Mind over mediocrity.

Have you ever head the saying, “Mind over matter”? This cliche is more profound than some may realize.

DEVOTIONAL  ||  I Know Adversity, Loss, Pain, and I Know Where My Strength Comes From  ||  Philippians 4:11-13

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:11-13  

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10  

“saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” - Luke 22:42-44  

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9  

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13 

“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

Facing Your Giants...

Ikigai  生き甲斐   is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being”. Everyone, according to the Japanese,  has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of  self. Such a search is regarded as being very important, since it is  believed that discovery of one’s ikigai brings satisfaction and meaning to life

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. “ - Colossians 3:1-17

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. “ - Colossians 3:1-17

See also: Love part 1 of 3: https://youtu.be/O9Df3fh0AAs Part 2 of 3: https://youtu.be/V6D6dDgrXxo Part 3 of 3: https://youtu.be/dBdxXqVOCB0  “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” - 1 John 3:18 ESV

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” - Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

Also see Live Video Devotional on the 10 Marks of a Good Man at: https://youtu.be/Hjt_rlVwucY  

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all  your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second  is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other  commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30-31  

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your  reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24  

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself  up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the  washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to  himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she  might be holy and without blemish. n the same way husbands should love  their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,  just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his  wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” - Ephesians 5:25-31  

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." - 1 Corinthians 16:13  

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within  you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought  with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present  your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is  your spiritual worship." - Romans 1:1  

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one  receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete  exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable  wreath, but we an imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25  

"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense." - Proverbs 12:11

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” - Romans 1:16-17  “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32-33