More than a Feeling

More than a Feeling
Source: Joyce Meyer

When most people think about passion, what comes to mind are bursts of emotion stirred by circumstances - they come and they go. Like a roller coaster, up and down, they perceive passion as unstable, unnecessary and possibly even a hindrance to a “balanced” life. As a result they tend to respond to feelings of passion or enthusiasm like this: Let’s not get worked up about this… Let’s just take one day at a time and see what happens… I don’t let things get to me one way or another.

As Christians, when we talk about passion, many of us will think of the passion plays we’ve seen at Easter and, of course, the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, which depicts the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life on earth. But the passion I’m talking about is not a feeling that comes and goes or a mood you wait to stumble into before you act on something. Neither is it something we just need to help us through times of great trial—it’s a way of life.

Consider how passion applies to God. He does everything with a sense of enthusiastic, passionate, purpose—not halfheartedly. He loves us passionately and His Word exhorts us to love Him in return, with our whole heart—enthusiastically and passionately. No halfhearted effort on our part will ever please God or produce true joy or satisfaction in our lives.

It’s human nature to move forward, to reach for goals that seem unreachable. We need to have things that we are striving to achieve or see happen in our lives. If we want to reach the goals and desires that are deep inside us, we must pursue them with passion. Some of these hopes and dreams are lying just below the surface, but some have been deeply buried for so long that we need God’s help over time to dig them out.

Let’s face it—many times we simply need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. And I mean a reason greater than merely surviving through another day. I believe we all have a deep desire to be daring, to live life “out of the box” and take the risks necessary to achieve our dreams. Few people rise to the challenge of following their heart to embrace the excitement of “life on the edge,” seeing the things they hope for become a reality.

Truth be told, you’re probably just like me. I spent many years being miserable. I was always wishing things were different or that I had something I didn’t have yet… I thank God I finally learned life is more about the journey than the destination and that He helped me make the decision to enjoy it all. When I realized that He would stick by me no matter what, I could take the risks to move ahead and face life boldly, doing whatever I needed to with Him by my side with joy. I know that God has a plan and a purpose for my life and I have decided to live out my days wholeheartedly, passionately and enthusiastically!

Jesus was passionate… His passion could be seen through intense emotional moments, such as becoming angry when He saw people selling their wares in the temple or weeping when He witnessed their unbelief. It motivated Him in His concern for the sick, the poor, and those who were treated unjustly. In His prayer life He prayed so fervently that His sweat turned to blood! I believe it was His passionate love for His heavenly Father and His purpose that enabled Him to endure while hanging on the cross.

If you want to see God’s purpose come to pass in your life, live with zeal the way Jesus did. If you want to endure in times of trial, you will need to make some decisions along the way. That kind of life doesn’t just “happen” automatically. Your approach to life, your attitude, how you spend your time, and much more may need to change, but I can promise you the rewards of living life passionately will be well worth it.

I challenge you to make the necessary choices to change your way of life—to get up every morning with a sense of purpose and live passionately and wholeheartedly! Live the kind of life that leaves you with a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day. I have decided that, for me, living out each day passionately is a reward in itself. How about you?

For more on this topic, you may order Joyce’s new book I Dare You. You may order by calling 1-800-727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org.

Author/teacher Joyce Meyer has been helping people overcome life’s problems through biblical keys to practical Christian living since 1976. Her radio and television programs are broadcast throughout the United States and much of the world. For additional information, you may contact Joyce Meyer Ministries at P.O. Box 655, Fenton, Missouri 63026.




Useful link: www.joycemeyer.org