It is important to me that my life matters. One of my biggest fears is wasting my life on things that don't matter.
I remember noticing it in adults when I was a child. It was like somewhere along the way they quit.... they just quit.
At one time, they had a reason for striving, for getting out of bed in the morning but somewhere along the way they lost track of it. Somewhere along the way they traded living for existing.
This became such a fear for me. That I would lose heart... that I would settle.. that I would become "realistic". I feel the temptation to do this on a regular basis.... to settle for some level of normal and quit pushing forward. And I especially feel this when I think about how many times I have failed. There is a natural gravity to just shriveling up and quiting. Life is such an uphill battle that when we stop advancing we just start rolling back down the hill.
The Bible is what helps me to stop this "quiting" process in my life.
When I read things like this, "I pray that...you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." (from parts Ephesians 1:18-19) it forces me not to settle. If this is the power that is available to us, then settling isn't an option.
God will keep changing us.
He will keep redeeming our lives.
He will bring His power to bear in and through us.
Here's another reason why I NEED the Bible:
7) It helps me to not quit doing what matters.
Ryan
Great posts Ryan, I look forward to them. Inspiring, I think I have to disagree with your assessment of your pastoring!
ReplyDeletegreat picture to go with the post, ryan! i think biking is a great metaphor for this thought too! when you're going up hill, it's obviously more comfortable to stop and pull off to the side of the road. we want to be more comfortable - i know i do! but you'll never see what Eph. 1:18-19 notes if you don't go to the top. i think God is seen through our struggles more than our through our comfortability. thanks for your thoughts!!! i miss hanging with you, so your blog will have to fill that spot :)
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