Žydrūnas Savickas. The name of this Lithuanian competitor may not mean much to you, but according to some he is the world's strongest man. After suffering a serious knee injury, Mr.Savickas returned to competition and eventually earned the strongman title, which he currently holds for the second consecutive year.
But, as we all know, there is more than one way to be strong in this life. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul urges us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10).
While I have no intention of challenging Mr.Savickas for his physical Strongman title any time soon; I am continuing to pursue my desire to become "strong in the Lord". Doing so is central to my desire to "finish well" in this life.
How about you? What is it that makes you strong?
Pursuing interior strength - strength of faith, strength of character, strength of heart - is a lifelong endeavor. So it might help us to pause and consider just what those things are that can truly make us strong. In the next three issues of Gracelets, I will be identifying three things that give us strength beginning with PURPOSE.
Strength Through Purpose
The famous evangelist Billy Sunday observed that "more men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent". How true! Knowing our purpose is Job One in living a life of meaning, influence, satisfaction and spiritual strength.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that our purpose is tied inexorably to the purposes of God. Once we understand that our fundamental sense of purpose is hidden in God and His wise Master Plan, we can begin to make strides in our spiritual strength and development. "All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
It makes me sad to think of how many people, especially younger people, are being raised without any sense of purpose. It seems that a good many of our institutions of higher education propagate the falsehood that human existence is a matter of happenstance - as if each of us are mere bundles of consciousness randomly burped up by an indifferent universe. No wonder why so many people are poisoned by nihilism. No wonder why so many are led to become "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4).
But, by contrast, we become "strong in the Lord", and strong within ourselves, when we understand that God created us for a purpose. I believe that the unique nature of every human fingerprint is God's way of reminding us that we are creatures of His sovereign design.
The more you believe your life has purpose and meaning beyond your own survival, the more you will live into a Higher Plan and the stronger you will become. You may never be the next Žydrūnas Savickas when it comes to lifting weights, but living from a God-given sense of purpose can make you a moral and spiritual champion within!
While I have no intention of challenging Mr.Savickas for his physical Strongman title any time soon; I am continuing to pursue my desire to become "strong in the Lord". Doing so is central to my desire to "finish well" in this life.
How about you? What is it that makes you strong?
Pursuing interior strength - strength of faith, strength of character, strength of heart - is a lifelong endeavor. So it might help us to pause and consider just what those things are that can truly make us strong. In the next three issues of Gracelets, I will be identifying three things that give us strength beginning with PURPOSE.
Strength Through Purpose
The famous evangelist Billy Sunday observed that "more men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent". How true! Knowing our purpose is Job One in living a life of meaning, influence, satisfaction and spiritual strength.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that our purpose is tied inexorably to the purposes of God. Once we understand that our fundamental sense of purpose is hidden in God and His wise Master Plan, we can begin to make strides in our spiritual strength and development. "All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
It makes me sad to think of how many people, especially younger people, are being raised without any sense of purpose. It seems that a good many of our institutions of higher education propagate the falsehood that human existence is a matter of happenstance - as if each of us are mere bundles of consciousness randomly burped up by an indifferent universe. No wonder why so many people are poisoned by nihilism. No wonder why so many are led to become "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4).
But, by contrast, we become "strong in the Lord", and strong within ourselves, when we understand that God created us for a purpose. I believe that the unique nature of every human fingerprint is God's way of reminding us that we are creatures of His sovereign design.
The more you believe your life has purpose and meaning beyond your own survival, the more you will live into a Higher Plan and the stronger you will become. You may never be the next Žydrūnas Savickas when it comes to lifting weights, but living from a God-given sense of purpose can make you a moral and spiritual champion within!
No comments:
Post a Comment