Improving Effectiveness and Productivity

Effectiveness, efficiency and productivity have always been an issue for me in my work life. As an emergency physician time was always of the essence. Saving time and energy while maintaining excellence is a much desired strategy, not only in medicine but in all of life.

However, I must confess I have not thought much about effectiveness and productivity in my spiritual life. Reading the Apostle Peter’s words, however, caused me to stop in my tracks.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8 NIV)

What are these qualities I need to possess to be efficient and productive in my spiritual life? Peter challenged me with his answer.

For this very reason, make every effort to add
  to faith, goodness; and
to goodness, knowledge; and
to knowledge, self-control; and
to self-control, perseverance; and
to perseverance, godliness; and
to godliness, brotherly kindness; and
to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV)

Oh, my! What a challenge!! This is impossible without calling upon the Holy Spirit to empower me. I need to invest some serious thought, prayer and effort into these disciplines. Will you join me this week in making every effort to practice faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love?

Sharing the journey with you,