John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This Friday I will be speaking to a hundred or so Covington 5th and 6th graders and high school students at the Annual Covington 5th and 6th Grade Overnighter. I was one of the founders of this event back in 1988 when I was about 6 months sober. I thought it would be worth a try to prevent others from taking the path I had taken with drugs and alcohol by having a weekend event that promoted healthy decision making.
The primary point I drive home with the students is the fact (barring any uncontrollable tragedies and illnesses) we become the decisions and choices we make in our life.
Over the years, I have found that great people (people who achieve worthwhile goals that positively impact themselves and others) usually make great decisions the majority of the time. Great people also understand they own their choices and they don’t let other negative people, places and things interfere with their decision making process.
I’ve also found that there are a lot of people who could be great but “choose” not to because they allow negative people, places and things to control their decisions.
One of the biggest obstacles (i.e. “things”) that get in the way of people becoming great is their past. I know people who’ve allowed something that someone said years ago paralyze them for life. Or maybe something negative happened in our past that “proved” to us we could never be great and in turn we settle for a life of mediocrity or less.
Jesus tells us in the passage from John above that we will have trouble in this world and in turn the world can control us if we choose to let it. He also tells us He has overcome the world and in Him we may have peace no matter what the circumstance.
In other words reaching out to Jesus thru the Holy Spirit will take us to a peaceful “state,” away from the world and in turn give us the ability to envision and become the great person God intends for us to be. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
It is your choice whether or not you want to become great. God has plans for you and these plans are not intended to harm you but to give you hope and a future.
Let go of the world and the “things” that are harming you and getting in your way of greatness, and grab hold of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and in turn take control of your decisions and your future today!
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay
