Determination

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand”

Vince Lombardi

“A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must….be

undaunted when the going gets tough,”

President Ronald Reagan

Determination is an important ingredient to achieving success. Think about the last time you physically challenged yourself, and you had to draw upon your sheer determination to complete the race, or climb the hill, or what was it? One challenge each of us face is determining the right course of action, choosing how we are going to live our lives, where to focus that determined energy?

In Jeremiah 18, the Lord spoke of himself as a potter of clay who takes our very lives and shapes them to accomplish his will. The Lord also talked of those who choose not to allow the Lord to fashion them into great instruments of success for His glory. These are determined people who choose to follow their own course – their hearts are fixed on their own desires and not moldable by the Lord.

Determination is a powerful thing – examine your heart, are you determined on letting the Lord mold you into a mighty man or woman of God for His glory or are you determined to do life your own way?

First, choose the right way, then with undaunted determination allow the Lord to keep His hands ever present on shaping your life - the result: you will finish the race well.

Listening

Are you a good listener? Whether you are reading a book on parenting, marriage, or leadership you will discover that being a good listener is important for living a successful life. In my reading through the Bible today this theme of listening was prevalent. Listen to these words: Joshua said, ‘and you have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you’ (Joshua 22:2); and in Jeremiah 11, ‘the word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Hear… Listen to My voice….Listen to My voice.’

Joshua commended the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh for listening to his voice and doing all that he commanded them to do. Do you desire people to listen to you? As a parent or leader of people wouldn’t you like to say that about your children or co-laborers? Would you like to know that people are listening to you? If you read the earlier chapters in the book of Joshua you will find that Joshua was victorious in conquering nations of greater military strength and number because Joshua’s enemies had listened to the testimony of others of how God was with Moses and Joshua and the mighty power God displayed on their behalf. Also, take notice that the people Joshua was leading listened to Joshua because Joshua was faithful to God, and God exalted Joshua, so that the people of Israel would know that God was with him.

Listen to the words of warning from Joshua in 22:5, ‘be very careful to ….love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ The Lord also in Jeremiah 11 is angry with His people because they turned their backs on Him and ‘refused to hear His words.’

Do you want to be worthy of the Lord’s approval? Then be a good listener and heed the words of Joshua and fix your heart on serving the Lord with all your heart! If your heart is the Lord’s he will give you the victory of a successful and productive life.

Listening and Responding

How different are we than children? Is our relationship with God similar to how our children, or in my case grandchildren, listen to us for a season, then they no longer hear our voice - or perhaps just ignore it (of course my grandkids are a model of perfection so they always listen and respond). As I read the Bible it appears there is a constant battle for our heart. Yesterday I read, God formed me and knew me intimately (Psalm 139). God had a specific plan for me, just as he does for you (Jeremiah 1:5). God demonstrates His power and authority and yet still we fall away (Jeremiah 2). In my prayer journal I wrote this prayer - "Life is found in you Lord, and only you. Lord direct my mind that I would be set on your interest (Matthew 16:23). Enable me to take up my cross and follow You, for only in following do I gain fullness of life. There is a battle Lord for my heart and mind. Lord be victorious in capturing my heart and mind and leading me to do all your will."

I wonder what change would occur in our world if our ears were attunded to listening to the voice of God and we had the discipline and courage to act upon the hearing of his voice.

Powerful Pursuit

Powerful Pursuit –when you wait upon God and listen and hear him speak, when God gives you a vision of what he is going to accomplish, do you then move forward in confidence and diligent pursuit of that vision? Learn from Moses and Joshua. It is the all powerful Lord God who accomplishes his purposes – he goes before us, he is with us, he will destroy our enemies, he will accomplish his purpose. So listen to God and be careful to do all he tells you, trust in him, be courageous and bold, fearless in pursuit of all God asks of you (Deut. 31). God does not work alone. He chooses to work through people who have a heart to do his will, to accomplish his purposes, and with those people he displays his power.