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Inspiration

You Have to Want It
By Joel Osteen - Jun 15, 2018

The dreams God put in your heart and the promises He’s spoken to you are not going to come to pass without opposition, without delays, without people trying to talk you out of it. There will be many opportunities to get discouraged and think it’s not meant to be. If you’re going to reach your destiny, you have to have a made-up mind. If you give up the first time or the thirtieth time, you don’t want it bad enough. There should be something you are believing for about which you are relentless. You aren’t moved by how impossible it looks.

In Mark 10, a great crowd was following Jesus. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus heard all the commotion and began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people around him told him to be quiet. “You’re just a beggar. He’s the man everyone is talking about. He’s the hottest celebrity around. He has more social media followers than King Nebuchadnezzar. Jesus isn’t interested in you.” But the more they tried to quiet him down, the louder he shouted. All of a sudden, Jesus stopped and commanded him to be called. They couldn’t believe it. When they led him to Jesus, He didn’t say, “Leave Me alone so I can go about My business.” Rather, He said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Bartimaeus said, “I want to receive my sight.” Jesus told him, “Your faith has made you whole,” and instantly he could see.

How bad do you want what God put in your heart? Bad enough to outlast your enemies, bad enough to overlook some insults, bad enough to do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening? Do you want it bad enough to keep pursuing it when all the circumstances say it’s not going to happen? Are you letting people talk you out of what God put in your heart? “You’ll never get well. You’ll never get out of debt. You don’t have the connections. You have too much opposition.”

There were other sick people in the crowd that day, but Bartimaeus was the only person who was healed. Why? He wanted it more than they did. He wanted it so bad that he didn’t let people talk him out of his miracle. You have to dig your heels in and say, “I am in this for the long haul. I know what God has spoken to me. I will accomplish this dream.” You’re not moved by what’s not working out, by how long it’s taking, by who’s not for you. You know the Most High God is for you, and that He is all you need.

 
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