Is Maturing As a Christian Within the Realm of Possibility?

Do you desire to be an excellent husband or wife? Has that status eluded you? The prospect for becoming an excellent spouse is crucially linked to knowing and understanding the person to whom you are married, in addition to actually knowing yourself.

How do you get to know another person? The short answer is spending enough time together for personality quirks to become obvious. It’s not a matter of whether flaws exist, but if there is enough patience, love, and tolerance to accept what may never change.

Strengths and weaknesses are often the source for disagreements, but from these, an excellent relationship can be pursued. The Apostle Paul explains how excellence evolves: “Forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” 

Paul gives hope and meaning to accountability as he pursues excellence, as you can do.

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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

~1 Peter 2:9 New International Version  

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Moving Forward with New Year Expectations

It’s impossible to live without expectations, specifically when those expectations are linked to the necessities that perpetuate our existence. Expectations are oriented toward the future and to decisions that daily confront us. Expectation can be coupled with something that brings joy and pleasure or to what is difficult and even feared.

We will soon be saying goodbye to 2022, which indicates the Christmas season is ending but not what made it joyful and delightful. For some, this first day after Christmas means getting back to routines and reality, but to others the joy of sorting out gifts and visiting with loved one continues to be delightful.

The new year challenges us to move forward with hope. Jesus gave us this encouragement, “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be open to you.”  These are action-oriented words and filled with hope for those who believe God is present to help us with unexpected challenges.  

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Fellow Christians, I don’t think I have [the goal] in my hands. But one thing I do: I forget what is behind, reach for what is ahead, and with my eyes on the mark I go after the heavenly prize to which God has called us in Crist Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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Finding Meaning and and Purpose for Your Life

Numerous books have been written on man’s search for meaning and purpose that give us a reason to make the most of our time here on earth. Yet we encounter hindrances designed to prevent us from achieving those objectives. The desire to do better stimulates the will to strive for a healthier and happier life.

This is not easy. It requires dedication and commitment. Bob Woodward in writing about President Richard Nixon defined Nixon’s infamous struggles: "I am hurt, but I am not slain! I will lie down and bleed. Then I will rise up and fight again.” The Apostle Paul knew God’s purpose for himself, so he persistently pressed onward in the high calling of Christ Jesus.

Don't be surprised if obstacles from within and without rise up against you. The gospel hymn encourages you to “Take the name of Jesus with you” as protection wherever you go. If temptations gather around you, call out to Jesus for deliverance. So press on, do not give up, for God will help you.  

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…But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14  English Standard Version

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Don't Misjudge Potential

 All people to varying degrees identify success by the possessions they acquire and by their profession or job. So many people misjudge their ability to excel by blaming their underachievement on a lack of opportunity or on others. Is what you aspired to be or do far below what you are capable of accomplishing?

Hope builds a bridge for conquering challenges. Hope that ensures success is dependent on the freedom God is given to motivate your heart and mind to achieve. Can you imagine the failure Joshua would have experienced if God had been restricted to a minimal influence in the plans to conquer the Promised Land?

While it's appropriate to grieve over failures and losses, continuing to rehash the past builds a bridge to depression. The apostle Paul gave this alternative: "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." This can be your hope and confidence.  

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For you are my hope; O Lord God, you are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.

~Psalm 71:5 Amplified Bible

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Next week on December 21-25, KHCB Radio will celebrate Christmas by providing alternate programming, the Five Days of Christmas, with only Christmas music and short devotionals. Accordingly, AttitudesAnswers will post a short Christmas blog post and podcast each day this week. Merry Christmas!

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Believe God's Promises – Move Forward

While I was serving in the military just after high school, I realized I needed a college education. I was ready to make this new beginning but discovered there were complications that had to be confronted. When the Israelites were confronted with what seemed impossible to overcome, fear overtook them.

In that critical moment God said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Command these people to start moving.” Before God performed what was an astounding miracle, the Israelites had to start moving toward what seemed like an immoveable barrier, but only then was God willing to intervene and save them.

Moses believed God's promise and set an example of faith for the fearful Hebrews. Moses was fearful, but he went forward and did as God instructed even though the obstacles seemed impossible. If it's time for you to move forward, God will empower you to move toward your objective. “For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power and self-control.”

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But the Lord says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.”

~Isaiah 43:18-19 Good News Bible

 

So I do concentrate on this: I forget all that lies behind me and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, I go straight for the goal – my reward the honor of my high calling by God in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Stay the Course with Steady Steps

Troubles can be aggravating and discouraging. There are times when it seems the only solution is to run away. Everyone has done that, if only by pretending trouble does not exist even when it faces them head on. Focusing on trouble with an unhealthy attitude can create unexpected problems. 

 

          Getting rid of Joseph by selling him as a slave appeared to be the best solution for his brothers. They would be free of the recipient of their hatred, yet not be free from the lies they had to tell their father. They set a trap for themselves because Proverbs 11:17 warns that whoever pursues evil finds death.

          God has a better technique for managing troubles of any magnitude. Listen to Psalm 119: "Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping the course you set for me; then I'll never regret comparing my life with your guidance. I thank you for speaking from your heart to mine because I desire to learn your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me, O Lord."  Will you do that?

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Since we have such a huge crowd of people of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up, and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.

~HEBREWS 12:1 The Living Bible

Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

~PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 Good News Bible

Infused with God's Light and Love - Part 3

Taking the path of least resistance for managing hard issues is a natural response, especially whenever choosing to go down the difficult, less traveled path appears hazardous. Succumbing to the most traveled path is appealing; it lets us avoid challenging choices. The Apostle Paul refers to this as the old, lingering, natural, unredeemed self.

Choosing to change may mean choosing a difficult path to follow. Now most people are not opposed to hard work if it’s acceptable and has predictable rewards. Taking the path of least resistance is failing to choose the good that could be done. My father believed in never putting off until tomorrow what could be done today.  

It’s easier to hate someone who has hurt you rather than to pray for God to bless that person. Praying for a person requires a change in attitude. The issue is to struggle, fight the good fight of faith, never give up or give in, while straining toward what pleases God. He will give you courage and strength to do it.  

Looking Back, Moving Forward - Part 1

You’re aware of how some memories persevere for a lifetime while others fade into obscurity. A few rare memories are like sweet cream dessert, but others can be so awful we do our best to avoid them. Most of our memories include a combination of happy and sad experiences, sparking our emotions that span a range from joyful to disturbing.

When children are severely criticized and rejected, they may develop survival skills to help them reach their highest potential and yet continue to feel an emptiness that success is incapable of filling. Being disfavored leaves a child or an adult feeling impoverished, like the black sheep of the family. Yet it's possible to replace this perspective with God’s perspective.

No one makes it through life with only positive memories, but God will heal wounds we’ve acquired at every stage of life. Pain created by memories shrink as you permit God to do his work of cleansing and forgiving. You are favored by God, so deposit this reality into your memory bank. 

Feeling Afraid? Remember Your Faith in God - Part 3

Fear is one of the culprits that prevent capable individuals from seizing their highest potential. So many persons have excellent possibilities, but can't seem to find the confidence to pursue their ideals. Even when opportunity is present, fear or anxiety may evolve into procrastination, causing hesitation until the opportunity has passed.

Submitting to fear and mediocrity undervalues your ability to reach higher. Mediocrity can be comfortable and safe but cannot quiet the inner voice that knows there’s an untapped higher purpose. Disappointment with oneself because of failure to utilize untapped possibilities challenges us to rise above mediocrity and press on toward the high calling we know is possible.

We discover God’s perfect plan when we’re willing to let go of the familiar and venture into the unknown. Consider Abraham, who left familiar surroundings for an unknown land - God's promise to give to him and his descendants, who would evolve into a nation. He activated the faith God gave him and reached for his highest potential.