Organize Your Thoughts
September 2012
Have you ever read an article, a write-up, or any written document that made you say, “Okay, what is she trying to say here”? Have you ever listened to somebody talk and it just jumps from one topic to the next that you don’t know anymore what she wants to relay to you? This happens all the time and it is a lack of organization in one’s thoughts. My husband calls it “scatter-brain” and he is right.
Imagine a room full of stuff everywhere ... clothes on the floor, papers on the dresser, plastic bags with candies on the bed, caps and hats on different places, and so much more. If you have a room like this, I don’t know how you can stand it. I am just being honest with you. I can’t stand clutter. Don’t get me wrong. I am not the neatest person and I can stand some mess every now and then. What I can’t stand is, not knowing where my stuff is just because it is not in the right place.
I have separate drawers for my things and I make sure that what belongs to each drawer goes back there. I have a rack for my shades and I make sure that I put them back there at the end of the day. It makes my life easier knowing that I can just grab them easily when I need them. Doesn’t this make sense?
This is exactly the same concept when it comes to organizing your thoughts. There has to be a specific drawer or compartment for related thoughts. You don’t mix them all together or you wouldn’t be able to sort it out quick. If you want to talk or write about “Creative Evangelism”, don’t put baptism, discipleship, preaching, or prophecy in the mix. You have to stay focused on your topic or the objective of your speech or writing. If you want to include other topics, be sure that they are related to your main topic.
Whether you are writing or delivering a message verbally, it will help to make an outline that you can follow. Start with your main topic. Try to make your topic as specific as possible. Avoid general topics such as salvation or evangelism, unless you have a specific target topic in mind. Otherwise, you will have so many sub-topics that may overwhelm your audience or reader. If salvation is your topic, ask yourself this question: What about salvation do I want to talk about? Do you want to talk about how to avoid backsliding? Do you want to talk about how to win a person to Jesus? Do you want to talk about how to receive salvation? The more narrowed down your topic is, the easier it will be for you, and the more focused you will be. If you choose “How to win a person to Jesus” as the main focus of your topic on salvation, then think about the sub-topics that should go under that.
Below are sample sub-topics for the topic, “How to Win a Person to Jesus”.
· Preparing to lead a person to Jesus
· Signs to watch out for
· Steps in leading a person to Jesus
· What if the person rejects your message
· Getting to the sinner’s prayer
· Other things to tell a newly reborn person
With this outline and guide, it will be so much easier for you to develop your talk or your write-up. It also keeps your thoughts very organized and easy to follow.
When your thoughts are organized, your message becomes clearer, and those who are hearing or reading your message will be able to receive it better. Don’t forget that your main objective for communicating is not only to relay a message or to have an audience but to make others understand your message. This should be your main goal. If you can’t make them understand, then don’t waste your time, and most especially God’s time.
~Lisa Maki~
Imagine a room full of stuff everywhere ... clothes on the floor, papers on the dresser, plastic bags with candies on the bed, caps and hats on different places, and so much more. If you have a room like this, I don’t know how you can stand it. I am just being honest with you. I can’t stand clutter. Don’t get me wrong. I am not the neatest person and I can stand some mess every now and then. What I can’t stand is, not knowing where my stuff is just because it is not in the right place.
I have separate drawers for my things and I make sure that what belongs to each drawer goes back there. I have a rack for my shades and I make sure that I put them back there at the end of the day. It makes my life easier knowing that I can just grab them easily when I need them. Doesn’t this make sense?
This is exactly the same concept when it comes to organizing your thoughts. There has to be a specific drawer or compartment for related thoughts. You don’t mix them all together or you wouldn’t be able to sort it out quick. If you want to talk or write about “Creative Evangelism”, don’t put baptism, discipleship, preaching, or prophecy in the mix. You have to stay focused on your topic or the objective of your speech or writing. If you want to include other topics, be sure that they are related to your main topic.
Whether you are writing or delivering a message verbally, it will help to make an outline that you can follow. Start with your main topic. Try to make your topic as specific as possible. Avoid general topics such as salvation or evangelism, unless you have a specific target topic in mind. Otherwise, you will have so many sub-topics that may overwhelm your audience or reader. If salvation is your topic, ask yourself this question: What about salvation do I want to talk about? Do you want to talk about how to avoid backsliding? Do you want to talk about how to win a person to Jesus? Do you want to talk about how to receive salvation? The more narrowed down your topic is, the easier it will be for you, and the more focused you will be. If you choose “How to win a person to Jesus” as the main focus of your topic on salvation, then think about the sub-topics that should go under that.
Below are sample sub-topics for the topic, “How to Win a Person to Jesus”.
· Preparing to lead a person to Jesus
· Signs to watch out for
· Steps in leading a person to Jesus
· What if the person rejects your message
· Getting to the sinner’s prayer
· Other things to tell a newly reborn person
With this outline and guide, it will be so much easier for you to develop your talk or your write-up. It also keeps your thoughts very organized and easy to follow.
When your thoughts are organized, your message becomes clearer, and those who are hearing or reading your message will be able to receive it better. Don’t forget that your main objective for communicating is not only to relay a message or to have an audience but to make others understand your message. This should be your main goal. If you can’t make them understand, then don’t waste your time, and most especially God’s time.
~Lisa Maki~
