Anything Worth Doing....

Philippians 3:12-14-Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever decided to lose weight? Stop smoking? Train for a competition? Then you know well the mind-set that it takes. It takes sheer determination and will power. It takes sacrifice. It takes a radical change of life where everything pales in comparison, and your only thought and focus is on that goal. Need proof? Ask the olympic athlete who wakes up at 4:00 a.m. every day rain or shine and runs five miles. Ask the person who continually denies his or her cravings for food in order to lose weight. Ask the parents who clip coupons, bargain shop, scrimp and save so they can stockpile away for the kids college fund, or to buy a home. Why is it that we do this for everything under the sun, but can't do it for spiritual things? Do you want to go to heaven? What sacrifices have you made? Have you given up what you want in favor of what God wants? When was the last time you woke up at 4:00 a.m. rain or shine just to read your Bible for hours on end? Ever moved because it was better for your family spiritually? How many days go by without you mentioning Jesus to someone? The answer is simple: the Bible says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, NKJV). If we treasure the hope of heaven, nothing will deter us from striving toward it. We will seek God's help in defeating the adversary, and any obstacles that hinder us. We will meditate on it from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. We will eat and breathe it as the desire of our hearts. God tell us that He will provide for all our material needs if we will but give up all and follow Him (Matthew 6:33). Start today! Seek the will of God...it's just as close as your Bible. If you don't have one, there are tons of sites on the Web that have online Bibles (in every imaginable language under the sun!). Let nothing hinder you!