Josh Pitka, His Best Friend God, and the Mega Church Journey

and I think if you get on the Apostle Paul’s side with this ONE, you’ll do yourself well!

12 Not that I have already attained it, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended (laid hold of it); but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

I had a dream some years back where some great men of God were standing on a stage together in a notable and globally influential church. One of those men who has particularly impacted my life in a great way through his books ‘Wild at Heart’ and ‘The Way of the Wild at Heart’ shouted at near the top of the lungs,

“THERE IS ONE THING TO DO, PERSEVERE!!!”

Another great man by the name of Cesar Castellanos stated words to the effect of, “Everyone has a dream from God. But why do the majority of people never fulfill that dream? The ones that fulfill there God-given dream are the ones that persevere.”

I think this is true… because as you persevere:

• successes become more frequent and greater
• failures are transformed into learning curves and life lessons
• trials just make you stronger
• you continue to learn and grow every day, and you never get stagnant

Of couse, there are many other benefits to persevering – but the point is: DON’T STOP! Don’t let the past hold you back from what lies ahead. Because the truth is: no man of woman has done anything great in this life and not had to persevere through thick and thin!

You know that ‘zone’… it’s that mysterious feeling that comes over you when you’re doing really well, hitting the targets that are in your heart to hit, being the productive person you know you want to be, should be, need to be?

You know that place of living that you get to the end of day and you just say… “Thank you Jesus, this day was AMAZING!”

I like those days… and I propose that for the most part they happen on purpose.

I think that if you’re a dedicated believer, the enemy’s greatest strategy against you is not necessarily to get you to commit some great sin, because he knows you won’t. It will be to get you to compromise in the small areas of your life that stop you from getting to the end of the day and saying, “Wow, God you are SO GOOD, TODAY WAS SO GOOD (fruitful, powerful).”

I want to go there every day this year.

This year I want to look back on each day and say, “Wow God, you exceeded my expectations again!”

Trust in the goodness of God to bring you there! 

So often people cut themselves WAY short of their God-given calling and potential. Not one of us does or acts perfectly all the time – we’ve all made mistakes and have shortcomings… but why not go for it in 2012? even with all your shortcomings and successes and accolades and failures?

Why… not…?

Why not just full on, full out, full tilt, full boar, full-Y go after Jesus with everything you are?

Why not do the stuff He’s already been showing you to do, do it today, maybe even now?

Why not stop being lazy and selfish and boring this year and go crazy with the calling of God on your life?

Why not stop stuffing your face with pitiful excuses and put them dukes up and fight the good fight of faith!?

Why not love more extravagantly this year?

Why not give more generously this year?

Why not work… maybe not or maybe harder… but definitely smarter, and get that ax sharpened up? (see Ecclesiastes 10:10)

Why not just lay every thing else aside and seek God for that breakthrough you’ve been contending for for years… but you know you haven’t got it yet… why don’t you just seek God till you find him… knock till it opens?

Heaven’s open… grace is pouring down… and God is waiting for your move!

It’s a new year – full of “why not’s” – the “possible” is completely up to you.