Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.James 4:17
Life is full of hard choices and no matter which direction we choose, we will encounter difficulties.However, one thing I’ve learned is that doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but the benefits of doing the right thing are always so much greater.
There is no greater example of this than in the bible.
All throughout the bible we see story after story of people who were tasked with difficult things. It is full of stories of men and women who devoted their lives to being of great service to God and to the people they were called to serve or lead.
They sacrificed (some even their own lives),they fought and persevered to overcome all obstacles and difficulties and were determined to do what was necessary, no matter how hard.
Any period of growth involves effort. There’s even a saying ‘growing pains’.
In order to grow (as a Christian, parent, spouse, student, athlete, etc.) we must do hard things. This may involve challenging ourselves, stepping outside our comfort zones, stretching ourselves and doing something difficult even though uncomfortable, but eventually we do reap the benefits. ~ Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
One thing is true, we will see the fruit of each choice we make. So why choose the path of least resistance? The result of each choice we make should be a determining factor in what we decide to do with our lives.
Discipline and self control is hard. Being reckless or careless is easy at first but the results are even harder.
Resisting temptation is hard but dealing with the consequences of sin is much harder.
Resisting temptation is hard but dealing with the consequences of sin is much harder.
Working or finding and keeping a job is hard but dealing with unemployment and struggling to make ends meet is harder.
And the list can go on.
When we fail to do hard things, aside from disobeying God, we also set ourselves up to live a life short of who He’s called us to be and of our true God given potential.
What I’m saying is that we can’t really avoid doing hard things because they’re both hard, but pick your hard!
We can choose to do the hard thing of getting prepared now, or deal with the consequence of being unprepared later. Years of hurt and pain or endure doing the right thing and reap the blessing later.
Here’s the good news: We don’t have to do it alone! Sure it may sound cliché to some but believe me, once you surrender and put it all in God’s hands, once you do all that you can do, then God steps in and does His part.
I’ve personally been through some things and have gotten through them and looking back now, I know for sure it had to have been God!
Bottom line is, at some point we all have to choose our ‘hard’. Ask yourself, what are you willing to live with?
My prayer is that we are careful how we spend our time and about the choices that we make.
I want to encourage someone. Let’s make a decision to be intentional about living a life worth living.
Let’s choose to be an on purpose person and choose to do what’s right, even when we don’t feel like it.
Self discipline is developed when we do the right thing consistently over and over again because it’s those small consistent steps we take that creates a lasting change in our lives.
Be encouraged!
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.Galatians 5:16-17
