"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" -Luke 14:28
If you've ever tried to do something great, you'll know it has a huge cost. Anytime we attempt to accomplish something more than most people will, we'll experience more roadblocks than most people. The question is are we willing to make the sacrifices to do that may be such a challenge? We may discover that when we do, the payoff is much greater than we could ever imagine.
If you want a fit body, there's a cost. It probably involves a LOT of working out. It probably also involves making sacrifices in the type of food you eat. If you want to grow a business, it will cost you time - a LOT of time. If you want an amazing family, it will cost you time, effort, money, blood, sweat, and tears (literally). If you've already made the commitment, for any of those things, then it has become responsibility. But, everyday, we still choose whether to endure the cost and reap the benefit, or to disengage ourselves from the task at hand and become mediocre at what we're doing. It's a "heart-thing".
Jesus' calling had a cost - His life. Sometimes we'll do something that enlivens us -that gives us hope for the future and brings meaning to our lives. We'll discover where we fit, where we belong. We'll discover where our gifts and talents can be multiplied to affect the lives of others for good. When we discover any of those things, we'll know for sure the cost was worth the sacrifice.
Sometimes this sacrifice requires us to die to ourselves, to our own desires. It may require us to overcome our fears. It most probably requires us to lay down our lives at the foot of the cross, saying, "God, use me for whatever purpose you may have for my life." It involves submission. But, once we're willing to do this, we'll experience life to the greatest extent we've ever known. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
Are you willing to endure the cost for what you feel God calling you to? I pray we'll all be able to endure the cost, whatever it may be, to grow God's kingdom for the good of this world.
"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." -Ps 144:1
"I am just so fed up!" said my friend. "I don't understand why all
this negative stuff keeps happening to me. I am so tired of things
working out for others and not working out for me. What am I doing
wrong?!?" I thought for a moment, giving the question some space.
"You know what I think?" I said.
"What?" she said.
"I think He's training your hands for war."
Sometimes we run around in circles, hoping for a different answer to our
problems. We try to move forward in our lives only to discover we have
come up against the same wall, the same unfulfilled dream, the same
obstacle in our lives. What now? Do we blame God for our inability to
get past our obstacle? No. Do we blame ourselves? Not necessarily.
We need to discover God's process in preparing our hands for battle.
When there are giants, obstacles, or enemies in front of us, we need to
treat the situation strategically. Doesn't an army come up with a battle
plan? Likewise, we need to sit before God to find out what it is we
should do to get past our obstacle, much like the Israelites did when
they were about to enter the Promised Land. Is it time to wait, or is
it time to move forward? Is it time to fast and pray, or is it time to
take action? When we aren't certain some sort of movement is usually
helpful.
But, the most important part of this strategic process is how to fight
in the spiritual realm. Is there negativity we're listening to in our
minds? Are we speaking negative words aloud? Are we living with
discouragement? We need to deal with those things first before we can
be effective in conquering our giants. Then and only then can God give
us a battle plan. Our spiritual enemies need to be bound.
If you find yourself running in circles, it could be that God is
training your hands for war. Spend time with Him to hear His
perspective on the situation. We will come away with a much different
perspective when we view our lives through His eyes.
