Soul Care 101

 

My "why"

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why"? I often do. . . . about many things. The most intriguing why for me is "Why did God choose me? 

Why did He choose to save me, as wretched as I was and still can be today? Why did He give my wife and me the ministry He did when we were and are a mess? Why does He continue to bless us and call us to serve Him? Why is He so gracious?

The answer to all of these questions is why I never stop trying to please Him and why I never stop trying to convince others to trust Him! You see, my why is to live for His pleasure and not my own. 

Do not get me wrong: I do not deserve it at all. I above all people deserve hell. It is only by His grace that I am still on this earth. People do not always understand me and that's ok. So with the time I have left, my why is to serve God and to please Him above everyone and everything else!

Why are you here?

Keep the main thing the main thing.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 20-23)

These are definitely the worst of times . . . and yes, the best of times. I try daily to please God, but with all the stuff going on around me . . . it is tough. As a life coach/teacher, it is challenging to stay focused upon God and His will when so many lies are being floated around and so many are accepting these lies. It becomes difficult to teach and model Truth, when so many are living examples of the lies of Satan.

I must remind myself to keep the main thing the main thing. I have to see the world as God does; sick, depraved and in need of help . . . the help only Jesus can offer! When others doubt me and my words . . . even the Words of Jesus Himself, I still must stay focused. Many times my motives and methods are questioned, yet I simply want to see people . . . especially our youth . . . come to know and serve Christ. It can be depressing indeed. I have to stay focused upon His will and His presence. It can get lonely doing His will when others don't get it.

I must keep the main thing the main thing!