Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: JESUS (09/07/23)
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TITLE: Who is Your Destination? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
09/13/23 -
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So, what kept me from stepping out and doing the things that I desired to do with my life? The mantra that laid deep in my consciousness would surface and slowed me down. I lacked guidance growing up. I was embarrassed to ask for any help. So as an adult, I continued to listen to other people.
Our world today is a self-centered all about me world. A world loaded with misinformation. Many people focus on what makes them feel good at the moment. They chase instant gratification. Marketing executives tell us if we want to be accepted then wear this type of clothes, speak this way. It’s your right to have this or that. We’re told to be successful, we have to make this much money, live in this type of house, in this upscale neighborhood and have this type of job. For some time, I followed this advice. It left me empty.
I returned to church and shortly afterward attending I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was on a new path. Jesus says in John 10:10 that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. It did not necessarily mean an abundance of wealth, popularity or a great job. Jesus told us we would encounter trials, but He would always be with us. I have faced many trials since I accepted Jesus. I perceived these situations the way Jesus would look at them. I did experience fear and insecurity during these times but staying in the Word, prayer and the help of other Christians, I made it through.
There was still more work to do. If I desired to grow closer to God, I had to eliminate some perceptions from my life. I had to go from feeling I was unworthy to feeling worthy of the love of Jesus. He died on the cross for me so I can spend eternity with Him. The more I put my faith in this my new belief, the more I wanted to follow Jesus. There are many challenges we have in this world that can hinder our spiritual growth.
There is a sin that entangles me. It is a sin I run to to feel comfort. It’s like a default sin. I had to lay this entangling sin aside. What is entangle sin? It is deliberately making a willful choice of disobedience to God. My sin was dwelling on the past. I found it difficult to forgive myself of the sins I committed in the past. God’s Word tells me to confess my sin, ask for forgiveness and amend my ways. Isaiah 65:16 reads, Because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes. God doesn’t remember those sins anymore.
When I am out of the will of God, I found that there is no joy in my life. Uncertainty shows up. Which way should I go? How do I get there? Who do I follow? These questions flooded my mind.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. When our focus is on Jesus, and not our circumstances, we begin to think the way He thinks. He knew that our heavenly Father was always with him, just as He is always with us. Jesus always sought God’s will. Knowing that God wants us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, we should be motivated to cast aside all sins that so easily burden and hold us from growing like Jesus. God’s plan for us is to become like His Son Jesus. To become like Jesus, we must seek the will of God in all that we do. To succeed in this endeavor, we must remember the Bible is our map, the Holy Spirit is our guide and Jesus is our destination.
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