Focusing on the Mark By
Ryan Marks (December 2011)
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him,
we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we
disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain
faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Tim. 2:11-13 NIV1984).
In the midst of this Christmas season, let’s
remember to draw near to the Lord. This year the Lord has brought a lot of changes
to my life. Near the beginning of the year the Lord began to show me that I was
to leave the Royal Rangers ministry that I loved, and very soon, my fulfillment
and calling to that ministry vanished. I was not burnt out, but being prepared
to leave. In the midst of the season in which He prepared me to leave and actually doing so,
the Lord gave me a platform and four messages came forth: in May, a message
titled, Doing Things God’s Way When Times Get Tough; later
on that month, Pursuing God, then
in July, Forgiveness; and finally in August, Hunger. In all of
these devotions, the Holy Spirit used me as a pipe to share a message that I
needed right then and would need later that year. Those messages came forth in
the midst of change and some uncertainty about what was next, but God used
them.
Now, at the end of this year, I have looked
back at how much I wrote on and emphasized having an intimate relationship with
the Holy Spirit; and, that it is the very thing I have struggled to have this
year. I am learning just how essential the Holy Spirit is, and just how
essential pressing into the presence of God is and how precious a devotional
time with God is.
The
Lord has worked this year even though it has been a rollercoaster in my life.
We all must remember to Focus on the Mark: our relationship with the
Lord; with Holy Spirit, Christ’s Spirit. It is this relationship that
determines how we will live, walk, talk, and make decisions. If there is
nothing else that you remember from Devo Blast this year, remember this:
Staying
in tune with the Spirit is the most important thing.
Remember:
Focus on the Mark! He has a plan even if we can’t see it.
