Pour Your Heart Into It

There is something inauthentic about people who want breakthroughs in their life but are not willing to personally sacrifice for them. Risks and sacrifices are required for breakthroughs. Search the Scriptures. Read history. You will not find an example of one that did not have to sacrifice, even in some small way, in order to achieve their breakthrough. Even Jesus had to risk his life and sacrifice on the cross in order to pursue the vision that God had for him (Luke 22:39-44).

When we are willing to sacrifice and risk something for God, God looks upon our sacrifice as an act of worship. And despite God’s words of encouragement, “...he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God...” (Isaiah 43:1-3a, NRSV), some of us would rather deal with the pain of regret rather than the pain of sacrifice.

Truth be told, the pain of regret is easier to deal with than the pain of sacrifice. In past years, like this year, I made a resolution to lose weight and get back into shape. However, the sacrifice of waking up at 5 AM and leaving the warm comfort of my bed is a sacrifice I have not been willing to make. As a result, another year is passing and another resolution is falling by the wayside. I am conscious of the risk I am taking. Diabetes and high blood pressure run in my family. In the past two years, three of my friends have died unexpected deaths due to health related causes. But despite the warning signs, I continue to make excuses for the sacrifices I am not willing to make. I convince myself, “I can lose weight whenever I feel like it. Just wait to the kids start sleeping through the night. Just wait until work slows down. Just wait until spring. Just wait until I finish this last row of chocolate cookies.” I wonder...did my friends make similar excuses?

What sacrifice(s) are you struggling to make? What decisions are you delaying? Are you are trying to make a change in your life but for some reason, you are not firmly planted in that God-given vision? As a result, at the first sign of pain, failure or delay, you give into past behaviors and settle back into past ruts and past routines. Or better yet, you have conceded defeat, convincing yourself that you are better equipped to deal with the pain of regret rather than the pain of sacrifice.

Let’s be honest. Pursuing our God-given vision is hard. If it was easy, more people would be fulfilled. People ask me all the time: “How do you find time to write, study, work, do ministry, be a husband and a father? To offer some reasonable explanation, let me borrow a phrase from Andy Stanley’s book: “Choosing to Cheat: Who Wins When Family and Work Collide?” I cheat. I cheat sleep. I cheat TV time. I cheat hanging out with friends. I cheat my vacation --- it is 3:30AM and I am up writing. I sometimes cheat my family (Not Recommended!). But I am so passionate about The Breakthrough Project and what God is doing through this ministry, that the pain of sacrifice (e.g. sleep, hanging out) is more palatable to me than the pain of regret (e.g. not doing God’s will). For me, this ministry is not a sacrifice. I was "created, formed and redeemed" to do this work.

Sometimes, we clearly see deficiencies in others but are blinded to our own. However, in order to acheive a God-given vision, we must take an honest and personal inventory of our own lives. We must take responsibility for our own shortcomings and failures. We must discover our passions. We must demand commitment and follow-through from ourselves. We must tell ourselves,"No more excuses." And finally, no matter the outcome, we must pour our hearts into it. By doing so, success and fulfillment in life are possible.

And a God-given vision requires that we quit complaining and blaming others for the things we do to ourselves. I cannot blame Jennifer’s good cooking for my lack of exercise or my poor nutrition. She is not forcing me to eat chocolate chip cookies. She is not refusing to allow me to work out. She is not stopping me from living a healthy lifestyle. Eating the cookies and not working out are my decisions. Just like dealing with the pain of regret maybe yours.

However, when you make the decision to risk and sacrifice in order to pursue a God-given vision, something happens on the inside. Our risks and sacrifices gives way to submission; and our submission gives birth to spiritual renewal and breakthroughs. Unlike common wisdom, risks and sacrifices do not always come with reward. You sacrificed your integrity for a new title and a bigger office only to have someone else get the promotion. You risked giving your “joy away” to that man only to realize that he did not deserve your fidelity. You sacrificed family time for your career only to have your company give you a pink slip. However, I am here to tell you that if you take a risk on Jesus, if you sacrifice your will for God’s will, you will never have to worry about your investment not paying dividends. For Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they (you) might have life, and have it (more) abundantly.” (John 10:10, NRSV)

Until next time...Love and Peace.

P.S. It is 5:13AM...and I am about to work out. Pray for me...I am trying to practice what I preach.