Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV).

There are times when I actively pursue God with outstanding zeal and other seasons when I find my attention divided (Luke 10:38-42). Sometimes it is rooted in mistakenly erecting idols or spreading ourselves too thinly across many areas (1 Corinthians 10:14). We might find ourselves in a state of satisfaction where we immerse ourselves in the things of God but then allow elements of compromise to open the door to complacency. A certain degree of self-awareness helps greatly in cases like this. If we realize that our hearts are not all-in for God’s glory, we can at least acknowledge that change is needed (2 Corinthians 13:5). Otherwise, it is easy to continue to slip away from God. As any seasoned believer will tell you, only bad things can come from that. The last thing we can afford to concede is our intimacy with Jesus Christ (John 15:4-6).

In cases like these, we might also make the mistaken connection of thinking that our standing with God might improve based on our performance. In terms of salvation, this could not be further from the truth (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Likewise, if we do things for God, they should flow out of gratitude and transformation in our lives (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10). In other words, we know that God will not love us anymore or any less based on what we do. We cannot earn God’s grace (unmerited favor). By definition, it is something we do not deserve in the first place. Suffice it to say that we are inspired to do good works as a result of being believers, not to become saved or maintain our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our world sidetracks us with many distractions that detract from our focus on eternity. We must remind ourselves and other loved ones that such endeavors may not effectively redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16-21). At times we tend to concentrate on the circumstances this world puts us in with greater attention than that which we extend toward God. Meanwhile, we should recognize God’s sovereignty and find our ultimate source of comfort, satisfaction, solutions, and rest in Him (Psalm 16:11). Instead, we tend to resort to our efforts to solve problems that often only serve to stress us out or instill worry in us concerning matters outside our control (Matthew 6:34). Furthermore, many of these issues that we blow out of proportion eventually prove less of a threat to our lives than we thought they would be.

Of course, I am not advocating that we settle into a pattern of passivity and fail to address the outstanding issues we must face. On the contrary, God wants us to be faithful and fearlessly seek His will in good and bad times. The key is to remember that God and His numerous provisions are available to us as we face these battles (2 Peter 1:3). Rather than attempting to handle something alone, we can follow God’s will and seek counsel from others who can offer wisdom on navigating the situation (Proverbs 11:14). Likewise, instead of worrying about our circumstances, we can pray to God and surrender our requests, concerns, and anxieties at His feet (1 Peter 5:7). Finally, we may need to exercise humility if personally stressed or on the verge of burnout. Sharing that information with our loved ones who God has surrounded us with and seeking His help and peace is crucial (Galatians 6:9-10).

Another issue that pops up on an alarming basis is the perception that one has tasted enough of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 8:3). For instance, we may live in a toxic work environment or face countless worldly situations from one Sunday to the next. We might think that as long as we replenish ourselves with God’s Word for that Sunday service, we can handle a whole week without continuing to pursue God. Then we are caught off guard when we do not feel God’s presence as intimately and lack spiritual nourishment (Psalm 46:10). We need to recognize that a brief sermon is not sufficient to cope with the weight of this world across the span of a week.

As such, we must consider options such as surrounding ourselves with Christian fellowship, personal Bible study, involvement in a Church small group, and maintaining an active prayer life (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Chronicles 6:11). I am not saying all these things are necessary simultaneously. Still, in a general sense, they serve to edify you and those around you in extraordinary ways over time (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13). They also open the door for you to share your insight with other believers and allow you to serve God in the process.

One of the key takeaways from all this is to recall that it isn’t likely that we remain stationary in our walk with Jesus Christ. Instead, we walk toward Him or away from Him with every decision we make (Joshua 24:15). While we cannot lose our salvation through patterns of continuous, unrepentant sin, it should concern us if we are not observing sanctification in our lives overall (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It follows that our intimacy with Jesus Christ should be prioritized and could suffer if we fail to neglect such concerns. We must avoid compromise at all costs and draw nearer to God at every opportunity (Isaiah 55:6). Every decision tends to lead us closer or further away from God. We should set our sights on the significance of eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ and recall how brief our life is by comparison (Psalm 144:4, James 4:14). As such, let us seek God and His will by actively pursuing a relationship with our Lord and Savior. After all, it is only in, with, and through Jesus Christ that we successfully do anything of eternal value.

If we stand firm and resist temptation instead, it is only a matter of time before we experience the relief of not having yielded to what we know is so harmful (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:9). We should never compromise our standing with God for the sake of a few minutes of perceived pleasure in any sin. When we avoid sin, we can rest assured that we are abiding in God and relying on Him for the strength to persevere over our iniquity (John 15:1-8). Unfortunately, you and I have a limited amount of willpower. There is only so much self-control we can exert by ourselves. We compromise once it runs out, especially when our weaknesses trigger us. Some potential stumbling blocks include hunger, tiredness, frustration, loneliness, sadness, or other negative states of mind and emotions that could suddenly cause us to give way to our sinful nature (Galatians 5:17). 

However, when we rely on God, He provides us with all the tools we need to crucify our flesh and abstain from sin (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:13). While this sacrifice may seem extremely hard to make at times, it will be an incalculable upgrade compared to the pit of despair and regret that a lost battle brings with it (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we must thank God because even when we fail, His grace and mercy meet us at our lowest points to gently restore us and help us get back on the road to repentance as soon as possible (Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 30:9).

The fruit of sacrifice is more of a blessing than any of us can quantify when it comes to avoiding sin. Obeying God’s Word will always be superior to giving in to the fool’s gold the devil uses to attempt to allure us. With all that said, there are many other areas where sacrifice can offer eternal rewards in Heaven and temporal ones on earth too. It’s not always easy to commit to serving God with your gifts, talents, time, and resources. But if we believe God at His Word, we know that the eternal impact of honoring Him with these things will always outweigh the measure of sacrifice related to doing so. In other words, our eternal return on investment will be greater than any of us can imagine (Matthew 19:29). We need to take steps towards God’s will in complete faith and surrender to make this a reality. We cannot please God without faith, and often that will be the exact fuel needed to initiate action for the sake of God’s glory (Hebrews 11:6).

Instead of serving ourselves and making choices based on personal advantage, it is critical to live for God and help others in the process (Philippians 2:3). If we truly love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, wouldn’t it also make sense for us to love the people He created (Matthew 22:36-40)? How can we claim to love God if we hate the people who He made in His image (Genesis 1:27)? I recognize that there are times in this world when we need to love ourselves and pursue things like rest, self-care, and leisure activities. However, such actions are not mutually exclusive with loving God and people. The Bible instructs us to love people as we would love ourselves.

At least one plausible reason exists to explain why God’s Word doesn’t ask us to love others more than ourselves. What good will you or I do if we neglect self-care to the point where we burn out? We need to familiarize ourselves with our limitations regarding stress tolerance and ability. It is also helpful to draw clear boundaries with family, friends, and even strangers that we should ensure are respected. If you over-exert and sideline yourself, you won’t be able to optimize serving God and maintaining your wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually. Typically we don’t drive our cars without following the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance. Why would it be any different with serving God? According to His example in Genesis, he wants us to rest at least one day per week, as He chose to do after creation (Genesis 2:2-3). It follows that He also wants us to pray. Otherwise, why would Jesus Christ have prayed to the Father (John 17:1-26)?

Ultimately, it is vital to make sacrifices within the scope of your capacity for God’s glory. Under these circumstances, it can be an opportunity for us to do our part as believers. There is no replacement for answering God’s call to walk in your purpose and abide in Him. In walking the path God has laid before each of us, we will experience difficulty, trouble, and sometimes even severe trials (John 16:33). However, He will always be with us when we need Him most. God will help us to navigate through the times when we have nothing left but to put our trust in Him. Furthermore, there is an indescribable sense of peace, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction only God can provide His children (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 94:19). When you and I step out in faith and make sacrifices for Him, God allows us to experience all of these blessings throughout our lives.

May we bring God glory by fully committing our works to Him. After all, our ultimate purpose is to bring God glory (1 Peter 4:7-11). You and I can do this by fearing Him and obeying His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). When we position ourselves to make this our daily practice, we will find true satisfaction, and rest assured we delight Him in the process (Psalm 112:1).

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” – John Piper.

It is remarkable how reading the scriptural reality of this having happened in the lives of our forefathers often brings us comfort. I usually try to personalize it a step further when it applies to my own life. How can I doubt God’s goodness when I have tasted of it first-hand? There’s no way I can lose faith because things are not going my way when I can see God’s perfect track record operating in my life. Does this mean He has always met my expectations? No. However, my expectations are not the standard for how He works. Situations, where I might see failure without redeeming value have often turned into some of the most valuable experiences of my life. The kinds of events that genuinely shape you into a better person are priceless. I concede that they happen according to God’s will, but I also pray for as much gentleness as possible to accompany His loving and firm correction (Hebrews 12:6-11). Indeed seeing how faithful He has been even in my time here on earth instills in me an unshakeable trust that there is no reason for Him to begin to let me down now. God is not in the business of leaving or forsaking us, nor starting a good work in us and not seeing it through to its completion (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 1:6). With these realities in mind, along with the fact that He has greater control of all situations than we can fathom, how can we not find peace?

Indeed, there are times when we might not be feeling an immediate sense of peace or comfort. However, we know that our foundation does not need to be compromised when grounded in Jesus Christ. When our identity is firmly rooted in our Lord’s salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and being partakers of an eternal inheritance as God’s children, we can find permanent security. No matter what chaos we might witness around us or even experience ourselves, He never fails us (Romans 8:35-39). Often, with a good dose of perspective, our perceived problems are truly minuscule and solvable. Unfortunately, in our culture, we tend to fall into the trap of dramatizing our issues and under-appreciating the numerous blessings God has bestowed upon us. Going back to that position of gratitude and contentment will help us appreciate the bigger picture.

No one has a perfect life regardless of what their Instagram or Facebook pages seem to tell you. Remember, comparison on social media often leads to envy and jealousy. It achieves nothing and leaves you feeling like you do not measure up. It fails to appreciate what someone sacrificed to get to where they are. You also show God in a sense that you think you know more than Him because perhaps your life is not at the stage you expected it to be by now. So instead of spending that precious time comparing your everyday life to their highlight reel, work on doing things God’s way. There is nothing wrong with celebrating milestones or congratulating friends on theirs, among other social media activities, but it can become toxic, like many different tools. If you know deep down it is your kryptonite, it might be best to disconnect for a time and turn back to God.

One of the most excellent ways of achieving peace is to set yourself up for it with intentionality. If you are not spending quiet time alone with God and His Word, how do you expect to experience the rewards associated with it? When we worry or get anxious about the future, we essentially mistrust God’s plans for us. Sometimes we know this as common sense or intuitive knowledge, but we lack wisdom if we fail to apply it. I am not claiming I am free from error and use this with flawless consistency. Armed with this knowledge I put an emphasis on trusting God and casting my cares to Him. Thus I have some seasons where I succeed a great deal in this area.

In contrast, others occasionally arise where I do not implement what I know I should. The sooner we catch ourselves sliding away, the better off we will be. Ideally, as it becomes the crucial necessity it deserves in our lives, reading the Bible will be integral to you. Essentially, Bible study should be as eating and prayer as breathing in your journey as a believer.

I encourage you to be considerate of others along the way too. Our strengths and weaknesses may all look different, but one thing is for sure, we are all fighting some battle. So let us make it a point to extend each other the grace, mercy, and love to persevere in life. If we love even our enemies, what excuse do we have not to try our best to be there for our loved ones (Matthew 5:43-48)? Do not let this be a guilt trip. There is no shame in being a work in progress, and as such, surely we ought to give ourselves the same grace we strive to provide others. In some cases, perhaps even more grace because many of us tend to be our most prominent critics.

Let the critic in you take a backseat as you peacefully take refuge in God’s sovereignty (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). There is no better place to be than at the center of the will of God for your life. No matter what that looks like, we all need to pursue it because tomorrow is not guaranteed, and we need to make the absolute best of every day. May God be glorified by our actions as we find satisfaction, joy, comfort, and peace in Him. Eventually, the Fruits of the Spirit, a relationship with Jesus Christ yields, will overflow into the various areas of our lives that He motivates us in. Without question, the more of our lives we surrender to God, the more we can see His hand working in them.

Repentance, in consideration of sinful behavior, signifies a turning away from such endeavors. It involves eliminating the evil in our lives and pursuing righteousness and holiness in God’s sight instead. We must consider this remains a moving target for us as Christians throughout our lives. It is not a destination that is arrived on this side of eternity. There is always room for us to improve. No matter what you and I may have already brought to fruition through Jesus Christ, we should recognize this continuous pursuit of holiness.

Outside of Jesus Christ, we could do nothing of eternal significance. Therefore, it helps us to remain as humble as possible. Otherwise, it could lead us to self-righteousness, pride, or complacency when we fail to remember the Source of our achievements. Keeping these realities aligned in our understanding helps us to stay on track. Instead of relying too much on our strength and human knowledge to navigate life, we surrender more and more of our lives willingly to God. It is safe to trust that the more we acknowledge His sovereignty over each area, the better off we will position ourselves in His eternal will for us (Romans 8:28).

It is crucial for us never to forget how important the role of repentance is in the life of all Christians. How can we expect God’s blessings, including His presence in our lives, if we do not focus intently on what His Word shares about repentance? 

“12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NKJV)

If we want to enjoy God’s promises, we must also do our part to fulfill their conditions. How can we expect God to heal our land altogether, and for that matter, all the nations impacted by the pandemic if we do not repent? With a warning as straightforward as this found in God’s Word, like a blueprint for us to borrow for modern-day application, it should provoke a desire in us to obey the Bible’s instructions. Of course, we cannot expect non-believers to abide by these principles, but the Church should take heed. It brings me comfort that God did not destroy Soddom and Gomorrah immediately in their depravity because of a few righteous people. It was not until after extensive warnings, mercy, and grace that this ultimately came to happen. God even provided a way of escape for Lot and others before He destroyed the city along with everyone else. I can only imagine a similar situation today is keeping us alive here in the United States (Genesis 18:16-33).

Thus, if we want to see healing across our lands, we must follow these instructions in 2 Chronicles with a great deal of care. I believe God would potentially delight in ordaining another “Great Awakening”. Although individually, it may appear as though our prayers or influence may be small, we cannot afford to underestimate their power in the times we live. We cannot account for everyone’s lives, but we should take our stand as the Church. Therefore, let us come together in prayer, pursue holiness, and fight to repent of all our sins as the Holy Spirit leads us to. Let’s make our mark in this fleeting world by counting it all as loss and making our lives count for God’s glory by seeking Jesus Christ above all else (Philippians 3:8).

Thankfully, whether it is in God’s providence to lead us to a renaissance of repentance or things keep getting progressively worse from here, we do not need to fear. Either way, since we fear God and rest in His sovereignty, it is without question that despite facing an uncertain future in the near term, we await a sure reward in our Lord’s presence for eternity. Therefore, it follows for us to pursue everything that has eternal value rather than merely temporal value here on earth.

Often it may seem as though the allure of the world’s amenities are more meaningful than they are. Yet, the truth is that the appetites of the flesh are insatiable, and the world will never satisfy that missing puzzle piece in our hearts that only Jesus Christ can fill. Without Him, we are left to our own devices, pursuing fleeting idols and living purposeless lives. Yet, with Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors, and we are building towards a future in Heaven that none of us can fully fathom. Therefore, let us repent and seek forgiveness from God. We need to ask Him to reveal our shortcomings to repeat this process daily. We may be in the process of sanctification, but we will remain imperfect during our time here on earth.

Suffice it to say you and I still have a mission left to do here. If you are reading this sentence, God still has a purpose for you here on earth. While that purpose for all of us is to bring Him glory, He wants you to grab hold of the calling that He sets before you. You may or may not have figured that out by now, but it is not too late if you are not sure or if you have delayed answering His call. Consider this your call to action. I encourage you to seek God in prayer, read His Word and do some introspection to determine what He would have you do. The most unexpected avenues can become favorable opportunities for planting seeds that will one day provide plentiful harvests for you.

If you still remain uncertain, consider what some people have recognized as a potential area of strength in your life. For example, it could be a gift, talent, resource, opportunity, or a career that opens the door for you to honor, glorify, and acknowledge God. Often it comes more naturally to you than to the average person, and you find a great deal of fulfillment in it. You may have to look beyond your day job to see it, but God will help you find it if you look diligently. It may even be something you already do that can be slightly modified to be effective for God’s Kingdom.

I recommend finding ways to win souls for Jesus Christ (Proverbs 11:30) and helping those who cannot help themselves (Matthew 25:30-40). Look to love God and love your neighbor. If we fight for these two things, everything meaningful in this life stems from them. That is why they are the two greatest commandments.

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Store up for yourself Heavenly treasures where they last forever, rather than the allure of worldly pleasures and desires. All those will quickly fade while accomplishing the former will never cease to bless countless people forever (1 John 2:17). Every encounter to evangelize could be the difference in someone’s eternal destination. Keep your eyes on God and abide in Him as you answer the call He puts in your heart. You will not go wrong eternally when you genuinely take this approach.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)