Make That Commitment
When our son, Jonathan, was young, I told him I wanted him to learn to play a musical instrument because it would be something he'd enjoy all his life. He said he wanted to play the guitar, so he began lessons and practicing. But almost immediately the tug of war over commitment began. He had friends coming over who wanted to play and unending interruptions. I was tired of telling him he had to practice, and he was tired of me telling him to practice. But once he saw the beginning rewards of practicing, his commitment began to serve him. Today, what was a restraint of his momentary fun has become a lifelong joy of playing and singing that he wouldn't have experienced without his commitment.
I was thinking about the commitment we have to make to experience great relationships, a strong marriage, and the wonderful home life we all would love to have. It requires that we be good to people when they're not being good to us. The Scripture says, "Above all, have a fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Yes, you have to overlook offenses. You're going to have to release anger and bitterness. You're going to have to walk in integrity when another person is not walking in integrity. It takes a deep commitment. It takes restraint. But on the other side of that costly commitment of love is amazing blessing. You're going to get to enjoy relationships. You're going to get to enjoy things you would never have enjoyed.
What is it that you want to accomplish? You know it takes commitment and that it's going to cost you something. Commitment involves determination, discipline, focus, and requires that you have a plan. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." You can't do it on your own, but you're not on your own. You can commit those important things in your life to the God who is committed to you! He is saying, "Focus on your commitments, and believe that I'm going to help you bring them to pass." You have to put your plans into action if God is going to help you. It takes steps of faith on your part.
You may be right on the threshold of a new freedom or a breakthrough in a relationship, but you have to make a wholehearted commitment. Commit those important things to God, and renew that commitment on a daily basis. Put actions behind your commitment so that God can release His power in your life. I believe you're going to experience a joy that will last a lifetime!
I was thinking about the commitment we have to make to experience great relationships, a strong marriage, and the wonderful home life we all would love to have. It requires that we be good to people when they're not being good to us. The Scripture says, "Above all, have a fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Yes, you have to overlook offenses. You're going to have to release anger and bitterness. You're going to have to walk in integrity when another person is not walking in integrity. It takes a deep commitment. It takes restraint. But on the other side of that costly commitment of love is amazing blessing. You're going to get to enjoy relationships. You're going to get to enjoy things you would never have enjoyed.
What is it that you want to accomplish? You know it takes commitment and that it's going to cost you something. Commitment involves determination, discipline, focus, and requires that you have a plan. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." You can't do it on your own, but you're not on your own. You can commit those important things in your life to the God who is committed to you! He is saying, "Focus on your commitments, and believe that I'm going to help you bring them to pass." You have to put your plans into action if God is going to help you. It takes steps of faith on your part.
You may be right on the threshold of a new freedom or a breakthrough in a relationship, but you have to make a wholehearted commitment. Commit those important things to God, and renew that commitment on a daily basis. Put actions behind your commitment so that God can release His power in your life. I believe you're going to experience a joy that will last a lifetime!