Rick Torresen warns that spiritual adversaries use lies to make you quit: that it's too hard, you're a failure, you're alone. He counters with faith-based truths and practical steps: believe in yourself, ask for help, persevere, and rely on greater power to pursue your vision.
Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Man, I love that statement, don't you? Do you ever get tired? Have you ever wanted to just give up? What causes us to want to quit? And what are those things that motivate us to keep us going? You know, I've said this before. I'm a man of faith. And my faith impacts not only who I am, but also everything I do. And my faith tells me that there is an enemy out there whose sole purpose is to do me harm, to keep me from my passion and my purpose. Now whether you're a person of faith, consider yourself spiritual, or you're simply through moving through life the best you can, we can all relate to the feeling at times that there is an enemy out to get us. No matter which way we turn, no matter how hard we try, it simply feels like the world is against us. The enemy is real, my friends. My faith calls him the Father of Lies. For in him there is no truth. When he speaks his native language, he is a liar and the father of Lies. What causes us to quit? I think it's because we've chosen to believe the lies. Here's just a few of the lies that we believe and I'm sure you could add some of your own. The first lie says this. It's just too hard. Leads to its self doubt, self criticism and this I can't attitude. Then we have a lie that says I'm a failure and it stops us before we get started. What about the lie that says we're all alone. It leads to discouragement and isolation and finally the lie that tells us the obstacles are too big, causing us to take our eyes off our vision or the horizon and focus on the waves around us. Here's a truth about the enemy however you want to describe him. He never bothers with half hearted people who are content with a ho hum spiritual existence. This is important because I believe that there's an enemy fighting against you and he's trying to keep you from your vision and your purpose. If you feel like there's an enemy fighting against you, it's because your vision and your purpose is great. It's because you were created to make a difference and leave an impact in this world. The thing I love about my faith is it never leaves me at the mercy of the enemy. John tells me that my God has overcome the enemy because greater is he that is in me than he who is in the world. The vision and passion that is in you is greater than any obstacles that will ever come against you. The key is to tap back into that purpose and that passion. Trust me, it's in there. We just need to wake it up. And it starts with a commitment by you to fight even when you don't feel like it. I say this all the time. Our feelings are real, but they're not always based on a truth. The lies create feelings to keep us from our destiny. The truth creates feelings that propels us into our destiny. The challenge is, do you know the difference between the truth and the lies? And which are you believing? Choose to face the lies and hang on to the truth. We've got to go through before we can go up. There's no way around it. It's the going through that makes us stronger. This will take courage and perseverance. It's time to clean the lenses that you're wearing. We all wear glasses and view our life through a set of lenses. Remember, your past experiences do not define your future possibilities. You're more than the sum of your past mistakes. So let me end with three things that you need to persevere. 1. Believe in yourself. You're stronger than you think you are. Fight from faith. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Ask for help. You are never meant to go through it alone. Don't quit. Every difficulty is an opportunity in disguise. You're only a failure when you refuse to get back up, no matter where you find yourself today. Get up. Keep walking. There is one in you that's greater than the one against you. I appreciate you guys joining me on this journey. Until next time, I'm Rick Torresen, and I'm believing your best is yet to come.
