Strength | Uncapped https://uncapped.ca Sat, 02 Oct 2021 03:47:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.26 https://uncapped.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cropped-adjust_2-32x32.png Strength | Uncapped https://uncapped.ca 32 32 Divine Skills https://uncapped.ca/divine-skills/ https://uncapped.ca/divine-skills/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2020 15:13:11 +0000 https://uncapped.ca/?p=204029 The post Divine Skills appeared first on Uncapped.

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Have you started a journey you knew it had failure written all over it? I remember when the staff took a bunch of rich private high school students on a ski trip. As one of the staff, I was supposed to be adept, a semi-pro skier but it was far from reality. I had skates and dabbled a bit and nothing more. Actually, I hadn’t tried skying before but I was convinced a little 30 minutes lesson as the base of the mountain is all I needed to learn to ski down the mountain. I rented my gear and hoped they were right. Wrong! But I wanted to fit, try it, and cross it off my bucket list. 

So after a few simulations and instructions, I set off to try my new-found skills. Every second on the lift was filled with fear and unlimited permutations of what could happen and I knew was bound to happen. The students and my fellow staff jumped off the lift with the enthusiasm of kids in the proverbial candy store. They snaked their way down with ease while I waited to ensure I don’t embarrass myself. I followed but for a brief moment. My fear was tenfold my skills so I forced myself to fall a few yards away from the top of the hill and shamefully crawled my way up. The lift operator radioed for support and before I knew it, I was on my way down on the lift. My day as over. No skills. I sat at the chalet and it was one of the longest days of my life.

Unlike my ski experience, God shows us how to thrive. He’s given us the failure-proof skills we need to become like him, live and love like him. He didn’t call us to fail and his instructions are deeper, complete, tailored individually and he tags along the trip up and down the mountain. As the master designer, he knows how much each one of us can support before we fall or give up. 

The time we put in to excel in sports and our hobbies makes us better and we love the growth, the progress, the perseverance. Is this true in your spiritual life? Are you growing in your Divine Skills? Are you dull? Unkillsed?

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. 

Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV)

Divine Skills start from our awareness of God, our love for him and adopting his mindset. Yes but how? 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 

Mark 12:30 (NIV)

This is the starting point and the most pivotal. 

This means loving God daily, sharpping your ax daily. Listening to his voice daily. This passage helps you measure all the marks of discipleship. Loving God with every bit of your being gives you the strength and skills required to draw closer to God and people. It helps you master life and the inverse is equally true – the less you love, the more unskilled you become. With God’s instructions in mind and at hand, victory is assured. 

 

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How do you know if you are a pretender or a contender? Are you worn out physically or spiritually and what’s the difference? How about the source of your strength? Where do you get your security from? Many of us are physically strong but spiritually weak. Some monitor their health, diet, weight and gym attendance daily and others, with less regularity. 

 As much as maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a great habit to develop or keep, the deception of physical strength is massive. While both have similar traits, the difference is wide. For one, we can pretend, equate or confuse physical strength to spiritual strength. Physical strength can make you a pretender but spiritual strength makes you a contender. Physical strength can camouflage your true identity, hide your insecurities and hurts but you know something is keeping you up at night. Finally, this natural strength is fleeting and depleting.

I liken spiritual strength to renewable energy with God as the eternal supplier. How inviting and intriguing is that? Which of the two do your desire or want to be known by?

 God has done everything in his mighty power to provide you with this massive renewable source and simplified your access to it! He has provided you with the Scriptures, his Holy Spirit, the Church, the resources you have and your gifts to tap in and uncap. He has invited you to be your true self, growing in the image of his son and impacting your world just like Jesus (Luke 6:40). Interestingly, as you use the spiritual resources available to you, you grow stronger and stronger. Your love hope, faith and character grow wider and deeper and more victories in Christ would be assured!

 So where are you worn out and why? What strength are you using? The legit or counterfeit one? Have you taken your eyes of the source? 

God has invited you into a lasting relationship and he equips you for the long and meandering journey of life. He doesn’t promise a cross-free life but offers his presence in your storm. Be your true self, focus on what’s eternal, God can keep you firing on all cylinders (Colossians 1:29, 2 Timothy 1:7).

God strengthens the weary
    and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.

Isaiah 40:29 (The Voice)

 

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