Bullet-proof

6/26/2007

I was reading from a golf book recently and a few lines got my attention:

“You better build a bullet-proof foundation for why you do what you do and how you do it. Or you should hang it up right now.”

“When I ask you about any part of your game, I want a solid answer, and I want to hear conviction in your voice.”

“Every champion has convictions. But perennial champions have convictions based on foundations. These foundations become his first line of defense when facing adversity.”

In the process of living, I’ve got to know “why I do what I do…” What is my “Foundation?” The foundation upon which I build, every day of my life, must be rock-solid, unchanging. Otherwise I will be tossed to and fro by every wind that comes along. And I certainly won’t hold up in a storm. I must have CONVICTION about that Foundation. It must be MY conviction, my foundation—not someone else’s. It must be one that *I* have chosen, and build on every day. No one else has convinced me or has to keep me afloat. It doesn’t matter whether anyone is watching or not. My heart must be very clear about who I am, who God is and my relation to Him. All that I am must spring from that foundation—my decisions and my choices, small and large. From that foundation my attitudes are built and it guides my reasons for what I do, how I treat people and what I choose. This world and my personal desires and “wishes” and preferences and comforts have no sure foundation to offer me. “The grass is always greener” is a lie of the devil that dangles elusive dreams and goals that don’t satisfy. And I’m dead wrong if I think someone else “has it made.”

I resolve to build with what is right in front of me—today. Jesus said to build on the rock of obedience to Him. What He says, goes. He said to build on the Rock of Revelation of Him and the rock of obedience to His Word. His teachings and His love and who He is, are my standard and measuring rod for everything in life. It is an uncomplicated, simple foundation. I believe Jesus is the Holy and Only begotten Son of the Living God. He paved the way for me when he came as a human being and lived in perfect, unbroken relationship with His Father. He lived in heaven every day of His earthly life. He expressed His authority, power, trustworthiness and love, over and over again. He never faltered in His commitment to Love and Truth. He walked with a pure and single eye and heart, with every step of the way to His death for me. God raised Him triumphantly back to life and to Glory and NOW He sits in heaven and holds all power and authority over the earth and over my heart. He deposited His Holy Spirit in me—a Spirit of power, love and self-control. Of wisdom, grace and truth. This is the Man I love. This is the One I build my life on, every day. If I build there in the small things, I’ll be ready for the large.

The two greatest commandments: Love God with all that you are and love your neighbor as yourself. I can’t go wrong if that is my heart, day in and day out. When I drift away from those two things in my priorities, I quickly lose my way. The list in 1 Cor. 13 lights my path: love is patient, kind, forgiving, hopeful, not resentful or keeping tallies of wrongs. It isn’t jealous, boastful, proud or rude. Love doesn’t quit, always hopes, has faith and endures through every circumstance. If what I “feel” inside doesn’t reflect those pure qualities, I can be sure it’s not love that is guiding me. Simple. John understood love. He said, “God IS love.” So where love is, God is. I’ll choose love, because I want to be hidden in Jesus, alone.

Love, mary