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If you have ever been bowling, then you know that getting a strike is #goals. A strike is used to describe all bowling pins being knocked down by the bowling ball on the first attempt. Getting a strike during a bowling game night not only solidifies your bowling ability but it will surely offer you bragging rights among bowling buddies. Still, it is also not the easiest thing to do because it requires practice and technique. Something most amateur bowlers lack. How wonderful would life be if we were guaranteed to get a strike or at least a win every time? What if I told you there was one way that you can?
Obedience to God will always cause you to strike in your life.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
– Matthew 6:33
This verse is a guarantee that if we are obedient in seeking God, then He will add every other thing to our life. This includes careers, finances, peace, relationships, love, everything that you can think of. Before finding Christ, I often knew that something in my life was missing. The more I searched, the more I turned up empty. I tried relationships, money, and degrees all in attempt to feel “accomplished”. I was seeking the “things” but without Christ. Even though I got all of those things, nothing ever filled the void and I still turned up empty. I’ve found that the greatest deception of our world is to convince us to seek everything first, then somehow fit God in after. I can guarantee you that for every time you choose to place anything before God, this will cause you to strike out rather than get a strike. Obedience to God causes the strike!
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
-John 10:10
It all started in the Garden of Eden. Satan came in and gave Eve the perception that God wanted to take from her by prohibiting her from eating from the tree of life. Eve had forgotten about all the provision God had given to them. These provisions included the Garden, animals, other trees, and His Presence. Instead, Satan successfully convinced her that God was a taker rather a giver. Isn’t he doing the same today? God wants you to have an abundant life. Just like Eve, He is not trying to restrict you, but protect you. Yes, His ways differ from your ways, but God is not trying to take away your best life, but He is trying to present it to you. When we quit throwing tantrums and are obedient to His ways, this is when we will begin to see success in every area.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
-Psalms 139:16
Have you ever read a book from the end to the beginning? Neither have I. Yet God has done this with every individual’s lives. God already anticipated the end of our lives, and then went back to the beginning to walk this out in participation with us. This means that God knows the goal. He knows how He desires the end to look. Now your obedience and agreement with Him will ensure that this goal and ending is met. If I went to a movie with a friend that had already watched that same movie, I would trust my friend knowledge of that particular movie. That friend would know what was going to happen next. God does the exact same thing in our lives. He has seen the movie and now He wants to guide us throughout. What could ensure a greater confidence of a win than that?
Can I be honest? This world will always try to tempt us away from obedience to Christ. It does not matter how long we have been saved. This is done by making life seem more enticing than Christ. It is all deception to lure you and I away from the life that God has willed for us. The desire for success in itself is not bad, but I promise you only God can cause the guaranteed strike that we all desire.
Until next time…
Be strong, Be Courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly
Berta
