Everlasting.

"Your light will shine, when all else fades, neverending, your glory goes beyond all fame. And the cry of my heart, is to bring you praise, from the inside out, oh my soul cries out"

Do you ever just feel like living for God is really worth it?  Is giving up our lives, so that we may truely live, really worth it?  I mean, afterall, being souled out to Christ isn't exactly easy. 

So far, for me, it has been a continuously daily struggle.  A struggle that agonizes me to the core.  I want to grow in my faith, yes.  But often times when I truely ask myself, I just want the end results - without putting the work in.  To grow, it requires work and discipline on our parts. 

Staying focussed on Christ, on our ultimate goal of glorifying God is just as difficult.  With my own personal experience, these past two weeks have been a mess.  From a bad grade in statistics, to work, to wondering about a girl, it is so easy to get distracted in life, and it shows.  When I lose focus, bad habits begin to creep back into my life.  I start to curse.  Lustfull thoughts are harder to get rid of.  The old insensitive "jerk" comes back up inside of me., and it AGONZIZES me.  I find no joy in any of those things.  It bites me to the bone, yet I continually fall because I continually lose focus of Christ.

Underoath has lyrics that say

"This time I'll be nervous, cause I can't see your hands, in front me"

This song I feel like describes our battles as Christians.  We trip, we stumble, sometimes we feel God's presence, sometimes we don't.  Often times, with me, I feel about 100 miles from God, but I know he is stilll there.

So how do I regain focus?  To me, one thing that helps is listening to Christian music.  Find some artists that are good, and load up that ipod.  If you listen to your ipod as much as I do, and you have Christian lyris flowing into your head, imagine the possibilities.  Think about how much differently you would live your life if you listened to just 20 minutes of Christian music a day, and truely take it in.  Try it.

Another thing is pray.  Make it a point to get on your knees and pray, every night.  Even if it's only for 20 seconds.  It will help you focus on actually talking to God, and not letting your mind wander.  If you get in the habit of doing this - I PROMISE - it will make a difference.

Spend time in the Word.  This is my least favorite.  Who wants to read the Bible when you have litterally almost everything a 20 year old man could want to do within walking distance?  Make time.  Even if it's five minutes.  Don't read more then what you feel being led to.  If you feel like God is telling you to read a verse, then read a verse.  Don't feel "guilted" into reading enough.  Soak up God's word, when it just becomes reading, and not listening, it's not doing any good. 

On the same token, journal.  Journal about what you read - write letters to God.  Write about your struggles.  Write about your worries, your fears, your praises, write it all.

So going back to my original question?  Is it worth it?  Is giving up my life for Christ really worth it?  Without a doubt yes.  I'm miserable when I stray, and I'm comforted when I am in the Word.   It is well worth the struggle.  Just to know that God will work out all my problems - my grades, my friends, my emotions, my worries, is reason enough to give it all to him.

Note - I know I'm not perfect, I don't strive to come accross as i am.  I am simply sharing things I struggle with and how to help get back on track for those who are struggling as well.  If anyone has anything or any questions, just feel free to send me a message.

Thanks - and I'll leave you with this verse.

James 4:7  "Humble yourself before the Lord, resist the Devil, and he will flee from you" - memorize this, so when temptation comes, it comes to your head. 

Peace Out.