" Y o u c a n s t a y i n y o u r c o m f o r t z o n e ,
b u t n o t h i n g e v e r h a p p e n s t h e r e .
T r u s t m e . "
This week gave me a challenge, a challenge which I will have to battle for the remainder of my schooling. This challenge answers the question: How do you define yourself?
Why don't you ponder this question for a minute.
What do you do?
Do you play a sport? Do you plan an instrument?
How well do you do what you do?
Are you the best hitter on your volleyball team? Are you number one in your class? Can you sight read any piece of music on which you lay your hands?
How badly do you want to be the best? What is your ambition level?
Are you okay with being the backup libero (defensive specialist volleyball player)? or do you push for starting setter (the 'quarterback' of a volleyball team)?
Ambition
[am-bish-uh n]
(n.) a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work
(v.) to seek after earnestly; aspire to.
I believe ambition separates the good from the great.
I read a few commentaries on ambition before writing this post; one author related ambition to the desire for a person to have the most stuff: a nice car, a fancier house, and more money than our neighbor.
However, this is not how I see ambition; I see ambition as an encouragement to become better. But, when goals are not reached as desired, ambition can be detrimental to one's self-concept: hopelessness leads to pessimism.
Ambition can be a tool for both God and Satan.
This is my challenge: ambition to be the best, comparing myself not to others but to a perfect score.
Ambition is not a bad thing, but Satan can {and will} use it against us; he can use it as a discouragement to convince us that we are not strong, that we are not good enough.
Step 1. God's Ambition vs. Satan's Ambition
As I stated earlier, ambition is a tool used by both God and Satan. Satan uses ambition to tell us we aren't good enough and that our goal can never be reached. God uses ambition to show us that with Christ, we can become profitable for His Kingdom. In order to use ambition in the proper way, the positive God-driven way, we must remember that our strength comes from the Lord; we must remember from where our value comes.
As a child and on into adolescent-hood, my parents expected nothing but my best, understandable. However, now my ambition level is to a point to where it can be discouraging; when goals fail to be met, the sinking feeling inside of me tells me you are not good enough, and you never will be.
My challenge: to holistically believe that I am not defined by anything, not by numbers and grades, but by Savior. Your value is not found in what you do; as a Christian, your value has nothing to do with you, rather, your value is found in your Savior.
Step 2. Ambition to Glorify the Father, not Man
Once we fully understand and accept that our value is in Christ, then we can use ambition in a positive way. After all, God calls us to be ambitious creatures for the work of His everlasting Kingdom:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. {1 Corinthians 9:24-27}
We are not called to win a 'prize' for ourselves; what does living for yourself really accomplish?
When I strive to be my best, grade-wise, I do not think about comparing myself to others or wanting to be the best for boastful purposes. Rather, I want to be my best because we are called, by God, to be the best in everything for Him. I don't want to let him down; I don't want to let others down. I don't like feeling like a failure when it comes to goals set for myself.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. {Galatians 1:10} For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? {Luke 9:25}
I may never be able to fully get over this challenge; I have to remind myself every test day that my value is found in Christ.
Rise above those negative voices. As the cliche goes, "Do your best and God will do the rest."
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J u s t a l i t t l e T H R O W B A C K ♥
About three years ago, I went on a mission trip which continues to be the highlight of my life. I am so excited to embark on another mission, whenever that may be. My heart belongs to those in Europe who are searching for the One who can eternally save their lives. I truly believe the nursing field will help further my audience for sharing the gospel; I can't wait.
Take a look at Romania 2013. Oh how I miss these lovely souls and this beautiful country. Thanks to those who made this memory such a blessing; I wish we could go back and savor these moments and understand how magnificent they really were. Let us use these memories to encourage us to keep running the good race.
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Here is this week's Nursing School PLOG.
I didn't want to over-due it, so here are just a few highlights of my week.
