Driven

Driven

Acts 19: ²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” ²² He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

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Wanting to be better, I took class after class after class. I read about areas where I felt I was deficient. When I felt I was ready, I mustered up the confidence to ask for certain positions that allowed me to rise to higher levels. I did what it took to make things happen.

• There were times when I worked extremely hard to achieve “my” goal.
• There were times when I studied hard to fully understand how to reach “my” goal.
• There were times when I felt I just had to do something to satisfy “my” goal.

Paul traveled all over, spreading the gospel of JESUS. He felt led to also go to Rome. He knew this was going to be a very difficult place so he prepared himself and sent two of his younger helpers away to another location. He was driven to speak the truth about JESUS.

• GOD wants me to be ready to speak about JESUS at a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to be brave enough to speak about JESUS, not just imply HIM.
• GOD wants me to be prepared to speak about my relationship with JESUS as often as I can.

When JESUS placed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, HE did not mean for me to remain silent and hide what HE did for me. HE wants me to speak about HIM, pray with people and show silent examples. Life is all about JESUS. I am grateful HE leads me and allows to speak about HIM.

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• Do you think your accomplishment will make you “better?”
• Will you add telling someone about JESUS to your purpose in life today?

Actions

Actions

John 20: Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

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Curiosity drove me to beg to leave the porch. It had stopped raining and I wanted to chase it. When I got permission, I ran to the next block. It had moved. So I ran to the next block with more determination. Unfortunately it had moved again. I could not catch the rainbow.

• Sometimes I am driven by curiosity.
• Sometimes I am driven by worry and doubt.
• Sometimes I am driven by selfishness.

Mary Magdalene was driven to go back to the tomb on the first day of the week. She “saw” the rolled away stone and “ran” to the disciples to “tell” what happened. All of her actions were driven with the utmost urgency.

• GOD wants me to have urgency when thinking about others.
• GOD wants me to seek a relationship with HIM daily.
• GOD wants me to desire to tell other people about the great things HE has done for me.

Believing, praying, telling, loving and worshipping are only a few actions GOD wants me to do regularly. But I cannot do these actions alone. It takes the spirit of GOD to move me to do things that are in HIS will. Yes, I can do actions that are pleasing to me or make me look good, but those will be summed up as worthless.

GOD sees all that I do and say. HE rewards the actions that are motivated to serve HIM. I am glad HE sees me when no one else does.

• Are you doing things to specifically please GOD?
• Are you seeking a relationship with GOD daily?
• Will you listen to GOD today and serve who HE guides you to?

Internal Drive

Internal Drive

John 13: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

² And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵ After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

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As anger bubbled over, I was determined to make this person pay. I went and found a very large “friend” and confronted the person who called me the name. I was ready to have a fight because something inside of me was furious. It was eight of them and two of us.

• Many times I was driven to react with anger.
• Many times I was driven to react with hatred.
• Many times I was driven to react with a response that most people would say I was justified in doing so.

JESUS knew it was time to be murdered by HIS own creation. HE also knew that one of HIS closest disciples would betray HIM to the jealous church leaders. BUT JESUS acted in a strange way that HE had never done before. HE washed their grimy, dung laced feet.

• JESUS shows me just how much HE loves me by forgiving me.
• JESUS shows me HE cares for me daily.
• JESUS shows me HE wants the best for me by giving me the HOLY SPIRIT.

“HE loved them to the end” are words that I cannot understand. I mean HE never sinned and only wanted the best for HIS creation, yet we accused HIM of trying to get over on us. We slandered HIM and made HIM out to be a criminal. BUT HE loved us to the end. I am grateful JESUS was and is driven by love. I want to do the same.

• What are you driven by?
• Do you easily fall into sins of hatred, lust, envy, pride, or something else?
• Will you allow JESUS to transform you first before HE sends you out to help transform others to love HIM?

Compelled

John 4: ⁴ Now he had to go through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

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“Get up and volunteer” was the sensation I felt as the preacher asked if anyone would join him on a missions trip to a country on another continent. I had barely seen this continent let alone travel somewhere else. I had to go. Something was pressing me to focus on this trip.

• Something inside of me prompted a desire.
• Something inside of me overcame my fears and gave me peace.
• Something inside of me bubbled up joy, excitement and peace all at the same time.

JESUS “had to go” to Samaria, even though it was way out of HIS way. It was a place HE had to see. He returned to a place where HE wrestled Jacob and blessed him in the process. JESUS showed HIS humanity, however, by being tired from the walk.

• GOD sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to guide me daily.
• GOD sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to prompt me to do HIS will.
• GOD sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to have me participate in HIS glorious plan.

I can hear from the HOLY SPIRIT every day if I would just listen. HE guides me to speak about JESUS to the right person at the right time. HE does not prompt me to harm others, rather draw them to the kingdom with love in mind.

• What leads you to do something?
• Are you listening to your own desires or is GOD leading you?
• Will you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to lead you to someone in need today?

Driven Career

Luke 3: ¹⁴ And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

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“Be cool” was the thought that ran through my mind as the negotiations continued. The opposition was trying to play hardball and I had to do the same. In order to get more money, I may need to flex my power to show them who is really in charge.

• There were times when I thought intimidation was the key to success.
• There were times when I thought getting “tougher” was best for “my” career.
• There were times when I thought climbing the ladder meant taking others down so I could make more money.

Soldiers of certain leaders would not only protect their king, but would sometimes hurt people to take their money, falsely accuse people in order to take their homes and grouse about how little they made in wages. John saw through their question with the aid of the HOLY SPIRIT. His message speaks to me.

• GOD wants me to desire to have peace with people.
• GOD wants me to use my power for grace and mercy versus violence and intimidation.
• GOD wants me to be content with my wages knowing HE is the one who sustains me.

Wow! Everything in this passage seemed to go against what the “successful” people would tell me. I mean those who would tell me to “get tough” are the same people who would tell me I would never have “enough” money. BUT GOD says something different.

GOD wants me to be tough enough to stand up for those who are wronged. HE desires that I trade in my intimidation for compassion. When I get paid for my services, HE wants me to be excited rather than in a constant state of complaint. HE wants me in a state of grace and peace.

• Are you discontent?
• Do you have a complaint about where GOD has you?
• Can you ask GOD for peace with people and contentment for where HE has you?

I thought I did it Myself

Psalm 64: ⁹ All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

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Leadership training taught me to take credit for “my” accomplishments and help others do the same. I saw videos that showed the power of one person stopping a tank. I “can” be powerful, I thought to myself.

• I have read so many motivational sayings about power from within.
• I have heard so many people tell me “I” am great.
• I have listened to motivators tell me “I can conquer anything” but they leave off “how.”

Arrogance is bred when “I” think “I” accomplished anything on my own. I mean I have held some great titles and been rewarded by people. Sometimes these awards went to my head and I thought I was doing something. BUT GOD truly wants me to give HIM credit.

• GOD wants me to acknowledge I cannot anything on my own.
• GOD wants me to state that HE can tear me down or lift me up as HE pleases.
• GOD wants me to understand that all “my” works are known by HIM way before I do them.

There is no power within me. GOD is my source of power. HE gave me an empty shell and I have the choice to fill it up with “me” or HIM. No matter what I choose, when it is all over I will be required to proclaim the works of GOD. I choose to believe that GOD is my refuge and I rejoice at all HE is doing!

• Do you feel self-made?
• Do you lack confidence?
• Can you stop looking at yourself and start looking at GOD for the source of your strength?
• Do you know when you are at your weakest, GOD’s strength shines bright?
• Can you reset your confidence by going after “that” thing with GOD in front of you?

Time to “Break Out!”

Genesis 38: ²⁷ When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. ²⁸ As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.”²⁹ But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.

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Sitting at my desk I broke out a book trying to teach myself the skill I was hired for.  Sneers of disappointment came from my supervisor as I fumbled my assignments. I spent hours teaching myself skills. Soon I learned more than my boss, in fact I learned more than most in the department. It took some time but it was finally my time to “break out!”

• It takes perseverance to get to the point of breaking out.
• It takes steadfast drive to get to the point of breaking out.
• It takes determination to get to the point of breaking out.

Perez literally means “Breaking out!” He was determined to be first and his determination gave him a will to succeed. What about obstacles in life? Won’t they cause me to stumble and possibly fail? Yes, but obstacles don’t mean I should give up, it means persevere with GOD.

• When I’m on the same side with GOD, I cannot fail.
• When I include GOD in my plans, I cannot fail.
• When I ask GOD “what do YOU want me to do” I cannot fail.

GOD is the only one who can make plans succeed.  HE gives me strength to keep my drive. He gives me faith to keep my determination. HE gives me protection to keep moving ahead.

• Are you facing obstacles?
• Have you written your obstacles down and asked GOD about them?
• Can you persevere to reach the point where you will break out?
• Won’t you let GOD continue to prepare you for the greatness HE has for you?

Purpose

Revelation 5: ² And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

⁴ Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. ⁵ But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

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Scrawny, scraggly, and scared described me well. It seemed like everyone else “fit” and I didn't.  I mean my quirkiness and rough appearance did not draw a crowd.  I wondered “what good was I.” Do I even have a purpose? JESUS had a purpose.

• I’m not sure of the timing but I wonder if the scrolls were made when Satan wanted to be GOD.
• I’m not sure of the decree BUT GOD must have said only a sinless person can open the scroll.
• I’m not sure what was at stake BUT GOD placed HIS trust in HIS SON.

The scrolls written here are the judgments GOD has on the Earth and Satan. Only a sinless human could open the scrolls. JESUS volunteered to become that sinless human. I have no idea what HE gave up but HE sacrificed HIMSELF for me.

Satan thought he could prevent the scrolls from being opened so he tempted the first humans and ruined all of humanity. BUT JESUS was different. HE was born as a human through the SPIRIT and has no sin in HIM. HE is the only one worthy to open the scroll.

Now what does this have to do with me?  HIS salvation has given me purpose. Just as JESUS entire life had purpose to save humanity, HE has given me purpose to reach at least one person with my life if not more.  HE wants me to tell people they don’t have to work hard for their salvation because JESUS already took care of that.

Place your trust in HIM and that’s all you need!

• Are you wandering through life without a purpose?
• Do you believe GOD made you special with tasks that can only be completed by you?
• Can you follow JESUS’ lead and live your life with purpose?
• Do you understand GOD wants you to rest and let HIM take care of things?

I want a new name

Revelation 2: ¹⁷ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

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Hey “goggles” someone called me.  Hi “professor” others quipped. I’ve also been called some named that I won’t repeat but I know this was their attempt to label me with a derogatory name. Soon I found myself giving people nicknames.  I wonder if they were positive.

• GOD has a new name for me that is special.
• GOD has a new name for me that is only between me and HIM.
• GOD has a new name for me that defines my new purpose and being.

My parents chose a name that was pleasing to them. I like it but my name doesn’t define my life’s purpose of serving others. My name doesn’t describe how I’m supposed to relate to others or what relationship with GOD I’m supposed to hold.

GOD will put my new name in white stone to make it crystal clear to everyone who sees it. Only HIM and I will understand it’s true meaning because it’s a special gift to me. No one will be envious of my name because they will have their own name on their own stone.

• What is your name?
• Is your name negative right now?
• Can you make a new name for yourself by following GOD?
• Won’t you change your name today by modifying your actions, thoughts and worship?