The “Snapshot Question” to Help Realign Your Heart
Midquarter grades! Did you receive those when you were in school? At the school where I teach, we mail them out in the middle of each quarter to give parents a snapshot of how their students’ grades look halfway through the grading period. Midquarter grade reports often provide just the motivation that might be needed for a student to pick up the pace, turn in some missing work, start attending tutoring, or change a harmful habit that’s negatively impacting his or her grades. The reports provide a little kick in the rear, if you will! 🙂
For my high school students, their semester grades are the only ones that go on their permanent transcripts. So actually, even the quarter grades are just a snapshot—nothing permanent. This spring, our quarterly testing schedule was a bit awkward at the end of the third quarter for a variety of reasons. The unfortunate result of the awkward testing schedule was that when midquarter grades were “frozen” in the grade book and mailed out to parents, some of them were a bit deceiving. Some classes’ third quarter exams had been entered into the grade book, while other classes’ exams were actually taken in the first couple days of the fourth quarter.
This frustrated several students! The grade snapshot wasn’t 100% accurate for all students in all classes. One student in particular was telling me one afternoon how stressed the situation was making her. One of her grades looked very different after her third quarter exam (in a good way!), but her positive percentage jump wasn’t reflected in the third quarter snapshot that was mailed to her mother. I said, You’ll just have to explain the situation to her! Help her understand that your grade is higher now, and that ultimately, it’s your final semester average in May that actually matters. And she replied, Yeahhh but my mom won’t see it that way. She’ll see what’s on the paper in that envelope, and it won’t be the grade she’s wanting to see.
I felt for my student. It was a tricky situation! For all students, their best bet was to keep their grades right where they wanted them throughout the quarter. Then they wouldn’t be depending on one test score to raise them up to a certain point. Right? I know, that’s such a teacher-y thing to say. But honestly, for the students who turn in homework faithfully, give their best effort on assignments, study for exams, attend tutoring when necessary, listen in class, take good notes and maintain good student habits and behaviors, then typically a grade snapshot is nothing to worry about. On the other hand, for students who don’t keep up great academic and work habits, the snapshots pose a threat, and they serve as necessary motivation to kick things up a notch in order to get their grades where they desire them to be.
Do you ever need a little kick in the rear spiritually? Or maybe in life in general? Do you need a little shot of motivation to propel you from apathy to passion? From lazy to energetic? From disobedience to obedience? From dipping your toe in the shallow end of sin to leaving the poolside altogether? What if God took a snapshot of the current state of your heart. Would you be pleased if that was the grade report that was mailed home, or do you need to make some changes?
To make it even more practical… What if God took snapshots throughout your day? Can you envision any snapshot from yesterday or today that you would NOT have wanted Him taking/seeing? How could imagining Him taking snapshots throughout your day help motivate you to keep a more careful watch over your heart, mind, mouth and actions? Every single thing you do should be done for Him.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. -1 Corinthians 10:31
I can tell you a couple moments from this past week when I would not have preferred for God to pop in and take a snapshot of me… And it’s because of a self-control issue I’ve had with my phone! There have been a couple different times in recent weeks when I’ve found myself sitting on my couch or laying in bed late at night—just scrolling. Of course, doing some scrolling through social media feeds isn’t necessarily sinful. But I was choosing to passively scroll for too long instead of taking control and getting to bed on time so I could be at my best for my students the next day. I was choosing self-indulgence over self-control. And as I sat there, thinking to myself that I needed to go to bed, I was so frustrated! …because I was thinking the right thing while still doing the wrong thing for myself. I can just close my eyes and visualize what that snapshot would’ve looked like. Not my finest moment.
Now remember, God isn’t sitting up in Heaven with a “gotcha” attitude. He’s not trying to be sneaky and catch you red handed. He’s a God of grace, mercy and forgiveness! But He’s also a God of righteousness, justice and holiness. He wants you to strive for holiness and set-apart-ness. As disciples of Christ, we should be trying every single day to become more like Him, which is a process called sanctification. Our days should be filled with moments that we would love to freeze in time! Moments when our hearts, minds and eyes are fixed on God.
So if it might help, as you navigate through your day, keep this question on your mind: What if God took a snapshot of me right now? If you’re imitating Christ in that moment, celebrate and be encouraged. If you’re not, take a minute to reset. Like a photographer gets her subjects posed just right, get your heart posture adjusted and realigned. I always tell my students that if they try their best each day, they won’t have to panic when midquarter grade reports get sent out. That’s the same for us as disciples of Jesus! If we strive to be like Him each day, then we might avoid digging ourselves into holes that create panic, anxiety and destruction. Let the “snapshot question” keep you aligned (and re-aligned) with God. Strive for a scrapbook full of snapshots of you glorifying God in everything!
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:17