I am reading the book "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson for the second time...It is one that I would recommend to read because it definitely makes you think and be like "hmmm...". Well I was unsure what the true meaning of the word 'vitality' was (I'm a math major..clearly) so I looked it up.
Vitality-–noun, plural -ties.
1. exuberant physical strength or mental vigor: a person of great vitality.
2. capacity for survival or for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence: the vitality of an institution.
3. power to live or grow: the vitality of a language.
4. vital force or principle.
Synonyms: being, drive, endurance, existence, force, life, liveliness, power, pulse, stamina, strength, venturesomeness
Ok...once I got a better understanding of the word, the quote really hit me along with the rest of what I read. How many times do we let our fears dictate what we do or shall I say don't do? I know for me it happens far too many times and I probably would need a 3 to the 8th power number of people so I could count that on their fingers and toes. :P But seriously, I should not let it happen as much as it does. Too many people let their fears dictate our decisions.
A few more things from the book that I stopped to ponder on:
(I'm pulling the directly from the book because I cannot word them better.)
"loses loom larger than gains. In other words, the aversion to loss of a certain magnitude is greater than the attraction to gain of the same magnitude."
"What is most lacking in the church of Jesus Christ is not education or resources....You know what is most lacking? Good old-fashioned guts! We need people who are more afraid of missing opportunities than making mistakes. People who are more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failures. People who dare to dream the unthinkable and attempt the impossible."
A story he uses is Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:1-23 . Take a moment and read it so you can be familiar with it...Jonathan did not wait for something to happen. He made something happen. He took action and did something daring. And I think it was the conviction that God would act on his behalf if he stepped out in faith that gave Jonathan the guts to climb the cliff.
Lastly, Mark says the will of God is not an insurance plan. The will of God is a daring plan!! How many of us are willing to be daring and step out in faith?? I know for me I hesitate or step out slowly.
However, I pray that my courage and faith in God continues to grow exponentially, so my hesitation is not there. I want to be a witness of Christ through everything I do even if I do get hurt because God is there to pick me up (and my insurance is there to help me get fixed up). :P So Holy Father, please fill me with You so I can become more like you every day.
Mark 6:50b "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."Matthew
Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Mark10:27, Luke 1:37, Luke 18:27)
