By Brenda Jank
- 240 people enter this world every minute.
- 120 people die every minute.
- 80 people die without knowing Jesus Christ.*
By the time you finish reading this blog, 230 people will have died.
This statistic makes me swallow hard. It drives me to a quiet, reflective place.
We have work to do. The ministry of Run Hard. Rest Well. exists so we are able to run our race with strength, with a purpose, with a vibrancy not our own.
Rest is delightful in every way, but rest was crafted for a purpose.
A divine purpose.
We are all running a race, but it often feels like a treadmill, even a rodent wheel.
The Rat Race robs us. The price tag is hefty.
To run our race and run it well, we need to revisit the truth behind four key words: Conviction. Commission. Commitments. Calling.
Conviction
Conviction is an invitation and a driving force to prioritize our life in a way that is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Left to ourselves, comfort, convenience and self-absorption nudge their way into our thinking, our doing, our values and our calendars. None of us are immune.
Do I live under the deep conviction that God is the Potter and that I am a vessel made on purpose for a purpose?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord …” Jeremiah 29:11a
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17
Yes! Truth be told, I don’t always like the phrase “for us.”
“The Lord will (my emphasis) fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hand.” Psalm 138:8
Take home:
- The motivation behind God’s purpose is love.
- His purposes for me are long term endeavors. It takes determination on both ends. God’s good to go. Are we? Are we determined to live under the conviction that God has a plan for my life above convenience and comfort?
Hmmm…
* These figures represent my best understanding of the statistics I gleaned from various resources. The numbers were rounded to give us a rough, memorable handle. Can you tuck them into your heart? Please contact me if you have information/statistics that would be helpful on this topic. Thanks!
How is your heart these days? Where are you convicted?
Note: This post is part of our original series on rest. We are re-posting some of our favorite articles because we believe they are just as important today as ever. We hope to encourage and inspire you and those you love and lead to REST WELL through this time of COVID-19 crisis, comeback, and recovery. Onward!
- Would you like to start at the beginning and read this whole series? Click here.
- Would you like to read the post that preceded this one? Click here.
- Would you like to read the next post in this series? Click here.
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