“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” ~ Luke 4:14
REFERENCE:
Have you seen professionals at their game, work, or art? They make it look easy. Ronaldo and Messi make scoring goals in football look easy, Israel Adesanya makes mixed martial arts look easy, Lebron James makes playing basketball look easy, and several other musicians, authors, actors, preachers, scientists, etc., who excel in their vocation make success look easy.
Some people seem born to be successful, make money, or excel in all they do. But is success effortless? Considering today’s focus text, you will notice Jesus operating in power, working miracles, making newspaper headlines, and enjoying a vast social media following. You will say, “Wow, this man just showed up and He’s making such waves.” However, earlier verses show that Jesus contended with satan for forty days while praying and fasting in the desert.
When success looks easy to observers, it is because someone has paid a great price in secret. It is said, “If you sweat in practice, you will not bleed in battle.” Champions are not made on the day of the competition but through long hours, days, weeks, and months of practice. Jesus’s three years of impactful, life-changing ministry was born out of intense praying and fasting, praying all night, retreating for communion with God, and early morning devotions.
Larry Bird was a legendary basketballer who played with the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. In his career, he made 21,791 points, mainly through free throws. He became the world’s fifth all-time free throw shooter. He was a 3-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 3-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and many more. Larry made free throws look easy; he once said he practiced 100 free throws five times daily, aiming to make 99 of them back-to-back.
When success looks easy, someone works a little extra hard behind the scenes. Ask God to give you the grace to work, study, push, or practice a little extra. That extra is what makes the extraordinary happen. May God bless you with the discipline to push beyond your convenience and ease to pay the price for success in life, family, and career. You will make it, in Jesus’ name.
PHOTO QUOTE
Additional texts:
Matthew 5:41, Philippians 3:12-14, and I Corinthians 15:10
PRAYER:
+ Lord, give me the strength to push and pay the price to obtain the prize I seek.
+ I receive the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the spirit of laziness and defeat.
+ Through practice and devotion, I will rise to the top and make success look easy, in Jesus’ name.
