What are you aspiring to do/be? What has been the biggest challenge?

“This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 A ritual for passage from adolescence to manhood for a certain Native Indian tribe had the father lead the boy out into the woods blindfolded. The boy was placed on a high tree stump and was told he had to stay there, blindfolded all night. He wasn’t to take off the blindfold until the first sunray pierced the blindfold and only then could he take it off, get down and head home. Under no condition would he be allowed to take it off. The boy sat there alone at night. He heard all the wild animals all around in the woods. The wind would blow and branches would rattle. The boy became scared, nervous. He felt so alone and frightened. He knew, though, he had to stay up there and blindfolded. The next morning the sun began to rise and the light hit the blindfold. So relieved he took the blindfold off. He looked straight ahead and to his surprise sitting right there in front of him was his father. The boy was puzzled. He asked his father how long had he been sitting there? The father replied,”All night. I had never left you.” “For He Himself has said,” I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5b There are times I feel strong and courageous. However there are many a time when I have been afraid, discouraged. Wondering where God is. Hearing the wild animals out there; wind rustling the leaves on a tree. Not being able to see. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” – Hebrews 11:1 When my children are playing in the ocean they might not see me, but I always see them. When they get in a little trouble I am always right there. One time one of my girls was crying when I was helping her up after a couple waves hit her. She said she was crying because she thought I didn’t see her. I told her I always see her out in the ocean. So does God with you; ocean, land, air, etc He sees you. He knows what you are going through. He knows that you, like the Indian child, can become afraid, discouraged from all that is around you.

Has this week gone the way you had hoped? Did you have specific measurements for this? If not, why not? Do you know adjustments to make?

“Strip off every weight that slows you down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” - Hebrews 12:1b-2a We want so much to be a champion. To be successful. To achieve. To overcome. And God too, wants us to experience the finishing of what He has set for you each day. In order to do so we must be intentional by; 1. Being honest with ourselves. What are the weights? The burdens? The guilt? That are extremely heavy to the point you can’t think about running, just enough to crawl. It is so heavy. But you feel it is your responsibility, your obligation. You need to strip off that weight and give it to God. You do this by acknowledging that you can’t carry it. It is too heavy. Ask your God to take it and trust He is more than enough. 2. Where we are able in our day, we must cut down on distractions In Matthew 14:22-33 Peter asks Jesus, who was walking on water, to allow him to walk on water out to Him. Jesus granted Peter’s request and began to walk on water toward Jesus. However, when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and looks around at the strong waves and winds he becomes terrified and began to sink. He took his eyes off Jesus. Distracted. You have an average of 3,000 thoughts a day. You have 1000 TV channels, email, Facebook, texting, cell phone, Netflix, Instagram, twitter. Only when Peter looked away from Jesus did he start to sink. God wants also to work supernaturally through your life. But you must be focused on Him. And this we can’t do if we are fully occupied with something else all the time. You have discipline in you to lay aside distractions. 3. Endurance is built up over time. Intentionally doing every day that which will strengthen you; mind, body and spirit. Every day you must be strengthening all three. We are creating deliberates that will turn into habits if you continue to intentionally do. Successful people do everyday what unsuccessful people do occasionally.

What are you not doing now but desire to implement as a new small discipline? What will it do for you? Why haven’t you yet?