Going Places!

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews records a brief account of some extraordinary individuals whose lives were made unique by their great faith in God. Within this inspiring legacy, we find a few verses that are of unique relevance to those of us who are making significant life change.

In verses 13-16, it tells of how these heroes all saw something in the distance. A better place of existence, a 'country', where they wanted to live. Their faith in God's ability to do amazing things through ordinary people enabled them to grasp a vision and to see possibility and potential where others could see none. They became visionaries who embraced God-sized destinies and set out to discover and inhabit this God-country they so longed for.

Right in the middle of this glimpse into the hearts and minds of these shining examples of God's power, we find this statement in verses 15 & 16, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one."

Your Own God-Country

Much like these heroes of faith, you too set out for a God-country of your own. A seed of faith germinated within your soul, and you believed in the possibility that you could make the journey! For many in our audience, a big part of that journey is leaving behind an unhealthy and destructive lifestyle in pursuit of a place where you live in freedom, health, peace, and personal acceptance.

You looked out by faith and saw a version of yourself that perhaps, no one else could see. You saw yourself standing strong and confident in the grace and strength of a loving God.

Where Is Your Mind Today?

Now it's the time when you have to recheck and refocus your heart and mind. Don't allow yourself to start 'thinking of the country that you left behind'. Don't allow yourself to start longing for the temporary pleasures that come from indulging your flesh. Don't even give those thoughts place in your thought life because what you feed your mind, you will become in time.

Our lives drift in the directions of our most prominent thoughts and desires. If you aren't intentional about taking every thought captive, then you'll go into autopilot mode and find yourself landing at the same old places of defeat and discouragement. Instead, take the time to focus on where you are going. BE INTENTIONAL! Look at the pictures that inspired you. Read the reasons you wrote down for making the change. Talk to the people who have arrived at the place you're traveling to.

Allow Your God Inspired Vision To Direct Your Thoughts! Every time you feel those thoughts creeping into your mind like a bad relationship from the past, you need to take action immediately and refocus. This is where the quitters and the finishers part ways. The quitters focus on what they left behind, the finishers focus on what they are reaching towards. Which one do you choose to become?

A Place Prepared For You

There's one last element of this passage in Hebrews that gives us a glimpse into the heart and affections of our Creator. The second half of verse 16 says this, "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

Friend, when you start dreaming big and having faith for the seemingly impossible journey, it gets God's attention! He makes the journey with you. He goes before you, and He prepares a place just for you at the finish line that is so much more than what you can even imagine at this point.

Don't Stop! Don't Quit! Don't give up! Make up in your mind right now that you are...

Never Going Back!

---

* Individual results may vary.