Last night was a long night.  I ended up watching the clock waiting until I could take some medication to relieve the pain in my back and right leg.  I believe that the pain was caused by my tossing and turning in bed.  I was fine when I went to bed and I had not walked or been involved in any other activity for the 3 hours prior to bedtime so I guess that must be what happened. I have spent most of the nights sleeping in a chair in the living room that reclines like a hospital bed.  It has a firm but padded back, keeps me from tossing and turning and has the added benefit of having a dachshund sleep by my side so that I have a perpetual heating pad.  (NOTE: I do not pick up the dog!  The chair is next to the couch and the dog walks across the couch and the end table to get to the chair.  I know, it’s sick, but still within the protocol following Spinal Fusion surgery.)

My goal is to fully follow my doctor’s orders (and to get a good night sleep) so that I have the best outcome possible.  For me, an avid runner, this means no exercise other than walking for the next 6 – 8 months.  It also means not picking up my granddaughter.  It means not pulling weeds in the yard.  It means not doing a lot of things…things that I must sacrifice in order to meet my goals and fulfill the plans that the Lord has for my life.  I want to be able to walk at Disney with my wife, kids and grandkids without lagging behind due to a bad back.  I want to be able to pick up and hold my grandkids and someday my great grandkids.  I want to be able to stand up and preach and walk and move around as the Lord directs for many years to come  Those are some of my goals.

What are your goals?  To what do you aspire?  What dreams do you dream?  There will be sacrifice and commitment involved.  But know this, if the Lord has placed those dreams and aspirations in your heart the commitment and sacrifice will be worth it!  Anything the Lord wants you to do, He will help you to do!  Oh and He does have things for you to do!  The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

 The Lord has glorious plans and a future for each of us.  So I ask again, to what do you aspire?  What has the Lord laid upon your heart?  As my cousin told me one time, “The time will pass and you will either have done it or wish you’d done it.”  Don’t be left wishing you had fulfilled your dreams.  The bible promises in Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Delight yourself in the Lord today.  Discover the plans and goals that He has for your life and start your journey today.  Make a commitment today.  You can trust the Lord with your future, God has your back.

If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can send me an email directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com