When it comes to combat sports like Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) everybody is looking for that one super technique that works in all situations. The truth is there is no such super technique in sports or even in real life that works in all situations.
At our Jiu-Jitsu club we encourage students (disciples if you prefer) to use whatever is given to them to their advantage. In other words whatever your opponent gives you to work with, you need to use it to your advantage. For instance, if your opponent gives you only one vulnerable arm to work with, use it to your advantage. If your opponent aggressively attacks you, use his own momentum to sweep him or gain a dominant position.
I believe you see this same kind of thinking in the lives of effective soul winners like the apostle Paul. And it’s probably also one of the main reasons Paul was so effective in his ministry. He used whatever was given to him. He saw the potential and possibilities in every situation and this allowed him to be adaptable and useful in every situation. If he was thrown in jail, he converted the guards. When he was threatened with execution, he saw it as an opportunity to preach Christ. Wherever the Holy Spirit led him he would preach the gospel. When he was given a thorn in his flesh he used it as an opportunity to let God’s power shine in his weakness.
This radical way of thinking more than likely made Paul the freest and most powerful witness of his time. With this attitude to life Paul experienced a level of joy and intimacy with God that most of us can only dream about. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The same technique that worked for Paul can work for us too.
We need to remember that the circumstances, struggles, and attacks we face in life are not the ultimate determining factor of the kind of life we live. How we choose to use them is. And there isn’t a single situation in your life or my life that can’t be used for good and God’s glory.
So, if you’re facing hard times in your life you can choose to use it to develop patience and endurance. If you’re experiencing financial difficulties due to unemployment or even sickness you can choose to use it to show God’s sufficiency. If you’ve failed, whether as a parent or any other area of life, you can use it to learn from your mistakes.
The point is that whatever you have been given in life, use it. Refuse to be a victim of circumstances. Allow God to use you in a powerful way to glorify him and those around you.
Challenge: Speaking from personal experience, I think one of the hardest things to accept in life is the fact that there is absolutely nothing in your life that isn’t good or beyond God’s ability to work for your good. Understanding this both intellectually and spiritually is essential if your faith is going to grow and remain intact in the midst of the difficulties in life.
For more Encouraging Words visit:
http://www.adventist.se/sida/61/encouraging-words.aspx