If you’ve spent any amount of time on Earth, you realize that there are things out there that hold you back.  The things you really, really want in your life don’t come easily.  It seems the more you want something, the greater the obstacles that stand in the way of you receiving it.  So, how can you go through those obstacles; jump over those hurdles and stop getting held back?  Hmmm?  People pray and pray and pray and still get defeated… And, in an attempt to justify their defeat make up reasons like, “God must have a better plan for me!”  Now I’m guessing that God probably does have a better plan than our plans, but it seems like He would sorta clue us into what that plan is.  And here’s a shocker; perhaps the things you want are EXACTLY those things God wants for you as well!  The problem isn’t the supposed mysteriousness of God; the problem is us humanoids not knowing how to overcome those things that hold us back!

I believe that most Christian folk have erroneous beliefs about God.  (Yeah, I said it!)  They foolishly think that God honors their requests because of their good behavior; sort of like earning stamps for your coupon book.  If you get enough stamps collected, you get something really cool.  Haha, nothing could be further from the truth.  If God only answered prayers based on good behavior, there would be no answered prayers!  We would be Screwed (with a capital S).  Ooops, I just said, “screwed,” more prayers not answered!  LOL  Follow the logic here for a moment…  You are having a good day, doing good stuff.  You are being kind to people; helping people and loving people.  Your stamp book is filling up quickly.  Then, that lady cuts you off on the drive home and you call her an, “effin idiot!”  Stamp book erased; do not pass go; do not collect $200.  And on and on it goes.  The harder you work at making yourself righteous, the less righteous you become and along the way you are getting pretty dang angry with God.  Soon you stop talking to Him completely because after all, He thinks you are an evil person anyway!  Or maybe you become so good at “being good” that you have a distaste for the rest of the lowly humans you are forced to interact with.  By God, why don’t they just live as righteously as I do?  “Move over Jesus; I get the best seat now!”

The truth is (yes, you can handle this truth) that you cannot make yourself good enough for God’s love.  You cannot work hard enough to make yourself righteous before God.  You can’t!  Or, if you are particularly stubborn, give it a whirl.  Let me know how it works out for you.  So, God, being God (i.e. real smart!) solved that issue for you.  He gave you a Savior that saved you and you didn’t have a blessed thing to do with it!  LOL  All you had to do was believe and all you have to keep doing is believe!  You see, believing has nothing to do with how good or BAD you are!  God honors believing!  In fact, God honors any believing from anyone.  God honors people’s believing who don’t even believe in Him.  He is cool like that!  So, the first step in overcoming those obstacles in life is to get off that ridiculous treadmill called, “earning God’s favor!”  Have you seen the commercial where the kids are washing Dad’s Toyota, windows down, inside and out?  Not good, right?  But what does Dad do about it?  He tells them they missed a spot…(smile)  BECAUSE HE ALREADY LOVES THEM!  (yelling!)  I’m thinking God can be at least that good to you.  He isn’t cataloging your sins; you got that from somebody at church.  In fact, that little voice that accuses you of wrong, night and day, isn’t Him either.  (he whispers…so stop listening and responding to it…)  You gotta get this stuff straight in your noggin, or you just won’t be able to believe.  And, when you don’t believe nothing happens.

Next you have to change your subject of focus.  I know you have heard that what you focus on, you get.  So you have to stop focusing on the obstacles.  Stop obsessing about your problems; your weaknesses; your failings.  Quit idolizing what is wrong with you!  What’s wrong with you is the same thing that is wrong with all of us.  We are humans…  We are imperfect creatures that love a perfect God.  Keeping that straight will solve a lifetime of difficulties.  So instead, shift your focus off of yourself and on to God!  Understand that He already understands you.  “He knows all about you and still loves you!”  🙂  He solved your biggest problem (sin) and is more than ready to solve all of your other problems, if you will just let Him by believing.  So get that vivid clear image in your mind of your victorious self and stop bowing to that image the enemy keeps presenting of you.  He’s lying to you man!  He knows that if he can keep you focused on yourself, you will end up frustrated and defeated, and you will never overcome!  See yourself getting what you want and see it often!  See those obstacles moved out of your way.  Is anything too hard for God?

“If thou shalt say to that mountain, be thou removed and cast into the sea, and shalt not doubt in your heart, but believe, thou shalt have whatsoever thou sayest!”  That, my friends, is a guarantee!

If you are like me, you have probably had it up to here (hand moving up to my neck) with being held back.  Get serious about overcoming.  Get serious about getting what you want.  Get God involved!  He knows exactly what those barriers are and is glad to help you overcome them!

“And then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.”  II Corinthians 12:9 (The Message Bible)

You can do it folks, I guarantee it!