Stepping Up My Game

Last year as I was traveling and speaking, I spoke often about growing as a Christian. I talked about how you have to become comfortable…being uncomfortable…in order to grow! Yes, we all, including myself, can “drift” and become complacent.

It seems to be in our “nature”. In today’s world…it is easier, in my opinion, to “get off track”…mainly because of all the distractions. When I compare today in my 50’s and think back to life in my 20’s, we now have cell phones, the internet, more TV channels, etc. most of which was non-existent in my 20’s.

I have always been a goal setter…and recently…I set some new goals…for myself. I have some sharp people in my life. Some of those folks are people I only know through their books and tapes. They are quite famous and they are smart and successful. They have been GREAT teachers and mentors for me. As I have read several different books by a few of them, I have found they all say the same things about goals:

1. You have to write them down.
2. You have to read them daily (so as not to drift).
3. They have to stretch you (to grow).
4. You should set goals in several areas: spiritual, personal, physical, relational.

The question I have for the Back niners today is….”Do you desire to grow…to improve…to accomplish?”

One really cool thing I have learned and what I want to share…is this…”Have you thought about the end?” “Your destination?” “Your legacy?”

Not many people want to think about death…but I have learned you have to see the end, the destination, before you begin….! If you are a reader of my most recent book, “The Back 9, Finishing Strong,” I hope you come away with an understanding that it is not as much about how you start as it is about how you finish…..!

How do you want to finish?

We all are a work in progress…but God’s plan is NOT for us to become complacent…and stagnant…it is for us to grow IN HIM. Ephesians is a book in the New Testament written by Paul. Paul wrote to encourage the body of Christ to maturity in Jesus. To mature means “to grow!” Ephesians 2:22, “And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

God’s desire is for us to grow and mature in Him. This is a process but it has to be very INTENTIONAL (setting goals) on our part. A part of maturing and growing is PERSEVERANCE. James 1:4, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.”

Today…I simply want to encourage you to take the time…to think about the END.

How do you desire to finish your race?
What do you want to be remembered for……?
Who do you want to influence and where do you want your life to have impact?!

Set some goals. Desire to be more. A great encouragement from scripture, written by Paul but inspired by God, is Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is ABLE to do IMMEASURABLY more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” [emphasis mine].

We have the power of the Most High accessible to anyone…who believes. He can and He will do more than we can wrap our minds around. SEEK HIM today. Allow Him Lordship and GET BUSY with the end in mind!

Start today…you can’t finish unless you start…and how you finish…is guaranteed to be GREAT…when you rely on the Holy Spirit.

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