One night not long ago, I kept waking up
with an unfamiliar three-word phrase on my
mind: Purpose over comfort.
I must have awakened five times that
night, hearing these words. Over the years,
I’ve learned which nighttime dreams and
words I should pay attention to and which
ones I can ignore. Purpose over comfort was
definitely something to ponder.
After noodling over these words for a
while, here is what came to me: What we
purpose in our hearts to do must be greater
than our desire for comfort.
What have you purposed in your heart
to do?
Have you purposed to be physically
healthy? This purpose of health must
be greater than your desire for comfort.
Comfort will lead you to stay home on the
couch with a bag of chips and a can of soda.
Have you purposed to get rid of bad habits
and move past addictions? Your purpose
of laying aside what hinders you must be
greater than the comfort those familiar
things offer. Your purpose will require you
to say no, to put something down, to walk
away, and to find support.
Have you purposed to have stronger
relationships with your spouse or children or
friend? Your purpose to connect with them
must be greater than your desire to keep
things as status quo. Yes, you’ll have to turn
off the television and go on a date with your
spouse. You’ll have to have a conversation
and interact with your children or that friend.
Have you purposed to know Christ? Then
your purpose to know Him must lead you to
pick up His Word, study it, apply it, and step
out in faith, trusting in it. God’s truths won’t
just jump into your heart.
Have you purposed to make Christ
known? Then your purpose must lead you
to step out, open your mouth, share your
faith, and to love others.
Photography by Scott Atkinson, USA Water Ski
Kristi on the podium at the
1999 World Water Ski Championships in
Milan, Italy, after winning the women’s slalom.
Photography by Ross Outerbridge
Achieving your purpose will never be
comfortable. It will never be easy. It will
require you (and me) to do things that
frankly, sometimes we just wish we didn’t
have to.
For 35 years, I purposed to be a champion
water skier. This purpose pushed me past
comfort every time. I can’t tell you how
many times I had to drag myself to the
water-ski dock and force myself into the
water. It truly was mind over matter. Why
did I do it? Because I knew that I would
never achieve my purpose of being the best
I could be if I stayed on the dock. Victory
never happens on the dock!
Friend, there is so much victory waiting
for you. But victory never happens in the
realm of comfort. It happens in the realm of
purpose.
It’s time to do what it takes. No more
excuses. No more comfort. Comfort is for
couch potatoes, and who ever heard of a
couch potato accomplishing anything good?
It’s time to ask yourself what you really
want in life. Do you want the same-oldsame
old? No? Then it’s time for a change.
Get a mental picture of your purpose,
then take steps to accomplish it. Refuse to let
what’s familiar keep you from moving into
the health and adventure that God desires
for you.
Remember: purpose over comfort. Live
by this motto, and you’ll never go wrong.
Purpose
Over
Comfort
by Kristi Overton Johnson God Calls You
Upheld: Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord release it and
He will sustain and uphold you; He will never
allow the righteous to be shaken slip, fall, fail.
Masterfully Created:
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship His own master
work, a work of art, created in Christ Jesus
reborn from above—spiritually transformed,
renewed, ready to be used for good works,
which God prepared for us beforehand
taking paths which He set, so that we would
walk in them living the good life which He
prearranged and made ready for us.
Strong: Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my
impenetrable shield; my heart trusts with
unwavering confidence in Him, and I am
helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices,
and with my song I shall thank Him and
praise Him.
Fearless: 2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit of timidity or
cowardice or fear, but He has given us a
spirit of power and of love and of sound
judgment and personal discipline abilities
that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and
self-control.
Free: 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
emancipation from bondage, true freedom.
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