“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).
“Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Tim. 1:6).
Since God is able to make all grace abound always in all things why should there be so many dwarfed, impotent Christians? The lack cannot be with the Source of Supply. It must, therefore, lie in the failure of Christians to draw from this abundance. Throughout the coming year let everyone challenge himself concerning these wonderful possibilities contained in the promises of God.
Keep challenging yourself! The moment that you become satisfied with yourself or with your work, that moment you begin to slip backwards. Challenge your thoughts, your actions, and everything that you achieve.
The development of this inner life of ours is the most important task that we have to achieve. Not the mere making of money. Not the attainment of fame or station, nor of that fleeting thing called acclaim. We must become content within ourselves. We must satisfy that hunger of the heart. By challenging the adverse forces that strive to push us from our line of purpose, we build a character!
Desire is the cornerstone of achievement. But, without will or purpose, even desire remains dormant. Keep challenging yourself! You can rout every pygmy of your nature if you will but decide to do so!
Thou broadenest out with every year,
Each breadth of life to meet;
I scarce can think Thou art the same,
Thou art so much more sweet.
With gentle swiftness lead me on,
Dear God, to see Thy face;
And meanwhile in my narrow heart
O make Thyself more space!
—F. W. Faber.
To be discontented with the divine discontent and to be ashamed with the noble shame, is the very germ and first upgrowth of all virtue.—Charles Kingsley.