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It seems that so many people struggle to keep up with the demands of daily life and stay focused on achieving the best that God has for them. Distractions such as phone calls, text messages, traffic jams, a flat tire, a sick child, family crisis or any number of inconveniences can pop up suddenly. No matter how hard we try, circumstances often don’t go the way we planned.
But there are ways to keep life simple so we can achieve our goals. I think it’s healthy to stop periodically and take an inventory of our lives. It’s important to ask, “Am I really living the life Christ died for me to have? Or am I settling for something less?”
Regardless of what’s happened in the past or what obstacles seem to be in our way, God has a big, full life in store for each one of us. But it’s up to us whether we’re going to get the best out of life and make the most of our time, talents, relationships and opportunities.
The book of Genesis contains a great lesson in this area. It shares the story of Abraham’s father, Terah, who gathered his family, packed up everything and set out for his ultimate destination—Canaan.
However, Genesis 11:31 tells us, “…Together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there” (NIV).
I wonder how many people start out to do one thing in life but settle somewhere along the way because they get tired or because it’s convenient. It’s not really what they want, but it’s something they think they can “settle for.”
Are there areas in your life where you have settled, or maybe just haven’t made as much progress as you had hoped?
Make a commitment to be more than mediocre
The Lord has called us to excellence, and we don’t have to settle for mediocrity. The word mediocre literally means “to live halfway between success and failure.” And that’s where so many people live; they haven’t completely failed, but they’re also not where they really want to be.
This applies to every area of our lives. Maybe you’ve begun studying the Bible and you have a goal to really know God’s Word and develop an intimate, close relationship with Him. If that’s the case, don’t settle for just reading a chapter a day to “put your time in”; stay determined to make it a priority because knowing God’s Word is the key to truly knowing God.
Or maybe you have a goal to lose 20 pounds. If so, make a decision that you’re not going to give up when it gets difficult. Even if you have a bad day and actually gain weight, be determined to bounce back the next day!
Sometimes we get used to the place where we are and forget there’s something better. Life gets busy, complicated or even comfortable, and we lose sight of the dreams and goals we used to have. That’s when we need to stir ourselves up and become determined to attain every single part of God’s plan for our lives.
What If…
Let’s take a few moments to play the “What If?” game:
What if you decided to give God your all and seek Him with your whole heart?
What if you demanded the best from yourself instead of settling for “just average”?
What if you stopped making excuses why you can’t accomplish your dreams and goals?
What if you changed the way you speak and refused to say anything negative?
What if you started confronting problems instead of running away from them?
What if you decided to stop procrastinating?
Can you imagine where you would be this time next year if you followed through with just one or two of these things?
Give It Your All
The Bible is full of scriptures that encourage us to do our best. Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed…” (NIV).
I love that phrase “do your best.” It may be easier to go halfway, but what if you decided to give your best in your marriage, at your job or any other area of your life?
Some of the greatest blessings in my life now are things that have required the most effort. Today, my husband, Dave, and I have the awesome privilege of sharing God’s Word with millions of people through Joyce Meyer Ministries. Many times throughout the years it required tremendous sacrifice and the decision to keep moving forward when we felt like giving up.
I am so glad we didn’t stop halfway when things got tough. The truth is if you will do what you can do, God will do His part and do what you can’t do. It’s simple—keep your focus on God, give Him your best and He will give you His best for you!
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Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 140 books, including “Battlefield of the Mind” and “Loving People Who are Hard to Love” (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.
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