A Magnificent Obsession

I love it when God sometimes whispers in your ear his thoughts for the day then confirms them through his Word.

This morning in my personal quiet time I was led to meditate on the words "You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, O God, and my soul knows it very well."

After pondering these words in prayer, I turned to my daily Bible readings that are taken from the YWAM Personal Prayer Diary. This valuable tool allows me to read the entire Old and New Testaments through in a year.

Part of today's reading--which only happens one day a year--was Psalm 139 where the above words were spoken prophetically by King David nearly three thousand years ago. The moment I saw them, I thanked God for the incredible confirmation which reminded me that all of us are here on earth for a purpose. Our lives are not accidents and their content isn't random.

Each of us has a God-given destiny to fulfill--and that destiny, to the praise and glory of God, should be the magnificent obsession of our lives.

Years ago a spiritual leader told me that I needed to have a "magnificent obsession" for Christ. It needed to be worth all my time and energy. It needed to be my reason for living.

His words reminded me of the following saying:

A vision without a task makes a visionary.
A task without a vision is drudgery.
But a vision with a task makes a missionary.

How about you? Do you have a vision and a task? Do you have a magnificent obsession about God and the life He has planned for you? If not, then begin the adventure today.
 
Paul said to King Agrippa, "I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19).  Near the end of his life, he could say with confidence, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me...not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again" (2 Timothy 4:7,8).
 
God wants each of us to wear one of those crowns.
 
Think about the following statements from Larry Tomczak's book Victorious Living at the End of the Age. Their content is taken almost entirely from the Bible. Make them your statement of commitment today and for the rest of your life:

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth in order to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are fully blameless towards Him. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. He who calls me is faithful and He will do it.
 
I'm not lukewarm. I'm not a compromiser. I'll not be conformed to this world. I'm not a loser; I'm a winner. I'm a partaker of His divine nature. God indwells my body. I run the race to win. His grace is sufficient for me. His power is made perfect in weakness.
  
When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard. I'm a part of that standard. We are soldiers of the army of salvation that God is raising up to save this world. I'll not despise the day of small beginnings. We will reclaim that which the thief has stolen through tradition and ignorance. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.
  
He said He would pour out His Spirit in these last days. Sons and daughters would prophesy, young men would see visions, old men would dream dreams. I'm a part of this end-time vision, for without it, I will perish. For still the vision awaits its time, it hastens to the end, it will not fail. If it seems slow I will wait for it. It will surely come. It will not delay. Therefore, I have a sense of destiny.
  
Jesus is restoring His church. He is coming back for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or blemish or any such thing. It will be a triumphant church. It will kick the gates of hell in. I'm a part of this end-time move. I'm a pioneer;  I'm not a settler. I'm on the front lines. I've counted the cost. I'll pay the price. I'm giving my utmost for His Highest. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord.
  
I'm out to change my generation. I'm beginning today. I redeem the time. I'm not weighed down by the cares of this life. I cast my cares on the Lord. Whatever the task this day, I'll do it heartily as serving the Lord. I'll pursue excellence because I serve a God of excellence. I stir up the gifts within me. I'll step out in faith. I'll move in the supernatural. I'll set the captives free.
  
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
  
I'll not limit the Holy One of Israel.

I'll not be disobedient to the heavenly vision.

The kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ!
 
Now to Him Who is able to keep me from falling and to present me without blemish before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only God, my Savior, through Jesus Christ my Lord be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever! Amen! 
 
With these truths in mind, let me encourage you to begin the adventure of being whom God created you to be.
  
You have a destiny. Make its fulfillment your magnificent obsession.