“Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into the thing that has them… They are a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you: if you are not, you will remain dry.”  C.S. Lewis

Live with Vision in the Dash of Life!

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

On tombstones there is the date the person was born and the date they passed away. In between then there is a — dash. That is what they did in their life. What are you doing? How is your dash? Because, the three most important dates in your life are the day you are born, when you are saved, and the day you find out why you were born and saved! When we know that we can live out our dash and build a better “why”. It is never too late to become what you could have done earlier in your life.

Then we can venture into the realms that may cause fear that require discipline, be guided by truth and dreams and requires our fortitude. So, do not be afraid to find your gifts for this life, recognize your opportunities, then develop them, engage them, and give them away! You will find greater happiness when you are learning and growing. You will become greater in your life and faith. If not, you will stagnate; then, you will only find yourself in a rut of despair.

Here are Four Key Questions to Build your Life and Faith:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  James 1:22

One: What are you about, what do you stand for?

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

That is, what is your prime purpose? After to know Christ and enjoy Him? If you do not stand for anything you will fall for anything and everything! Never be comfortable with who and where you are in life! We all must be growing in our faith and our goals. If you want real happiness, get moving in a positive direction. Face your setbacks, learn from them and then move on.

Two: What do you care about?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

What convictions do you have? Where is your passion? If you do not have conviction and passion, then you will not have anything good coming back to you! If you know you can be better and do better, then do it. Be better!

Three: What will you be working on in your life in this new year?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

You must have faith, real working confidence in Christ. Then you need to have dreams, then make a personal vision, then create goals; then, implement a plan to carry them out. If you are waiting for a change in your circumstances; stop waiting. Instead, be the change you want to happen. Thinking through how you can stretch and set goals to accomplish your aspirations in faith and life. Solution: Grow your faith and your Mindset!

Four: What do you really want out of your life more than anything else? 

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

That is, what is effectual and brings glory to God and helps yourself and family. This is your “why” that builds your vision, that sets your goals and becomes your dash.What do you need and want out of this life? This is your why.

Here are some thoughts to prevent stagnation:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Consider that nothing in nature is truly stagnant; either it is growing, moving or dying. Such as stars, they are moving through time and space and the same time they are dying by giving off their gasses for nuclear fusion. Then, green plants are growing, giving life and fruit, as is the Fruit of the Spirit in you. The same as with all things in us. You are either growing or dying; stagnation does not exist in nature or in The Kingdom of God. Real happiness is learning, building, growing, and becoming better; it should not be in decay.

So, ask yourself, are you growing or are you stagnant? With your Faith? Vocation? Family? Dreams? Goals?

“This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,…” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

• Successful Christians are those who are mature, and growing in their faith have character and operate in the Fruit of the Spirit. They are also infused with gratitude and are forgiving. All because they are energized by the precepts from Biblical truths. Then they invest them into all aspects of their life. How is that going-growing for you?

• Unsuccessful Christians will operate in gossip, they love to ridicule, and live in the world of drama, anger, bitterness. They are infused with unforgiveness and are critical of others; especially those who do well. They get caught up in their fears and emotions, create problems, are rude, and seek to pull others down with them. Hopefully, you are not here. If so, pray and repent; embrace our Lord who forgives and restores, then rebuild your faith and life!

• The mature are grounded in faith and have composure and a growth attitude; because they trust Who is greater than themselves; Christ the LORD. They have the attitude that gives them skills, so they can problem solve without those fears and emotion. Then they can conquer their challenges, one problem at a time. The unsuccessful cannot do that; they will spend their energy to complain and criticize those who are successful.

• It is similar with successful people in other areas, like business and relationships. Such as champion athletes, great entrepreneurs, and stage performers engage a growth mindset that helps them conquer a problem with a logical solution or a find a workable approach to attack them. They do not get tangled up in emotions or get driven off the path by fear; rather, they grounded in a routine of effective problem solving and hone a champion mindset.

The last thing that grows on most fruit trees is the fruit. The roots, trunk and branches have to build, develop and be strong and quipped to produce the fruit. The same as it is with faith, life, owning a business, and working stewardship. We have to build a healthy growth mindset, the maturity, and a stewardship plan for life and faith.

Keep in mind; we came from nothing; we have nothing outside what Christ gave us. This is a good perspective to have. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is our faith and mindset and what we can do with it. We always have more than we think and can do more than we think we can. We are greater than we think we can become.

Let your faith move you to engage your dash where you need to be! Spend some time in prayer and in Scripture, then make 2021 awesome! The choice is yours as is your attitude.

Rev. Richard Krejcir, Ph.D., is a pastor and a with over thirty years of experience. He also is a licensed and experienced Financial Consultant and has worked for major banks, insurance companies, nonprofits, and families too. He is also an author, Special Ed Teacher, and holds a doctorate in Stewardship.

© Richard .J. Krejcir Ph.D. 2021, Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org