Part of my journal entry from September 2nd 2017:

Saturday September 2nd
My Stand Firm Devotional from today was based on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27  

Found this in the Matthew Henry Commentary:

And here he excites them to their duty “So run that you may obtain. It is quite otherwise in the Christian race than in your races; only one wins the prize in them. You may all run so as to obtain. You have great encouragement, therefore, to persist constantly, and diligently, and vigorously, in your course. There is room for all to get the prize. You cannot fail if you run well. Yet there should be a noble emulation; you should endeavor to outdo one another. And it is a glorious contest who shall get first to heaven, or have the best rewards in that blessed world. I make it my endeavor to run; so do you, as you see me go before you.” 

What does this mean to me?  Everything I've done, everything I'm doing is to get to the ultimate prize -- going to heaven.  It's not about beating addiction, XXXXXXXXXX, improving XXXXXXXXXXXXXX it's about moving towards the prize.

This should be my focus, whatever results from "running" this race will be God's will and good for me.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 led me on 09/02/17 to see that everything I was doing, everything I was going through can be leading me to the ultimate prize that is eternal life in Heaven. Matthew 24:23 supports this by telling us, “As we progressively become more like Jesus, our training is moving us toward the prize, and one day we will hear those words of affirmation from our Master: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”. This is a great truth that applies to my life today the same as it did then.

I recently mentioned as part of a conversation I was having that quitting drinking was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But the reality is I didn’t do it alone, God supplied the grace I needed that helped change my heart. God put people in my life that I needed for support and God gave me the strength and discipline to quit drinking. One of my daily prayers is to not let pride get in the way of my sobriety and to rely on Him to remain sober. I need that grace each and every day and I’m thankful that it is supplied as needed. My desire today is the same as it was back in Sept. of 2017, to run my race for the Lord and each day get closer to that eternal prize. For me to run the race like Paul did and as God intends for me to I need to continue to push my pride aside and let God’s grace in.

MY REALITY vs. GOD’S REALITY

The day after writing what you just read above, one of our pastors actually spoke a bit about “reality”. The following is part of what was shared based on Isaiah 49:16 from Professor G.A. Smith:

“Reality is not what we see: reality is what God sees………… A man’s reality is not what he is in his own feelings, or what he is to the world’s eyes; but what he is to God’s love, to God’s yearning, and in God’s plan.”

My reality was that I was powerless to conquer alcohol. God saw something different, a different reality for my life. God knew a truer, more powerful reality and gave me everything I needed to conquer my addiction. His reality conquers as one of my favorite verses says:

"No, in all these things we are more than conquers through him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

His reality always wins – Praise God!

ANOTHER THOUGHT ON REALITY

One more thought about reality that I had during the sermons this past Sunday. I was reminded of something Matt Chandler shared in a Bible study I recently listened to. Chandler was speaking about how we can’t earn salvation. Sometimes our reality is to think we have to do certain things to earn God’s favor, His blessings or salvation. This is not God’s reality. Chandler used the thief on the cross as an example of this. The thief was going to die any minute on the cross next to Jesus and here is what he said and how Jesus responds in Luke 23:42-43:

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

The reality is that there is nothing the thief could do in that moment to earn salvation yet he was told he would be with Jesus in paradise that day. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. What is required is faith, belief and acceptance of the gift.

OTHER BLOG STUFF – Songs and Quotes…

COUNTING EVERY BLESSING by Rend Collective

Ooh, ooh

I was blind, now I’m seeing in color
I was dead, now I’m living forever
I had failed, but you were my redeemer
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure

I was lost, now I’m found by the father
I’ve been changed from a ruin to treasure
I’ve been given a hope and a future
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me

Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me

You were there in the valley of shadows
You were there in the depth of my sorrows
You’re my strength, my hope for tomorrow
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me

Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me

Surely your goodness pursues me
Surely your heart is still for me
I will remember your mercies all my days
Through every storm and gale

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, I’m counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me

Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me

For your goodness, I will ever praise you
Oh, you are good to me
Oh, you are good to me
Sing it out now
Oh, you are good to me
In my hurting
Oh, you are good to me
I’ll sing it loud
Oh, you are good to me
Even in the dark
Oh, you are good to me
Lift your voices
Oh, you are good to me
All the time
Oh, you are good to me

QUOTE

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”

Kyle IDLEMAN

Until next time I’m thankful for the Scars, may God Bless You!

KB