invitation we have received from God. Fairly soon after that commitment, we realise that we want to be as Christ-like as possible so we study up on Jesus and read the Scriptures (and other books!) to get the right ideas! But what is essentiel for a Christian in 'doing what is necessary to become what you want to be' is his/her understanding of the work and the role of the Holy Spirit. He's the one who interprets, teaches, enlightens, corrects, empowers, leads, whispers.... He the master of dealing with one-off situations, in applying faith principles to unexpected circumstances, and in the banality of everyday life ! 

So let's do what is necessary to become more and more Christ-like: open up to the Holy Spirit!

Please keep praying for our churches as we follow the Vitality Pathway.