Most of us, you probably wish there was an easier way to live, but there isn’t. So you might as well decide to do things God’s way or be miserable. We usually try to take all the easy paths, but they all lead to destruction. The Bible describs those paths as “broad” because a lot of effort isn’t required to remain on them. We are encouraged by God to take the narrow path, the more difficult one, but also the one that leads to life: “Strive to enter by narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able”. (Luke 13:24).
We have to make a strong effort to push through the negativity in the world, but if we will do our part, God will always do His. Not everyone is willing to make the effort. They are addicted to ease and simply flow with their feelings. I am writing this book with the hope that my readers won’t be of the many who do not enter. Jesus died for us so we could have a wonderful, abundant life that is filled with peace, joy, power, success, and every good thing, but we must drink the cup that He drank. He was willing to go to the cross and pay for our sins even though physically, mentally and emotionally it was very difficult. We too must be willing to do what is right, and our reward will surely come.
Study the Word of God regularly, and then when trouble comes, you will already have your spiritual tank full of fuel that will enable you to make right choices. Don’t be the kind of person who prays or has time for God only when you feel like it or have a disaster. Seek God because you know you cannot navigate safely in this world without Him, Truly, we can do nothing of any value without Him.
You and I can let our minds drift aimlessly day after day and we can be controlled by our emotions, or we can choose to grid up our minds, choose our thoughts carefully, and manage our emotions. God has set before us life and death, good and evil, and has given us the responsibility of making the choice.
If you choose what is right when it still feels wrong, you will be growing spiritually and making progress toward the life you really want to enjoy. Doing what is easy means stagnation or, even worse, a regression of any progress that has been made in the past. God is never motionless. He is always moving, and He invites us to follow Him. I like to say, “Get in, get out, or get run over.” Decide to be red hot on fire for God, or decide to be cold, but don’t live in the deception of merely being lukewarm. We can move with God, but if we move against Him by ignoring His principles, we will reap what we sow and we will not like the harvest we get.
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