Ever met someone who seems to have everything they could ever want at the drop of a hat?
It seems like everything was just dropped into their hands, or handed to them by a butler in a suit with a silver platter.
But what is it that they are so easily getting?
Money? Boys/Girls? Fame? Stuff that will someday come to pass and provide satisfaction for maybe thirty minutes before they're bored?
There is something to be said about fighting for your dreams. There is something even more to be said about the satisfaction of knowing you won fair and square. I'm in a bit of a sticky situation and the silver platter is just barely out of reach. I feel like a a little kid stuck between two bigger siblings playing "monkey in the middle."
I was talking to my Heavenly Daddy last night, as I usually do when I am about to fall asleep, and I could almost hear him laughing at me saying,
"What? You honestly thought I was just going to hand your dreams to you on a silver platter? No, my daughter. You must fight for them, you must learn to trust me, and to keep the faith even when you have no way's out and everything else has failed you. You must learn to trust me, to believe that I am always with you. No, dear one, if you want this dream you must fight for it. It is far too great to simply pass it off without opposition from the enemy. You see, this dream of yours messes with the Enemy's plans, so of course he is also fighting for it. But you mustn't let him win, you mustn't give in, keep getting up. Get back in the ring, you can be knocked down, but I will pick you back up, you can't give in. Not now, not yet. Keep fighting, Saint, keep standing up. Even if you can't see, keep fighting, even if you gave it your all, give one last punch. Keep getting up..."
Not exactly the most encouraging word in the world, but it oddly gives me peace and some comfort. When he tells me that this dream messes with Satan I can't help but smile. It makes me feel like a secret agent of God's, which in a way we as Christians are just that--but that's for a different day, different post. ;) I take comfort in knowing that even when I fall for the last time, God is Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill) cheering me on in the corner, screaming for me to get back up and give everything I have in one last punch. The one that is going to win Rocky the championship and knock Apollo Creed out for the win.
(I know this is not my best post, but I want to encourage and possibly be the Burgess Meredith to you--granted, I won't cuss you out. That's not my cup of tea.)
So your neighbor got the new flashy Corvette with a V8 engine to make sure everyone hears when he is heading home from work. How do you know that it wasn't a gift from the family to share their love with him? So your roommate didn't study at all for that Psych 101 test, whereas you studied for hours, and it electronically-randomly pulled the hard questions for you and the easy ones for her thus making her get the A and you the C. You just went to babysit your favorite kid a block away, on your way home you're robbed at gunpoint. Your sister got the fancy Mustang while you get the 1988 Chevy Z-24 for your 16th birthdays. You see the new hot guy in your second period starts to notice you, until your friend snatches him right from under your nose. You've worked in the company for 10 years without any promotion, "Dayna" has been there 2 months and gets it with a snap of her french-manicured nails.
Notice that all these examples mentioned above are all about the "now?"
There is something to be said about fighting for your dreams. There is something even more to be said about the satisfaction of knowing you won fair and square. I'm in a bit of a sticky situation and the silver platter is just barely out of reach. I feel like a a little kid stuck between two bigger siblings playing "monkey in the middle."
I was talking to my Heavenly Daddy last night, as I usually do when I am about to fall asleep, and I could almost hear him laughing at me saying,
"What? You honestly thought I was just going to hand your dreams to you on a silver platter? No, my daughter. You must fight for them, you must learn to trust me, and to keep the faith even when you have no way's out and everything else has failed you. You must learn to trust me, to believe that I am always with you. No, dear one, if you want this dream you must fight for it. It is far too great to simply pass it off without opposition from the enemy. You see, this dream of yours messes with the Enemy's plans, so of course he is also fighting for it. But you mustn't let him win, you mustn't give in, keep getting up. Get back in the ring, you can be knocked down, but I will pick you back up, you can't give in. Not now, not yet. Keep fighting, Saint, keep standing up. Even if you can't see, keep fighting, even if you gave it your all, give one last punch. Keep getting up..."
Not exactly the most encouraging word in the world, but it oddly gives me peace and some comfort. When he tells me that this dream messes with Satan I can't help but smile. It makes me feel like a secret agent of God's, which in a way we as Christians are just that--but that's for a different day, different post. ;) I take comfort in knowing that even when I fall for the last time, God is Burgess Meredith (Mickey Goldmill) cheering me on in the corner, screaming for me to get back up and give everything I have in one last punch. The one that is going to win Rocky the championship and knock Apollo Creed out for the win.
(I know this is not my best post, but I want to encourage and possibly be the Burgess Meredith to you--granted, I won't cuss you out. That's not my cup of tea.)
So your neighbor got the new flashy Corvette with a V8 engine to make sure everyone hears when he is heading home from work. How do you know that it wasn't a gift from the family to share their love with him? So your roommate didn't study at all for that Psych 101 test, whereas you studied for hours, and it electronically-randomly pulled the hard questions for you and the easy ones for her thus making her get the A and you the C. You just went to babysit your favorite kid a block away, on your way home you're robbed at gunpoint. Your sister got the fancy Mustang while you get the 1988 Chevy Z-24 for your 16th birthdays. You see the new hot guy in your second period starts to notice you, until your friend snatches him right from under your nose. You've worked in the company for 10 years without any promotion, "Dayna" has been there 2 months and gets it with a snap of her french-manicured nails.
Notice that all these examples mentioned above are all about the "now?"
Let's fast forward into the future:
You know you can't have the Corvette because it would become an idol because you spend more time with it and cherish it like a baby rather than spending time with God (who gave you that car to begin with). So your roommate got the higher grade in Psych, big woop. You're not a psych major, and you passed the class-even though you're not in school anymore so now it really doesn't matter. You were robbed at gunpoint on your way home from babysitting; but seven years later, it has brought you closer to God and taught you a hard-learned-lesson on forgiveness. You got the Chevy for your 16th birthday, but six years later due to a twist of events you inherit your aunt's car which is the same Mustang as the one your sister has. Your friend stole the hot guy, the hot guy in turn broke her heart and took everything she had to offer. You worked 10 years in the company, the hot co-worker got the promotion, you now have a different, better job which makes you truly joy-bombin'.
Waiting sucks, but it's usually worth it. If you are feeling beat down, discouraged, like giving up, I strongly urge you go one more round. And again. And again. And again. Keep going until you carry that belt high and proud. Keep fighting until you have succeeded. If you don't feel like you are fighting anything, or anyone, start training. Satan has plenty of experience in stealing people's dreams and deceiving them into giving up. That's his greatest, and only, tactic: he tricks. He can't really steal your dreams because he has no control over that, only God does. So if Satan "stole" your dreams, it means you GAVE them over to him. But it's not too late! Challenge him to a duel! Go after him! Get your dreams back! He can't keep them, unless you're dead, or apathetic.
Waiting sucks, but it's usually worth it. If you are feeling beat down, discouraged, like giving up, I strongly urge you go one more round. And again. And again. And again. Keep going until you carry that belt high and proud. Keep fighting until you have succeeded. If you don't feel like you are fighting anything, or anyone, start training. Satan has plenty of experience in stealing people's dreams and deceiving them into giving up. That's his greatest, and only, tactic: he tricks. He can't really steal your dreams because he has no control over that, only God does. So if Satan "stole" your dreams, it means you GAVE them over to him. But it's not too late! Challenge him to a duel! Go after him! Get your dreams back! He can't keep them, unless you're dead, or apathetic.
I'll be the first to tell you, it's not easy. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, it's draining, it's hard, it sucks sometimes, but in the end it's so worth it. If you don't believe me, open your Bible and read the stories of those who fought to keep their dreams alive. They beat Jesus to death, literally, and he still came back to claim what was rightfully his. And if we are called to be like Jesus, don't you think he will help revive us if we keep fighting? The grave holds no power that love has not already won. Death is not the end, it is only the beginning. Don't give in, don't give up, don't lose hope.
Keep fighting, go one more round, keep getting back up. You're not lost, you're not done, not yet.
God has plans for every single person ever created. He has placed certain dreams and desires in each of our hearts, it's up to us to make sure they come to pass.
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. God's Decree. I'll turn things around for you." -Jeremiah 29:11-13 (The Message)
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. God's Decree. I'll turn things around for you." -Jeremiah 29:11-13 (The Message)
Just keep fighting, keep going, don't stop, you got this...
-Saint
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