BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
Psalms 1:1 AMP
We, as people, are often referred to as the 'human race'. I know there must a number of different reasons and concepts surrounding that terminology but I personally believe we're called the human race because we are always running after something - striving towards and/or aiming for something. In and of itself, that is not a bad thing. It can be seen as ambition. However, I believe issues arise when we are unable to differentiate what (or who) we should be running after.
In a race, let's say the 400m, there is always a leader, some people in the middle and someone in last place. As a participant in the race, the objective is to win the race. However, if you have fallen behind due to fatigue, pain and/or lack of skill, there is a tendency to only see the person in front of you, who consequently may only be in 4th place. What am I saying? There is nothing wrong with trying to catch up to the person in front of you to try and get ahead. It becomes a problem when you become satisfied with being just 'one up' as oppose to striving for first place.
We are surrounded by many, many, many people in this 'human race' who are represented by our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours. And if we take a look around, or an inventory, or their individual 'age and stage of development' we'll notice that we may be ahead of some of them and we may be behind some of them. Either way, it is not for us to judge. What we should be doing is striving to do our best always, regardless of what those around us are doing. In a real race, everyone is out to do better than the next therefore we should start adopting that mentality in life. Not to be selfish or callous, but to reach our full potential regardless of what's going on around us.
So here's the revelation I have reached over the past couple years that has brought me to this 'Inspirational Thought for the Day'... In life we have desires in our hearts - desires for a mate, desires for wealth, desires for purpose, desires for joy etc. Whether we share these desires with others or not is irrelevant. If they seem impossible or not is not the point. The fact remains that we have desires in our hearts. But we have a tendency to get frustrated and feel like failures when they are not fulfilled. Then we get fatigued, hurt and stop striving towards our goal. We settle and get complacent. We mingle and rest with those who are at the same point as we are or behind because then we don't have to muster up the energy to "keep up with the Jones'" in fear of disappointment.
What I am endorsing is not to be envy, jealousy or covetousness. I'm actually suggesting wisdom. Wisdom in the company you keep, wisdom in who you take advice from, wisdom in where you hang out and wisdom in how you spend your time and energy. Let me break it down further... if you are single/dating/engaged and you want to get married, why are you taking advice regarding your relationship from someone who is also single/dating/engaged? Reach towards your goal. Talk to someone who is HAPPILY married, someone who has the ability to be objective, unbiased and honest with you. Here's another example, if you are trying to better yourself (ie. lose weight, further your education, save your money etc.), why are you talking to some who has either tried to do those things and given up or, worse yet, is discouraging you from reaching your goal?
My point is this... anything you want out of life is attainable as long as you are following the RIGHT leader. Marriage can be great, as long as you are following the right leader. Being a mother can be great, as long as you're following the right leader. Being single can be great, as long as you're following the right leader. LIFE can be great, as long as you're following the right leader. Use wisdom. Just because it looks like a sheep and acts like a sheep doesn't mean it's a sheep... it could be a wolf in sheep's clothing. In other words, if you are seeking advice from someone and what they are saying doesn't seem to line up with the Word of God and EVERYTHING POSITIVE He has waiting for you... RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN TOWARD YOUR GOAL. Don't let that 'wolf' or person behind you drag you down or back into last place. STAY FOCUSED. STAND ON HIS WORD. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. You'll get tired, you'll get confused sometimes but rest assured, when you cross the finish line and stand on that podium with a gold metal in your hand, you'll know you've made it... tried, tested and true.
Be Blessed in FINISHING FIRST
God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.
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