Half Way Up

    There are countless times that I've done things half way. Ate half the food my mom cooked me because i didn't like it, finished half my homework because I too lazy to do the rest, went half way with my sports career because I couldn't stand the pressure. I'm so full of halfs I can't remember when I've done something in full.
    This past Sunday I was really moved by something the preacher said. I wasn't all emotional about it and to be honest, at the time I didn't think it would have much of an effect on my life. But it did.


We read 2 Kings 13:

    King Jehoash of Israel ran to Elisha (a prophet) when he knew Israel might be defeated by the Arameans. Elisha commands the distressed Jehoash to open the window and shoot an arrow. He goes on to say that the arrow symbolized victory over Aram and all that good stuff... But what interested me was when Elisha commanded Jehoash to strike the ground:

"Then [Elisha] said,"Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the gorund." So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until it was destoryed. Now you will be victorious only three times."

2Kings 13:18-19

    I can't help but think of the face a soccer player makes when they ALMOST make a goal.  IF ONLY King Jehoash would have struck the ground more than three times would Israel have victory over Aram forever. Three times he hit the ground, only half of what was required for eternal victory. So easily he missed the mark.
    Doesn't this happen to most of us? Don't we start something we're so full of veal about, but never finish it? There are so many times I've stopped at the half way mark: half way done with my homework, half way done with my bible reading... So many times I sworn on my great great great grand uncle's grave that I would "do better next time" only to stick my toe in water and say "nah, I can't do it."

    The preacher that Sunday spoke about something that stood out to her on a recent trip to Hawaii. Her and a couple of other people were headed up a mountain. At first they started out excited to reach the top. They quickly became tired and  took many breaks to rest. They weren't even half way up the mountain when they decided that they couldn't go any further. She said as people came down form the top , they would rave about the beautiful view at the top of the mountain. The view she would never see because she gave up.

    If you noticed, we start falling astray from our initial goal when we want to take "breaks" aka excuses.

"I can't read my bible today I was busy."

"I couldn't work out because I was too sick."

"I can't because I'm too tired from doing nothing all day."

    Just like she said in her story, they took breaks because the were too tired of walking. Little by little those small breaks they took held them back from getting to the top. The little excuses we make hold us back from the victory the Lord wants for us. The view at the top of mountain could have been her victory if she just kept going.

    To be a little more personal, that specific day I was frustrated with the Lord because I couldn't see how any of my prayers were making a difference. I was yelling at him. Funny thing is, I go to church and the first thing the preacher says is "if you've been praying about something keep praying. Don't stop half way and give up. Keep crying out because the Lord will move in your prayers." Slap to the face.

    I just want you girls to know that no matter what you're starting right now, you better finish it. If you're praying salvation over family members, keep praying. Don't stop. You might be like Jehoash, three strikes away from restoration in your family. If you're working hard to get in shape, don't quick, you're three strikes away from that goal. If there is a class you struggle in, don't stop, you're three strikes away. If you've been struggling with economical finances and need to pay for school or your family needs help, don't sop, you're three strikes away from financial victory. If you just started a relationship with the Lord, don't stop, you're three strikes away from a true relationship with him.
    Girls, let's be young woman of our word. Let's start something and let's finish it. Be doers. Act upon it. And let's not be okay with spiritual complacency. He wants to take us from glory to glory, don't be okay with just half way.

  

Sorry, no fun post for today. I just want to get something off my mind. Priscilla