Steady is the Course
"But He said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
2 Corinthians 12:9

I'm reminded every day that I'm never at the finishing point. Sure, I'll see victories and conquer many obstacles, but my level of achievement only gets bigger - it never completes. Much the same way, my spiritual journey is the greatest thing I'll ever continually work through - no level with Christ is the finish line. 

When I finished the first thirty days of my healthy lifestyle I was proud and content. I was even more excited when I found out the results were more than I had hoped. The following ten weeks were somewhat of a "moderated" version of the thirty days I had experienced. While the first few were not bad I found myself working towards some old habits.

The entire time I knew what was going on - and I knew I couldn't continue. 

Obviously, I still had many lessons to learn. 

Here's to another thirty days. I'm officially a week into it and already seen some not-so-healthy things creep back into my life. But instead of throwing in the towel and saying I need to start over again (which I know would end my going for the typical "tomorrow I start again!") I am only going to continue my towards the twenty-three days I still have left - doing my best work yet.

Why is it lessons seem to never end? Why is it the proverbial 'they' who say you really never say goodbye to temptation for good? 

I don't know, but I do know it will get easier. Call it the silliest (or cliché) thing to say, but I know with Christ in front of me and the Holy Spirit within me I can do this...I'm in it to win it.

The light's still green.

Fear

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

I recently sat with some friends as we discussed our separate lives. As we talked more and more we identified a recurring theme of fear running through our conversations. We each have obstacles in our life that wreak every shade of fear from giving one pause to terrifying.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:7) 

I know this verse so well; it’s one I tell myself frequently. But I struggle to practice this truly and not just know it. Sometimes I feel like I’m scared of everything. I’m scared to go forward and scared to go back, scared I’ll fail if I’m succeeding, scared I’ll never succeed if I fail. I will be at a crossroads and scare myself of both paths forward, seeing only the possible monsters ahead, rather than truly seeing and evaluating the paths. And all this really does is impair me, paralyze me. I could be moving forward, moving on with life, but instead I stay in a place of indecision and keep my life from moving forward as I’m stuck in place.

Today I visited a church that is not my normal one and, of all things, the sermon was on fear. The pastor said we are to be people of faith rather than fear. He linked fear to paralysis and negativity.

I have known my fear is a problem, but I had not framed it in such a way that I realized how much it has actually been inhibiting my faith. My very ability to live a faithful life is inhibited by my fear. This is why we are reminded we are given a spirit of love, power, and self-control. With these, we reflect our Father; fear, on the other hand, keeps us in our earthly nature, trying to run our own lives, right where the enemy wants us. 

Very few things in life are achieved by comfort and safety. Acheiving most anything - athletic, mental, spiritual excellence - generally requires sacrifice, hard work, determination, and pain. Athletes injure themselves, and those of spiritual or mental fortitude usually undergo comparable, though not so obvious trials, temptations, and pain. Nothing worth having is easily gained. Every action, of will or body, is a discipline and exercise of a muscle. Faith is not easy, but it moves us forward. From what I've seen, fear keeps us in a place of "survival mode," which will also inhibit all movement and most of our calling.

I have not learned this lesson yet. Truly, I think I’ve probably only opened the syllabus, but I’m starting to understand this verse is not to be taken lightly.  Nothing will ruin our destiny more quickly than fear. If you (like me) struggle with wondering what your future holds, how God might use you, what you’re supposed to do and be, look for your fears. Identify those and you’ll identify where you’re being held back. Push in to those areas in prayer and ask for the power, love, and self-control to overcome them and press on toward the goal. Fear controls you; faith enables you. The Lord your God goes with you and he won’t let you down. Do not Fear.