Each year presents itself
with new opportunities to elevate our faith to a higher high. Is there room to
increase your faith? What about your Joy, Peace, Courage, Confidence, Kindness,
Gentleness, Meekness or Love? Is there a path to move higher in your walk with
God?
I have noticed when I go snow skiing that there
are challenges in going higher up the mountain. I’m better when I drink more
water to overcome the changes in the higher altitude. If I don’t preplan in my
moving up to higher elevations, I get light headed, nauseated and sometimes chest
pains. God also has plans taking us higher in our journey with Him. Let’s
discuss some things that can help you in your trajectory in taking One Step Higher
in 2015.
Put Your Past Behind You. Paul said; “I focus on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”(Phil 3:13) Paul’s hand was engaged in putting
Christians in prison and was there when Stephen was stoned to death. Stephen
said; “Lay not this sin to their charge” Paul decided not to look back but
press toward the mark God had for him.
Keep Reaching Higher. Paul said, “I have not achieved it.” (Phil 3:13a) He was saying, “I have not arrived, I
haven’t done it all yet, I still have a ways to go.” When
you think you’ve learned all you need to learn, you are in TROUBLE. You
cannot possess what you do not pursue. Paul went on to say, “Let him that
thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall”. There’s not a day that goes by
that I don’t need His grace, mercy and courage for the journey.
Stay the Course. It
encourages me to watch those who press on beyond and through the bumps,
potholes, curves, hills, valleys and storms of life. Nowhere does God say that
if you serve Me, it’s all smooth sailing. Jesus says, “In this world you shall
have tribulation; be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”. (John 16:33) You can make it through divorce,
cancer, bankruptcy, termination of your job, being falsely accused, going to
prison, paying off your college loans, providing for your family in a tough
economy, working in a high pressured environment, being abandoned in a
relationship, or finding out that your kid is on drugs. Nobody said life would
be fair, but He did say; “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Christ did
say; “Nothing shall be able to pluck you out of my hand.” (John 10:29)
Keep your Eyes on the
Finish Line I’m excited about the day Christ has prepared
for His Church. One day He will come back for those who have prepared
themselves like a bride that’s prepared herself for her groom. What a glorious,
incredible day of New Beginnings in Heaven. One day we’ll walk on streets of
gold, live in a city 1400 miles high, wide and deep. Keep pressing; it’s going
to be worth it all, to press beyond anything we’ll ever face on this side of
heaven. Could it be 2015?
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