Sometimes we should to revisit the mental notes and bold
declarations we made as children and young adults. Remember all of those great
ideas? There were no limits to what we imagined we could do, or be, or where we
could, or would go! Some of the things we said we would do when we "got on
our own", should be placed back on our to-do lists. God ideas, no fear, positive
standards, and admirable goals are things for which to be grateful--not doubted,
second-guessed, or abandoned.
The apostle John recorded the words of Jesus" “The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ~John 10:10
I used to wonder why it was necessary to have all three of those destructive words in the same
sentence, and then it occurred to me. If something is stolen, it’s gone, and
the likelihood of getting it back is slim to none. It you do get it back it, the fact that it was in the hands of a thief
may change the way you feel about it. You may not trust it. It may have been
tampered with, altered, or broken. It may have to be replaced.
If something is killed, it’s dead—finished-- and there’s
no chance of it being revived, short of a miracle.
If something is destroyed, there’s no
trace of it in its original form, and it can no longer be utilized the way it
was intended. Maybe it could be scrapped so that parts of it can be used to
help something else work. Maybe it could be converted into something else
altogether, but that was never the
plan.
The goal of the enemy of your soul is to so
annihilate you so that there is nothing left; nothing worthy, memorable, or
valuable to speak of. If he can accomplish that by using you, it’s an even greater
victory. If the enemy has a strategy,
you can’t afford to be without one.
The good news is that you didn’t even have to craft it yourself.
The abundant life that comes with knowing and
accepting Christ provides a remedy for that “steal, kill, destroy” level of destruction--
and we have choices. If life isn’t
abundant, it’s not because it hasn’t been promised, isn’t attainable, or not
for us. You’ll know what’s
attainable. James 1:7 tells us “Every
good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Someone told
me a long time ago, “God doesn’t show you things to tease you. He shows you
what’s available to you. He shows you
what you can have.”
The apostles Matthew and Luke recorded the words of
Jesus: “If you, then, though you
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
One of the things that social media has done is to
give us a glimpse into the lives of others. People we actually know are accomplishing some wonderful
and impressive things! We’re seeing the fruit of labor, and the results of
concentrated effort. We can like and love what others are accomplishing all day
long, but what are we doing to enhance or
own lives, utilize our own
skills, and exercise our own gifts
and talents? Who stopped us? What event arrested us and made us lay down our
passions and plans? Who said “No you can’t”? Who said the time has passed, or
the time you currently have, isn’t enough?
Who said your strategy to attain your goal is unrealistic, illogical, not specific enough, too hard, negative, too costly, or
not a good fit for you? The person who determines all of that is YOU!
One thing about goal setting, you simply have to be
wise and discerning when you decide to run your ideas by someone else. Some
people’s fears are contagious and will potentially strangle the plans and
dreams of others.
Never allow anyone to sabotage the beauty you are
trying to achieve, the progress you are trying to make, or the goals you are
trying to reach. People may infer that you think you're better than them or
others for merely trying to improve your own situation. Let them talk, and
hopefully work out their own insecurities. Let them mull over their own unwise
choices. We’ve all had some blunders and missteps. Today, let’s decide that
forward is the way.
Don't let anyone make you think you have to wallow
with them in past failures, abandon your ideals, or adopt their ways. If it is
possible to do and be better, then go on with your blessed self, and let people
who have confused "keeping it real" with "keeping it
trifling" go on thinking they're hurting others by devaluing themselves.
There's nothing like seeing someone rise from
complacency and oblivion, and deciding that they DO want more; they DO want
better, they CAN achieve, it’s NOT too late, and there IS a way. It is a happy
day when you decide that living beneath that which you KNOW are able, in
conditions YOU know in your heart are unacceptable, are no longer options for
you. Decisions like that begin in your own mind. No one can motivate you like
you can motivate yourself, but you have to make sure the voice you’re listening
to is yours—that bold, confident voice that is untainted by baggage,
insecurity, or unresolved issues, lies, or misinformation. Be clear. Write it
down if you have to. Read it back to yourself. Make adjustments. You can repeat
as many mantras, amass as many mentors, and look at as many YouTube self-help
videos as possible, but until YOU decide to make a move, your dream will be
just that—a fantastic, seemingly unattainable show to entertain you while you
sleep. A great consolation is that you have tremendous help—if you believe it.
The Bible says, “I
can do all this through him who gives me strength”.
Jesus said, “Truly
I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for
you.” ~Matthew 17:20
It’s not about size. It’s about what the mustard
seed KNOWS. It knows just how big a tree it has the potential to be!
“What
is impossible with man is possible with God.” ~Luke 18:27
Unfortunately, some people don't want to see you do better. Maybe it
shines a light on their shortcomings, and forces them to take a good look at
themselves and the condition of their own lives. Don't let that stop you from
being and doing your best, and strategizing how to do it.
I like The Message Bible’s translation of
Philippians 3:15-16:
“So
let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for
us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total
commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that
we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.”
#DEW4U
#JUSTKEEPGOING
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