Faith and Passion

      Do you have faith? what about passion?  If you want to do something and be sucessful, you must have both. You must have the passion to put forth the action and effort to do it. A doctor doesn't become a doctor overnight, nor does a lawyer, teacher, or nurse. It takes preparation and practice. I'm reminded of my brother, Jeremiah Jenkins, who was dedicated in his pursuit of football. I never was into football, but in high school I would hear everyone talking about how good of a football player my brother was. I watched him and thought he was pretty good myself with the little I did know about football. He had aspirations of going to the NFL, but he never made it for a number of reasons that I won't dwell on. So, why did I mention him? Jeremiah and I are about a year and a half apart so we're very close. When it came to football, I saw his passion. Throughout his high school years, Jeremiah would search the Internet to watch his favorite players. Don't make me lie and tell you his position, but I remember him watching Barry Sanders all the time. There were others, but I remember this one in particular because he watched him the most. He'd sit in front that computer and was captivated, studying the foot movements and actions of a great player. Even though he didn't make it to the NFL as he desired, his life took another turn as a coach and youth minister which he now does with more passion than he had for football. Now instead of football (other than for coaching), he now studies great men of faith- Smith Swigglesworth, Benny Hinn, Jimmy Swaggart, etc..

      If you want something, then you have to be willing to pursue it. James 2:20 tells us "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" I hear people say all the time that talk is cheap. You can say what you want until you are blue in the face- if that's possible, but until you get up and do something then nothing will happen or change. I'm a certified secondary biology, general science, and social studies teacher. In order to do so, I had to endure four years of collegiate level schooling. I didn't want to, but I knew I had to in order to attain the certification and my goal to become a teacher that will impact kids lives. 

      While reading and meditating on the Word one day, I ran across this devotion called Necessary Passion. "There can be no fulfillment where there is no passion. The passion that will cause you to achieve must be strong enough to make you uncomfortable. Simply put, you must want something-a good marriage, a ministry, a business badly enough to survive the process to attain it. There will always be hindrances to overcome. But the force of your personal passion will provide the power to break through anything that stands between you and the object of desire." And he goes on to explain, "Between Jesus and His goal was a cross. The Cross was not the end; it was the means. He didn't enjoy it, but He endured it."

       So, what is the object of your desire? Do you desire it so much that you're passionate about it? As a Christian, the object of our desire is Christ. Does it show in your life? Are you passionate about pursuing Him- reading your Word, never ceasing to pray, meditating on His Word day and night? Yes! If you're like me, you are probably thinking that's fine, but the object of my desire is a business or a relationship, a house, new car, or even a job promotion. The list goes on and on. Nothing is wrong with that, but realize that if your first passion is Christ, then every other desire will line up with His will for your life. When you give your life to Christ, you become a new a new creature/person. With this new creation comes a new way of thinking. God will transform your mind. Your desires change and He gives you the desires of His heart. He will also gives you the means and provisions to accomplish those dreams and desires He have given you. Like Jesus, you become passionate to accomplish the goal and determine in your heart that you will endure the process to achieve that dream, goal, or desire.  With the faith to believe and the passion to achieve, you will be successful in whatever dream or desire God has placed in your heart. I will leave you with this, at the end of T.D. Jakes devotion, he pleads with his reader as I plead with you, ".. if you are driven by intense feelings and often wrestle with your ambitious nature, hear me and hear me well: Don't try to kill your passion; redirect it toward the dream God has given you." And furthermore, "Don't resent your passion. Control it, yes, but please don't kill it." God has given it to you for a purpose. God bless!