Jumping Hurdles

“Jumping Hurdles”

During our lives we are going to have obstacles/situations that come along that at times will make us feel like there is NO WAY i’m going to be able to SURVIVE!

Addictions

Family Problems

Death of Loved Ones

Unemployment

Financial Problems ETC....

Some problems/obstacles are created by choices that we make along lifes path.

Other situations are simply LIFE itself, which some may call ACTS of God, or situations that arise that are out of our control.

ob·sta·cle

[ óbstək'l ]

hindrance: somebody or something that hinders or prevents progress

something in way: something that blocks or impedes a road, passage, or somebody's way

EXAMPLE: Olympic Hurdlers

What if the World Class hurdlers had never been trained to Jump over the Hurdles. Think of how much easier it is for them once they have been trained!

If we allow these obstacles to become permanent we might as well give up on life and go curl up and prepare for the inevitable.

Romans 5

New International Version (NIV)

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

**There is a way to overcome these obstacles his name is JESUS CHRIST, He has a funny way of turning those obstacles into BLESSINGS IN DESGUISE, HE CAN Turn our obstacles into positive experiences that will FOREVER make us STRONGER.

Today we are going to discuss how to overcome the obtacles in our lives.

Steps to overcome Obstacles:

Embrace the situation (It IS what IT IS)

We all have situations that arise during our lives. I’m not saying we have to be HAPPY that the situations are here. But it is what it is. We must focus on how to overcome (JESUS CHRIST), not becoming overwhelmed.

Not every situation is a result to “How I am Living” (Death of Loved ones , children getting sick, etc..)

But

Some are as a result of how i am living. (Addictions, legal problems, etc..)

No matter how they arrived, they have arrived. We can either GIVE UP or GET ON with Life.

Totally surrender unto GOD with a Humble Heart

I must give up EVERYTHING to GOD and ask for HIS WILL to be done!! YES, I do mean EVERYTHING!! Give up not only this current obstacle but ANY HANGUPS i may have.

Replace the Hang ups w/ Holy Word & HAVE FAITH!

Our FAITH gets stronger the more it is used. We all fall short of PERFECT FAITH but GOD’s Holy Word reminds us of OUR GOD’s Faithfulness and Encourages us to HOLD ON!!

SPEAK how I want to LIVE!

Be POSITIVE!! I must let my words and actions towards LIFE and my Obstacles reflect the POSITIVE changes that are happening in my life. I MUST expect the OUTCOME of my situations to be BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE!! Because I have put my FAITH in CHRIST!!

Stay Focused on Christ, PRAY w/o CEASING and Speak VICTORY!!

We confirmed a few weeks ago that it is POSSIBLE to pray without ceasing! If we are in a continual state of Prayer and Thanksgiving then we are FOCUSING ON CHRIST (THE SOLUTION) and Not the Obstacle/Situation.

-OBSTACLES ARE OVERCOME, BATTLES ARE WON ON OUR KNEES

REFUSE TO GIVE UP!

The road to VICTORY may not be the easiest one, but if we put our Trust in CHRIST, and REFUSE TO GIVE UP we WILL survive and we WILL BE STRONGER once the obstacle is behind us.

WE MUST NEVER HIT THE PANIC BUTTON!! CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!!