Built in safety features
I’m trying to get into a good habit. This week, Friday, I started to iron my clothes for the weekend experiences. I got through my two pairs of jeans, button up shirts, and undershirts in just under an hour. I just started to learn ironing and let me tell you there is a reason most bachelors just throw an item in the dryer with a damp cloth. It saves a ton of time!
Anyway, I left the house in a bit of a rush because I was running late to meet some friends for dinner. It was a late night. I get home, do my normal routine. Feed the dog, put up my wallet, keys, change, lock the doors, and go to bed. While I was in my office putting up my wallet and keys, I noticed that my iron had a blinking orange light. I thought how in the world is that happening. Then I noticed that I had left it plugged in the entire time I was gone!!
I’m so thankful to an engineer that came up with an idea that turns off the iron after a certain time if not in use. This is a wonderful safety feature that quite possibly kept my house from burning down. Thank you Mr./ Mrs./ Ms. Engineer.
This brings me to a question. What safety features have we added to our lives that keep us from doing things that could harm us?
For me, I place accountability in my life. I have three guys that I can talk openly about my struggles with various things in my ministry, in my personal life, and even my thought life. I know that I can call these guys regardless of the time of day or night and they will be there for me.
This is the question I want to ask you. Do you think having “safety features” in your life is beneficial? Why is it hard to implement these “safety features”? Finally, do you have “safety features” in your life?
Jason,
Great Blog! I would have to agree on accountability. Accountability for me has been a reminder for me that I have made a commitment to be transparent and anything that would prevent that would be a danger of ruining that commitment to those with whom I am accountable. It also provides me a place to go for encouragement when I need to persevere through temptation or confess when I slip up.
Another feature I would say has been extremely valuable to me is Scripture memorization. I have experienced countless numbers of time where the Holy Spirit has brought a passage of Scripture to mind at the moment of struggle, preventing me from doing something I might regret.
Not to sound over spiritually cliche, but I really think that the Holy Spirit is a major “safety feature”. Just that feeling that you get in your gut, especially in public. I have run into this quite often, remembering that I represent Christ. If we let it, the Holy Spirit can be our ultimate safety switch, we just have to listen.
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You have to put up the fences, its just smart. Even if you don’t have a problem with porn (yea right, tell it to someone else). You can’t un-see or un-think anything. If it gets in, its in, and it takes more strength than I’ve got to get it back out.
Having said that– The biggest deterrent to ’screwing’ up (for lack of a much better word) is to find and live your purpose. For example… I don’t want to disqualify myself for being a husband, father, leader, blogger, etc so I focus on doing the things that further those goals. Those become my life’s adventure and the boredom or “lack of action” that leads to “idle hands” (we all know what “idle hands” can lead to) mostly takes care of itself. Not completely… for the times I’m tempted I need the strength of Christ to resist. But daily he gives me a purpose that keeps me from looking for what seems like adventure elsewhere.