‘Git-r-done’ is a figure of speech that means “Go do that” or “Finish this.” Solomon put it another way in Proverbs 13:19. He says “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.”
I challenged our church family last year to read through the Bible in a year. Many of them were afraid to take that first step and those who did were afraid they would fail in this New Year’s resolution. However, every week I encouraged them and provided resources and reminders to help them fulfill their commitments. Last month one of those individuals who took the challenge texted me a picture of a certificate they received. It read something like this, “You completed your plan of reading through the Bible Chronologically in One Year.” Under this certificate the individual texted, “Praise the Lord!! I was able to complete my Bible reading even with everything that has happened this year. The last time I was able to get all the way through it was in 2015.” I sensed and was happy for their joy of accomplishment. It was “sweet to the soul.”
The desire to accomplish things is never greater than at the beginning of the year. They call these desires “New Year’s Resolutions.” Sadly, many of these promises or desires don’t make it to February! Worse yet, failure breeds failure. Each time we accept failure, the easier it is to fail. In fact, after a while, we emotionally “medicate” ourselves to expect and excuse it!
Soon our commitment to anything or anyone is affected by our acceptance of failure. We accept failure in our performance in the workplace. We accept failure in our relationship with our spouse. We accept failure in properly parenting our children and we accept failure in our attempt to live for God.
Perhaps one or two of you reading this article not only identify with what I’m saying; you feel the crushing weight of your own failure and it makes it hard to breath. You know your cycle of failure needs to be broken, but you lack the courage and determination to do so.
As a pastor, one of my roles is a spiritual coach. I joy coming along side a fallen believer or unbeliever who is struggling to get up. Having been there myself, I find great fulfillment in offering assistance. It is my passion! I am not deterred by the measure of failure either. In fact, encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 5:20, “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,” my motivation to assist just increases. God wants to change your life and He can do it! He changed my life and replaced my failures with more than my heart ever imagined or desired.
Someone asked the gifted violinist, Jascha Heifetz, why he ended his lucrative career and accepted a menial appointment as professor of music at the University of Southern California. He replied, “Violin-playing is a perishable art, it must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise it is lost.” I’m afraid living committed successful lives is a perishing art too. But like the violinist, Jascha Heifetz, the pastors of Shelby County are eager to come along side of you and pass on as a personal skill the art of living a life of commitment and fulfillment. You do not have to live a life of failure. Contact me. Call any of the pastors in Shelby County. You are not alone in the battle and you have a friend who will help you break the cycle of failure. It begins with one step. Yours!
Forty-eight years ago I woke up between two bushes in Anaheim, California. I had no idea where I was or how I got there. The last thing I remember was snorting a drug called Angel Dust at a Black Sabbath concert. Everything else was a blur. After I gather my thoughts I felt the pains of hunger. Reaching for my wallet I realized I had been robbed and probably dumped between those two bushes. I walked out to the main highway to hitchhike back to the military base. A nice man with a pickup truck stopped. As we headed down the road he asked me, “Is your life a failure or success?” I had to hold back the tears. He placed in my hand a little Gideon’s New Testament. When he dropped me off, he said, “That book will change your life.” And he was right! I took the first step and God was there to carry me the rest of the way. Why don’t you take the first step today? You do not have to live the way you are living right now! I want to help you. The pastors of Shelby County want to help you too. Take that first step before it’s too late. You will never regret it!
