One of my RA’s has had a prayer posted on his door all year. It is, coincidentally, the same one I first heard from someone I would consider a mentor, and I have loved it ever since. This RA, having noticed that I read it every time I passed his door, printed out a copy for me today. This is what it says:
I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16)
With where I am at in life today, it would be easy to disregard this. It would be a short and simple matter to do things as I want, as I desire, and as I see fit. Years ago, I made a mistake, and I am still feeling the ripples from that decision; I am still paying for it. It would be easy to say that I’ve had enough, and it is time that I had things my way again. But then this prayer reminds me. I cannot for one second take my eyes off of my goal, I must not turn away, not even for one step. I know what I labor for, and it is worth every ounce of my efforts. True, maybe if I had done differently in my past, I wouldn’t be in this situation today. Maybe I still would be in this situation. But regardless, I am here today, and that is what I must work from. No matter my past, today I am a disciple of Jesus, the Christ. It is to Him that I look, for Him that I labor, and it is on Him that I have set my desire. After all, what can compare?
