YGT: Permanently Pressing (The Good Life)

How do we get the good life?  

Well, that depends on your idea of "good". We often believe that a good life is one where we're "happy" - where we don't have to worry about anything. However, if we define our lives by God's standards, the good life is not an easy life. You see, God's definition of good is quite different. 

Paul gives us a hint of this when he said "this one thing will I do" in Philippians 3:13-14.  He said he will PRESS. One of the definitions of press in Greek is to pursue in a hostile manner.  That means to work, scratch, crawl, kick, bleed, and sweat your way to your destination.  

Many of us can relate to what it means to press.  Everyday our lives seem like we are in a battle as we try to live for God.  It is my belief that the pressing we do each day is good to God.  Paul said it better when he said at the end of his life he wants to be able to say "he fought the good fight of faith."  Or in other words, that he pressed.  

Our social expectations and childhood fantasies have painted a picture of the good life that was never given by God.  I like to imagine that God is looking down, watching us press each day, and longing to say "Well done, my good and faithful servant".  When God says you've lived a good life, that's when you know you've attained it.  Until then, this one thing will I do...

Lord, please help us to be strong and continue living for you.  Help us press.  Please be with us when we would like to give up on the journey.  We desire to know You, but it is hard.  We desire to live for You, but it is painful.  We want to hear well done and to hear you call our lives good.  In Christ's name and for His sake, Amen.

In hostile pursuit,

j.a.g.

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Philippians 3:13-14Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight of faith, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Matthew 25:23

His lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

On Blooming Where You're Planted

Some people close to me work in places they are not thrilled about. They have a passion that isn’t quite fulfilled in their current job, but nonetheless, they have to work. (If that’s you, you can high-five the computer screen, lol)

Well in spite of this, these people have been faithful in their positions and they have been approached about the possibility of advancement. Whoa, how does that happen? How do you receive favor in situations that may not be favorable to you?

I believe it’s because they have understood the principle of blooming where you’re planted. That is, being grateful for where you are and working as if God put you there. The Bible says we can be made the ruler over many things if we are faithful over a few things (Matthew 25:23 below). If God is sovereign and in control of everything, then God puts us in the positions in life we are in. The positions we are in should be opportunities to express to God how appreciative we are and to others how we can work. Like God, people also can see when we are good, faithful workers (your work can and should be a witness – hmm). Either way, a diligent attitude is one that will be rewarded!

If you are discouraged about your current station in life (job situation or otherwise), try blooming. Be your best on your job, in your relationships, with your money, etc. and watch God move. God will take the little that you have and make it much. Be your best wherever you are!

When your station in life is not wanted,

Don’t be tempted to wallow in gloom.

You can’t always control where you’re planted,

You can always control if you bloom.

Lord, You are worthy of all we are and all we’ll ever be. Please help us to be faithful and diligent wherever we are in life. When times are tough, give us a special anointing to endure with a positive spirit. We give You glory for being with us and giving us the strength to bloom as Your children. Let us be living witnesses for You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

j.a.g.

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Matthew 25:23 - His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Other passages that are helpful: The parable of the talents in Matthew 25; Joseph’s rise to being a leader in Egypt in Genesis 41; Daniel, Azariah, Hananiah, and Mishael’s ascension in Babylon in Daniel 1-3 (check out verse 3:30 in particular)

Throwback: On Lessons From Sonny

August 5, 2008, I was driving from the Dollar General, when I saw a man who looked homeless walking. He was wearing shoddy clothes and a long sandy/salty beard. He walked toward the store as I drove off and in my spirit, the tug-of-war began (Matthew 25:34-40 below).

A little personal spiritual context – I had recently been dealing with communicating with strangers about God. I felt like I was a Christian, but needed to express myself to others openly. Being a Christian is more than just being a nice person, it is about stepping up and standing out for Christ. Faith is ACTIVE - faith travels.

SO, I drove to the end of the parking lot, looked in the rearview mirror, and….. put the car in park. I could not drive away. As I looked at the man, I couldn’t leave. It was like a magnet was preventing me from pulling away. I must have sat there five minutes, talking to God and trying to come up with a reason NOT to turn around, when I came to the realization that I was going to do this. This was my moment of truth – it wasn’t a matter of being uncomfortable, I just had to turn around and (gulp) do it. Then, a funny thing happened. I looked in the mirror again and the man was walking toward me! He was walking directly toward where I was parked. So, I quickly reversed into a parking spot in order to get out of the car. As soon as he was walking past the car, I got out and said hello…

To my surprise, he smiled and said “Hello, how are you?” This began my conversation with my unexpected friend, Sonny. His first words after that were “No one does that anymore. No one stops, smiles, and just says hello anymore.” It was a refreshing statement that took me back a minute. Sonny continued, “We have a great Creator. He has given us all we have. It’s just a matter of us listening to Him and hearing what He tells us. Most people don’t do that. Most people let the words come in their ears, but it gets stuck there. The people who get it, get it in their hearts.” Wow, I thought to myself. Lord, what am I supposed to say to this man?

As Sonny spoke, his smile was honest and his sincerity was unarming. We stood and talked for twenty minutes about many things, but mainly about him. He talked of his love for animals (deer, raccoons, and even skunks!), his meeting with the Dalai Lama (he touched Sonny in a Bloomington gas station on Sonny’s 50th birthday), and the documentary that was done by an anthropology student on his life (it won a prize here in town and a sequel is being filmed). Near the end of our conversation, I realized that God had sent me to this place to learn some valuable lessons...

1) Sonny had come to witness to me, not I to Him. He had shown me the goodness of God and His presence in all places and all people. 2) He showed that because someone looks unkempt does not mean that they automatically need something from me. Maybe I need something from them. 3) Finally, being a Christian doesn’t mean I always have the ‘solution’ for everything. It simply means I have access to a God who does.






God is in everyone and wants us to seek fellowship with His creation. He just needs us to be available to be used. He is simply waiting for us, as Sonny would say, to say “Yes.” That yes gives Him the opportunity to show us new things and new ways of knowing Him. That yes lets Him know we are available and submitted. It is my prayer that these lessons from Sonny empower all to say Yes again and again.




Learning,






-j.a.g.















Matthew 25:34-40 (New Living Translation)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?

39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’