Friday, June 14, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

Pressing On - No Matter What

Philippians 3:13-14 ...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me...

I had the great privilege of listening to motivational speaker, Ron Anderson, yesterday. Mr. Anderson was abandoned by his father and raised in extreme poverty by a mother who became an alcoholic due to their tumultuous lives. He shared that his family often went without the basics of food and electricity.

As he recounted details of his life, I could only marvel how this man overcame such difficult circumstances. It was hard to imagine the determination and perseverance that it took for him to not only survive his ordeal but to also rise above it in order to pave out a successful life for him and his family - a life dedicated to helping young people experiencing challenges similar to the ones he faced.

He shares the following on his website: "As a teen, I was told that I would never grow to be successful in life because of my personal challenges - where I'm from...what I faced. They said that I was destined for failure...self-destruction...prison. THEY WERE WRONG!"

When I read these words, I thought of Jesus and the rejection that He faced from others due to where He came from. When Philip in John 1:45-46 tells Nathanael that they had found the One spoken of by Moses and the prophets and that He was from Nazareth, Nathanael's reply was "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"

Others may have asked the same question about Ron Anderson's origin. However, through the example of Jesus overcoming the rejection that He endured, Ron understood that - in spite of the circumstances - God had great plans for his life.

He realized that he could not change the external factors that constantly bombarded him such as where he was born or what people said about him. INSTEAD, he took control of what he could change - his destiny. He didn't have to continue to live the life he grew up in - God had something greater for him.

My challenge to you today is to never allow your past history to prevent you from reaching your full potential. Just press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has just for YOU!

Dear Lord, You tell me in Isaiah 43:19 that You are making a way in the wilderness for me. Help me to walk in this promise even when the WAY seems to be so very distant...I am grateful for the great plans that You have for me.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.