The word ‘relentless’ has been bouncing around my brain for over a week now. I know it can have negative connotations, but that’s not the kind of relentless I mean. I mean having the will to stay with an idea or action no matter what, because it’s the right thing.
I admire people who accomplish the goals they set for themselves.
The woman who loses fifty pounds, the Olympic swimmer who wins a gold medal, the troubled teen who turns it all around and finally earns that GED. On the surface, I see the shining moment of victory. Lying just beneath all the glitter, are the minutes, hours and years of non-stop hard work.
I stand in awe of the toil and self-sacrifice. The commitment to the road they have chosen has to be made, and remade, every single day. Each goal had it’s own unique demands for success. Each person said ‘yes’ to those demands. They embody, for me, the meaning of relentless.
Prep Work
So…I think that God is asking me to put some time aside, and use that time to reevaluate my own goals. I need to figure out which ones are his and which ones are just mine. Once that’s settled, the big question looms. Am I ready to put all my effort into the remaining goals? Can I wake up every morning and dedicate myself to the work God wants me to do? No excuses. Just aim for the goal.
Pursuing something in spite of hardship is not easy. St. Paul was an incredibly successful missionary for the Church. But listen to the cost: “Five times…I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned…” (2 Cor 11:24-25) and the list goes on. Yet, he never dreamed of quitting. He knew his mission and his goal. Hardship would not deter him.
I am not going to beaten with rods (phew!) if I don’t hone in on my God-given goals and do my best. But I will disappoint him, and that might feel even worse.
The Big Question
The Lord is knocking on my door. He is whispering the word “Relentless.” It’s time to open the door and let him in. We’ll clean the house together, and toss out the things that don’t matter. What remains will be the projects that have my name on them.
He’ll turn to me and wait. The silence will be deafening. Will I say ‘yes’?
I won’t refuse the Lord. I’m ready to try. I know I won’t be perfect, but he knows that too. If I truly am the one called to do it, then he will be with me. When it gets hard, he’ll either change the situation, or change me, so I can keep going.
This is an important time. I need to listen and pray. I shouldn’t try to force my way. Like the tortoise in Aesop’s Fable, ‘slow and steady’ will win the race. Yes, the hare lost out by being overconfident, but I think the real hero of the story is the tortoise. He gets the prize for being…you guessed it…relentless.
Excellent post, my friend. I greatly appreciate these words of wisdom. What your wrote kind of goes along with what the Pastor said yesterday at church. He was talking about being faithful to God and your words about saying yes and being relentless reminds me of being faithful to God to the very end.
Thank you
Hugs!
Hi Stephanie!
Wow, thanks for your encouraging comment! You are such a supportive blog-buddy
Being faithful is a great way to express being relentless. All of our energy going to serve the Lord. Perfect! Thank you for that idea. Hugs to you too!
Have a good Monday!
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Happy Monday Ceil! What a great post. And such a good reminder. I want God to walk me through my journey here on earth and show me exactly what I need to be doing with my time. Sometimes, I feel like I have no time, to just set and pray and figure out what I should really be doing. I think I would much rather be the tortoise!!!
Thanks for this, I really needed it today!
Blessings,
Amy
Hi Amy! Happy Monday to you too!
I know what you mean about time. Never is enough, right? But God knows what we desire, even if we don’t have the time to speak it. So all the little tortoises (like us) in the world have hope! Thank goodness for that.
It’s always so good to see your smiling face. Blessings to you
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Thanks for these thoughts. Makes me realize Jesus’ love is relentless and lavish!
Hi Karen! I love that word ‘lavish’. You are sure right that Jesus’ love is like that.
And that he is relentless in his love…I LOVED that observation.
Thank you so much for your comments today. I was reminded of God’s relentless love, and that is a blessing
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Praying for you Ceil as you take time out to listen and respond. God is faithful and He will guide you as you step forward. I love your willing heart!
Hi Mindy! Thank you so much for your prayers, I need them!
I sure am willing, so your reminder that God is faithful will sing to my heart today
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Dear Cell
I think we all come to this kind of crossroads in our lives at some stage! When we have to decide if we want to follow our Lord Jesus or the million possible ways of the world! Not much of a choice, don’t you think! Great post, thanks.
Bless you, Cell
Mia
Hi Mia! You are right, it’s not much of a choice. It’s the follow-up that is the tilt-a-whirl in life !
I ‘clicked’ on your name and got a google+ page. I am new to blogging, so I am not too sure how to access your blog? Maybe you could let me know. I’d like that!
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Good Morning Ceil,
Firstly I want to thank you for your genuine care and concern for me during this stressful time. I love that you write and live for the Lord. I have so enjoyed your comments! Thanks so much! I added your sweet blog to my Blog Roll. Have a wonderful week….
Blessings, Roxy
Hi Roxy! I am thinking and praying for you absolutely!
Thank you for your sweet comments as well. And I am honored to be on your blog roll. I’ll never forget that you were my first ‘comment’. You have always been generous to me. (I’ll put your blog on my roll too!) God bless you and the state of Colorado in this time of challenge.
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Ceil–thanks for visiting my blog Three Way Light and your encouraging words. Sounds like the Holy Spirit has a word for this season of your life–may it become clearer and clearer as you press in to Jesus.
(And btw, I like your music choices on your Bio page. We have some similar tastes
Hi Jody Lee! It was a pleasure to meet you
I’ll be on my way over to ‘join’ you too. That way I’ll get to know you better.
I do think the Holy Spirit has a full-time job with me, that’s for sure. I rely on Jesus to show me what he wants me to do. And that I’ll have the grace to do it!
So glad you like my taste in music. We have to stick together! LOl!
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Great thoughts here, Ceil. I too want to be relentless in pursuit of the goals God gives me. Blessings!
Hi Angel! I am so glad you liked the post. And you make me feel like I am not alone in trying to grab onto my purpose and holiness. Thank you for that!
I got the bible too! I will thank you publicly in my next post. (If I can figure out how to link. I think I know how…we’ll see!!)
Have a wonderful Tuesday
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
I love this my goal is to be relentless in pursuing to know HIM more!!
Hi Debra! Thank you for your encouraging comment, I think we all want to be relentless…it’s just the doing it that gets tough for me sometimes! We’ll chase the goal together, ok?
Loved the pics of your family
Have a great Tuesday,
Peace in Christ,
Ceil