ENGAGING THOUGHT
There's a simplistic maxim in the business-world which contends that there are only two questions that every business must answer, no matter what enterprise or field you are in:
#1: "What's your business?"
#2: "How's business?"
If only the pursuit of God's DREAM for our lives were that simple, right? Truthfully, it isn't - in fact there may be nothing we do more difficult than the pursuit of God's DREAM. His DREAM will require more sacrifice of us than anything else; it will require more discipline than most anything else in our lives; it will necessitate difficult choices and gut-wrenching, faith-building decisions. Our resolve, however, is a different matter.
When it comes to our resolve the questions can be stated rather simply: How bad do you want it? What are you willing to give or do to see the DREAM come to fruition? Questions of resolve don't necessarily take into account the specific difficulties we will face - it assumes them. If the path were easy it would require little to no resolve at all. When we make the decision (resolve) to pursue God's DREAM we do so with the assumption and understanding that it will require a great deal of us - and it is the strength of that resolve which often determines our willingness to tough it out when the way gets difficult.
We're each motivated by different things and we've each got our threshold of difficulty we're willing to endure. One person may be motivated by the fact that others are aware of their resolve to pursue God's DREAM for their lives; the possibility that they may have to face these "insiders" and explain their results keeps them from giving up. The accountability factor is high enough to keep them in the game. Others may be so fed-up with status quo living that they simply cannot face the thought of another day slipping by without a tangible, measurable step forward. Not living God's DREAM scares them more than the fear of pursuing it. Honestly, who cares what it is that motivates your personal resolve - just tap into it and exploit that motivation to serve your pursuit.
We've all experienced the futility of New Year's Resolutions. Most of us make well-intentioned promises to ourselves that we'll change something - and use the "convenience" of a New Year to catapult us into success! We do great on Days 1, 2, 3 & 4 - but by Day 5 we're already modifying the "goal" to match the reality of our resolve, aren't we? By Day 6 or 7 we're in full-blown compromise, and by Day 10 we can't even remember what the resolution was (after all, it took 15 years to put on that extra weight, it's silly to think we could lose it in 6 months, right?).
When Jesus was garnering followers, several expressed their desire and willingness to follow Him as He taught throughout the villages and regions surrounding Jerusalem. He saw right through their "resolve" and spoke to their true level of willingness. He summarized some of these conversations with the response to a man expressing his desire to follow:
Jesus knew what lay ahead for Himself and for His true followers. There would be no room for half-hearted commitment or cushy devotion. When it comes to the pursuit of God's DREAM for our lives there isn't room for wishy-washy commitment, either. If we want to live God's best for our lives we must be willing to give Him the rest of our lives.
#1: "What's your business?"
#2: "How's business?"
If only the pursuit of God's DREAM for our lives were that simple, right? Truthfully, it isn't - in fact there may be nothing we do more difficult than the pursuit of God's DREAM. His DREAM will require more sacrifice of us than anything else; it will require more discipline than most anything else in our lives; it will necessitate difficult choices and gut-wrenching, faith-building decisions. Our resolve, however, is a different matter.
When it comes to our resolve the questions can be stated rather simply: How bad do you want it? What are you willing to give or do to see the DREAM come to fruition? Questions of resolve don't necessarily take into account the specific difficulties we will face - it assumes them. If the path were easy it would require little to no resolve at all. When we make the decision (resolve) to pursue God's DREAM we do so with the assumption and understanding that it will require a great deal of us - and it is the strength of that resolve which often determines our willingness to tough it out when the way gets difficult.
We're each motivated by different things and we've each got our threshold of difficulty we're willing to endure. One person may be motivated by the fact that others are aware of their resolve to pursue God's DREAM for their lives; the possibility that they may have to face these "insiders" and explain their results keeps them from giving up. The accountability factor is high enough to keep them in the game. Others may be so fed-up with status quo living that they simply cannot face the thought of another day slipping by without a tangible, measurable step forward. Not living God's DREAM scares them more than the fear of pursuing it. Honestly, who cares what it is that motivates your personal resolve - just tap into it and exploit that motivation to serve your pursuit.
We've all experienced the futility of New Year's Resolutions. Most of us make well-intentioned promises to ourselves that we'll change something - and use the "convenience" of a New Year to catapult us into success! We do great on Days 1, 2, 3 & 4 - but by Day 5 we're already modifying the "goal" to match the reality of our resolve, aren't we? By Day 6 or 7 we're in full-blown compromise, and by Day 10 we can't even remember what the resolution was (after all, it took 15 years to put on that extra weight, it's silly to think we could lose it in 6 months, right?).
When Jesus was garnering followers, several expressed their desire and willingness to follow Him as He taught throughout the villages and regions surrounding Jerusalem. He saw right through their "resolve" and spoke to their true level of willingness. He summarized some of these conversations with the response to a man expressing his desire to follow:
"But Jesus said to him, 'No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9.62 NASB).
Jesus knew what lay ahead for Himself and for His true followers. There would be no room for half-hearted commitment or cushy devotion. When it comes to the pursuit of God's DREAM for our lives there isn't room for wishy-washy commitment, either. If we want to live God's best for our lives we must be willing to give Him the rest of our lives.
ACTION STEP
Take a moment now and write out a resolution regarding the pursuit of God's DREAM for your life. Put it in your own words, but be sure to make it specific and resolute.
EXAMPLE "I have resolved to pursue God's DREAM for my life which is to one day take over Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and give magical tours while singing."
Tomorrow we put it into gear and start strategizing the pursuit.
No comments:
Post a Comment