Commitment is an act, not a word.
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31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."
34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."
Luke 22:31-34
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Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster] crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:60, 62
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Peter loved Jesus and followed Him through His ministry here on Earth. Although he spoke out of turn and had to be rebuked by Jesus, he was still devoted to the mission. When everything Jesus said came true and he denied him three times, he had to make a choice.
The choice that Peter made was to recommit and fire himself up for Christ. When saw Jesus was risen again, he went to the upper room with those who were ready to continue Christ's ministry and spread the gospel. He became successful, because he recognized that his flame had dimmed and he refueled his passion and worked on fulfilling his life's purpose.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 1:12-14
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When Peter came out of the upper room, he was ready for his own ministry. He took the lead and spoke to the people with authority and commitment. From that time on, he gave everything he had to the ministry and passionately spread the gospel. At the end of his life, Peter was hung on a cross upside down, which showed his true commitment to Christ. His last days on earth he truly proved that he would die for Christ. Go to Acts 2 to read Peter's sermon after his recommitment to Christ's ministry.
"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."
― Friedrich Nietzsche
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This last weekend, I realized how important it was to take time to rest and refuel the passion. Due to exhaustion, I got really sick, so I had to take some time off from my regular routine to get the rest I needed. As I rested and got well, I realized that I desperately needed to become more passionate about my purpose. The last two days I have become more determined, focused, and driven.
Even though I have written out my purpose statement many times in the past, I recently revised it. Yesterday, I started writing it out on rectangular pieces of paper in colored ink. I put them up around the house, so that I could be reminded of my recommitment to my purpose.
This recommitment is important to everyone's personal development. Every time we become tired and worn-out, we need to remind ourselves of why we work hard at pursuing our purpose.
Whatever the purpose is, we should enjoy working and developing the skills we need to be successful. Once the passion fades, we need to find it again, quickly.
The way I regain my passion is through inspirational blogs, books, personal development videos, and movies that have a meaningful message. At these times, asking God to show me or confirm His Will for my life through His Word is the most important step.
In addition, I talk with people who I know will encourage and listen to me. Finally, I write in my journal to get my emotions and thoughts on paper. This allows me to read how I am feeling and get ideas on how to regain my passion for my purpose.
There are so many ways that we can become more passionate. If you know someone who has the same kind of passion and purpose, watch and learn from them. It might even be beneficial to video tape them if they don't already have videos.
Teachers are video-taping their classes and sharing them online. Athletes also video tape themselves, so the Internet is full of videos of every kind of sport. If you are an ice skater, you can go to the rink and watch skaters practice for hours.
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Focus On This
Every time you start to feel tired and frustrated while pursuing your purpose, stop and refuel. Get inspiration from people, videos, movies, and books, but more than anything else, re-examine why you are passionate about what you are doing. Ask yourself what you can do to feel more energetic and alive while you work.
Passion should be fun. If you are getting tired while you are working on your purpose, then it is time to stop and have an upper room moment with God. Spend some time alone with Him. Allow His Spirit to inspire and refuel your passion.
"If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for."
― Thomas Merton
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23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:23, 24
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