Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12/9/2021
Adjusting your priorities as an Adopted Child. Yes or No.
How do you expect to grow something, heal something, or do something if you don’t commit and move forward? How do you expect to have a positive impact on your life and the lives of others if you don’t believe in what you’re doing, and you don’t believe in yourself?
When I was a young man of twenty-five, I owned my own direct sales company. We weren’t real big, we had from 10 to 15 sales personnel working. I remember that when money was really tight and I had a payroll to meet, I went out and picked up my sales kits and went selling. I felt the stress and panic at times of having to deliver. I needed that sale, but I was not positive, I was not confident, and I am certain people could feel it.
I got hooked on Zig Ziglar and I would throw in a cassette tape and I would pour zig into me until I arrived at the door. By that time, I was pumped. I almost felt sorry for those poor people because I wasn’t leaving without a sale. I was confident. Positive. Passionate and determined.
I still remember the impact this Christian man had on my life. He said, “You are what you are and where you are because of what is going into your mind. Now you can change what you are, you can change where you are by changing what goes into your mind!” (Isn’t that more true of God?)
I had a goal. I had a purpose and I believed!
As God’s adopted children, we have been blessed to have a new purpose: That isn’t so strange is it? When we take on a new profession, our duties and objectives will change. As adopted kids, our new and improved purpose is glorifying our Father through righteous living and that will take some modifying of our thinking and our lifestyles. I’m sure you know that God doesn’t change His plans to suit our ideas and purposes.
No, he asks you to adjust our lives to align with His will.
Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen and their lives evolved around the details of their occupation. But Jesus called them and they made a radical change. But in Matt. 19:21 A rich young ruler walked away because of what he had to give up to follow Jesus. But why should that be so hard? We must know that our Father’s plans are all based on a perfect plan for each of us. They are based on His justice and mercy and His goodness. Because God is always good, always just, we can trust his perfect character and therein trust the direction he wants for our lives to fulfill Dad’s purpose. I will need to make some changes to honor my Dad.
When I was a boy, I would walk alongside my dad and he would hold my hand. I must tell you when I had dad’s hand, I knew no fear. Even if I fell and was bleeding, when dad had me, I knew I was going to be ok. I had a feeling of peace but I had the strength to carry on even when I was down and hurting.
My dad affected my belief system. I wanted to be like dad. I wanted to think like him and do what he did! So I watched him intently. I couldn’t read much back then so I couldn’t read about him but I would have if I could have.
A Christian’s thought life should also mirror Jesus’s. This world’s influence on us is taking more of a toll than we realize. He says we must live in the world but not become a part of the world. You bet, easier said than done. John 17:13–16 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
The world says, sell yourself, advance, push ahead of the others, take all the credit, and hoard your possessions for your own use. But scripture teaches the last shall be first. Mark 8:35, God is the one deserving of our praise Ps 96:4 and Christians are to be generous people 1 Tim 6:18. WHAT we believe needs to match what the bible says, what Jesus said. Meaning we too, must change our perspective and adjust our goals and directives to align with our Dad, so we can honor him and be a good child of the Father. We must reevaluate our choice in light of our new position in Christ. We must read and study and become students of our Dad. We must take ahold of his hand and be empowered by His strength, wisdom, and His new direction for us. We must depend on our Dad for the strength to succeed.
We must do it for our Dad because He deserves all the glory.
But Zig said it well, We can’t get so caught up in the things we do, that we don’t do the things that count. We are busy people and what we feed our minds will determine our direction. What are you feeding yourself and realistically how do you think that is affecting your goals, ambitions, and directive in your life and the lives of your spouse and children? You must know they see it all.
God changed your purpose in living when he adopted you. We are not to make changes just to make changes. We make them to align with His plan for our life. We cannot know that without being in a real and personal relationship with our Dad. Take hold of His hand today, get in his word, and he will lead you because He loves you so much.
Josh Groban You raise me up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxrX42WcjQ
