NO PAIN, NO GAIN
For anyone to ever experience the fullness of life, they must be willing to have periods of giving up things they enjoy. It may be more enjoyable to lay around at home instead of working out, but the result of that lifestyle is not enjoyable. The easy way is usually not the easy way. How many of us want to experience the fullness of God's amazing life but have not been willing to go to that spiritual weight room on a consistent basis. Consider these profound words of Jesus.
Mark 8:34-35 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
it'sOur natural inclination is to fight for our rights, fight for our righteousness and shun anything that doesn’t give us what we think makes us feel good. Apostle Paul understood the necessity of training and how going through pain can equal gain. You can be sure, to experience the life of real significance, you will indeed go through strict training.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Obtaining a life of true success and significance is found by those who are willing to give up what’s comfortable and feels good. Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want but rather the ability to do what you know is the best and right. Successful people do daily what unsuccessful people are only willing to do occasionally." Doing whatever feels good ends up in a life of disaster. God has amazing things in store for you! Will you allow him to do his incredible work in you? Is it easy? NO! But remember…It