What is it that we admire?  Where do our ambitions lie?  What am I pursuing, saving for, rebuilding or growing in the confines of my private life?  Are my thoughts of vacation overriding my fulfillment of God’s wishes for the energy and providence He has provided?  I have to admit folks, I have spent more time keeping up with the Jones’s, getting another experiential notch on my traveling stick, catering to the happiness of those that I love than serving my commission as an ambassador for the Almighty.  This honesty must be confessed, and I confess here because this is part of my ministry.  But I painfully realize that the Lord knew that I would do and say these things before the beginning of time.  He has already forgiven me for this inadequacy.  Do I really want to go on repeating the same behavior over and again instead of doing what I have been instructed to accomplish through the Holy Spirit?

No.  This is not the life that I was meant for to consistently ask forgiveness for the same sin of idleness, disobedience or self-service.  Our lives were meant for victory over this world, the powers of the air and the “not so almighty, self”.  Lord let my thoughts, actions, reflections and prayers honor You Alone.  Let the voices of self, world and the cast out fall dead to my hearing.  Give me a powerful life containing none of the regrets of unfulfillment, dishonor, disobedience or wasted action.  The coming days require all of my energy and focus for Your intention.  Give me such a focus, wholly engaged and dedicated to the work You have so graciously given me.  Let me demonstrate my love for you by my works out of a thankful heart for all that You have done.  You saved this world and I can thankfully count many of my loved ones among those headed to toward eternity spent with You.  Let me apply ever ounce of my talents, treasures and heart to Your end.  Let none of my time be allocated inappropriately to the things of this world.  Give me an abundant life here and in the next but let it “all” honor You.  I wish to serve.  Praise God in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord of all creation.