Peace and Simplicity
My prayer journal from May 5th, 2020
In the early months of the pandemic, I remember having friends message me and ask if everything was alright. Why? Because I was listing SO MUCH stuff on Facebook Marketplace and all the stuff kept popping up on their Facebook feeds.
With the amount of debt we had and with most people being stuck at home in the early days of the pandemic (and having nothing to do except be online), it made sense to me to list stuff on Facebook Marketplace and convert it to cash. It definitely helped and if anyone out there is facing a mountain of debt, I think this is the best place to start. Look around your home and if you're not using that clock, that DVD player, or that decorative picture anymore… SELL IT. Throw that cash at your debt and get the boost you need. Plus, your home will be less cluttered.
As another pivot for the business, I brought tons of old parts home from the scooter shop that had been sitting untouched for years and started listing them on eBay as another way to generate some cash for the shop during this trying time…
[Re-typed and elaborated for context and clarity…]
Tuesday, May 5th 2020 8:41a
Jesus - thank you for the recent sales on eBay. It’s been nice to sell some of these old parts we have had laying around and turn them back into cash flow for the business. Thank you for the new consulting clients too (names of the clients). I pray your blessings over these organizations and pray that I may help them in a way that makes you proud and brings glory to you.
[I’m blessed to have had businesses that found a lot of value in my marketing ability and allowed me to contribute to their organizations. It definitely gave me more purpose to know that I was contributing to the health and success of other’s companies.]
LORD, help me stay strong during these times. Help my team stay strong and healthy during these challenging times of COVID-19 too. Seems like someone is always calling out sick. Personally, I’m tired and have been struggling to sleep. I pray that you will help me get a good night’s rest.
[Raise your hand if you can’t shut your brain off at night because of all the “worldly things” and “busyness” of life. Good news… there is a cure. When you completely surrender everything to Jesus, prioritize his will for your life, and spend more time in his word (scripture)… he will simplify your to-do list, show you what really matters, set you on a path toward financial peace and convict you to be a steward of what is actually HIS and you’ll sleep better at night.]
I’ve also struggled to get enough of my work done in a timely manner. There is so much that needs to be completed ASAP and then the kids are pulling me to come outside and play. All I want to do is spend that time with them, and when they ask, I go, but the problem is that I stay up until 2 am working to get everything done. I’m actually ok doing this and I’m sorry if it sounds like I am complaining. I’m really not. I’m just feeling stretched thin and it would be really great if I could fall asleep afterward and not toss and turn once going to bed at 2 am. [Go read the italicized paragraph above again, lol.]
LORD - I pray for my incredible wife. Bless her. [Kept private] thank you for allowing me to be a part of her journey. As I’ve been working remotely from home for the past couple of months, I’m grateful for this time to be around my family more. I love them so very much. Thank you. Love you.
Your son,
Collin
Re-reading this prayer makes me reflect back to this season. I remember how complicated my life was (especially right before the pandemic). I remember managing multiple businesses, a podcast, several team members, tons of networking events, speaking events, and more. I remember how I was working so hard for so very little. Time for the Bible? There was barely time to do a 5-minute devotion, if that.
Today I wake up and think to myself, “all I have to do today is fulfill God’s will for my life.”
My life has simplified. My focus has narrowed. I manage less people, have less headaches, and less drama in my life. I’m happier. I’m healthier. My weekends are spent with God and my family. I spend way more time reading the Bible (I read the whole Bible cover to cover for the first time last year), journaling, and sharing the story with you through this blog. I also sleep better at night. I have peace.
Since spending LESS time working and spending MORE time with God, my business has been excelling. We just came off our most profitable years ever in 2021 and 2022. Thank you, Jesus.
You’ll hear more about that in the blogs ahead!
Blessings,
Collin
P.S. I know there will be new challenges and storms ahead and I (we) must always remember to keep our eyes on Jesus. Prioritize him and his will in ALL things.
“Nowhere in the scripture does it teach that you are to search and pursue happiness. You find happiness as you do your duty. You find happiness as you lead a disciplined life before God. You will have periods of happiness, but God nowhere promises that happiness is to be the goal in life. It’s not a goal. Our goal is to obey God. Our goal is to do the will of God. Our goal is to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.” - Billy Graham