“If honesty did not exist, someone should invent it as a way to get rich.” Unknown
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15
Goldbrick: “a person who shirks assigned work” Merriam-Webster Dictionary
I’m a guy. That means I love automobile racing. And my favorite form of racing is Formula One. The pinnacle of open wheel racing. I love it because it is entirely focused on creating and racing cars to be the absolute fastest they can be. I love that there are relatively few rules and regulations. I love that teams must design and manufacture their own cars. That the cars are built to take advantage of every possible loophole and weak-spot in the rules. That the cars have become faster and faster, in spite of rules trying to slow them down. In life there are no good excuses. If something needs to be done, it must be done. There will always be roadblocks and obstacles. However, those who achieve greatness find ways around and over them. They may even find advantages in them. Formula One cars were the most powerful in the 80s, some thirty years ago. In fact they had almost twice the power then as they do now. In spite of that, they are much faster now. Why? because engineers refocused their efforts from power, to downforce and braking. Better brakes and aerodynamics gave the cars the ability to slow down and turn much better. Their speed in the straights may have subsided, but they regained all that was lost in the ability to stop and handle the turns much better. What if we treated our lives like a Formula One car? What if we saw the limiting factors in our lives as opportunities to strengthen areas we’re weak in. Maybe at one time we were a good athlete. But injuries and age have depleted that ability and no one cares anymore. Maybe at one time we were a good student. But now we’ve graduated and grades no longer mater. Maybe at one point in our lives we could attract a following simply based on our physical appearance. Maybe... God has the ability to give us the strength we need when we need it, where we need it. God will never leave you unable to fulfill the purpose He has for you. He will always empower us to do great things. Unfortunately, we often forget about His abilities and focus on our inabilities. Many Formula One teams have gone from winning championships to utterly failing because of their inability to see the opportunities in new rules and restrictions. Our lives are no different. There will always be new rules, new restrictions, new obstacles to achievement. However, there will also always be new opportunities as well. Opportunities afforded by those same regulations and restrictions. God wants His work to be done in our lives. He’ll guide us through the loopholes. He’ll show us the path to significance. He’ll be with us maximizing our efforts and our abilities. It will be difficult at times to see a way through. We’ll act in ways we know we shouldn’t. We’ll make excuses. We’ll be lazy. God is there. And if we open our lives to Him, who knows what can happen. Miracles can happen. Lives can be changed. Wounds can be healed. The race can be won. “If God be for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31b
Daily Journaling Questions:
How did I help someone in kindness today?
What did I learn today?
What am I thankful for?
Who did I love today?
What am I dreaming of?
What about today do I want to remember forever?
What are my goals for tomorrow?
Thanks for reading,
Jake
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Daily Self Growth Journal Pt. IV
Non-FictionThis is the fourth part of a project called the "Daily Self Growth Journal." Its purpose is to prompt readers to journal through encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. In it, the first thing I do is provide a motivational, or inspirational qu...
