Welcome once again to health for the spirit, soul, and body blog. I’ve been reflecting on a concept that’s central to our walk with God - the idea of being fully committed, or as I like to call it, “going all in.” I have found that for most things in life, in order to achieve the goal that you desire, you need to focus and go all in on the endeavor. Doing things without going all in may succeed, but it is always more effective and can happen within a shorter time when we put all our efforts at a particular time into a specific endeavor. I’d like to share some personal experiences and biblical insights that have shaped my understanding of this transformative commitment.
The Biblical Perspective
The Bible is rich with stories of individuals who exemplified what it means to go all in for God.
Let’s consider Hezekiah. He chose to break away from his family’s ways, refusing to live as his father had. He stood alone, faced criticism, worked hard, and stayed disciplined. Every day, he taught God’s principles to the people around him. And guess what? He prospered!
The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44): This story tells of a poor widow who gave all she had, two small copper coins, while others gave from their wealth. Jesus commended her, saying she gave more than all the others because she gave all she had to live on.
The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22): A rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor, then follow Him. The young man went away sad because he had great wealth. This story illustrates the concept of surrendering everything to follow Christ.
Abraham’s Sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-18): God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham was willing to give up what was most precious to him because of his faith in God. In the end, God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46): In this parable, a merchant sells all he has to buy a pearl of great value. This illustrates the concept of giving up everything for the kingdom of heaven.
Personal Reflections
In my own life, I’ve experienced the transformative power of going all in. One of the most impactful times was in my spiritual journey. I tried my best to be serious about the things of God, but I found myself faltering a lot. Looking back, I realized that it was mostly due to fear. I wondered, what would become of me if I fully dedicated my life to Christ? But after trying and failing many times, I decided to go all in. The result? I not only became a stronger Christian, but I also found my life to be more fulfilling than it was before.
Another life-changing experience was when I applied for a research scholarship in Cuba. I was promised that I would be tutored and allowed to practice in English. However, after I arrived, I found that I needed to know Spanish in depth in order to interact with most of my colleagues and the general population. I overcame this by fully immersing myself in learning Spanish. I was able to transform from a person who knew only a few words in Spanish to someone who was able to read, write, and speak medical Spanish within three months. I was even able to make a presentation in Spanish by the end of the third month of my stay. This shocked me as I never believed that could be possible.
The Challenges of Going All In
Going all in isn’t always easy. It can mean changing our lifestyle, feeling lonely, facing criticism, working hard, staying disciplined, and dealing with constant pressure. But as Hezekiah showed us, it’s worth it. In my own life, I’ve faced similar challenges. When I started my own practice while still fully employed, I found that the practice did not grow the way I expected. It wasn’t until I was bold enough to leave full employment and go all in into private practice that I saw the growth I desired.
The Cost of Commitment: Lessons from Hezekiah
Commitment, especially in our spiritual journey, comes with a price. Let’s take a look at the life of Hezekiah, a man who truly understood what it meant to go all in for God:
A Change in Lifestyle: Hezekiah chose to break away from his family’s ways, refusing to live as his father had. He made a conscious decision to lead a life that was pleasing to God.
Loneliness: Hezekiah was the first in his family to turn to God. This decision required him to stand alone, a testament to his unwavering faith.
Criticism: Change is often met with resistance. Hezekiah faced a barrage of harsh questions from the older generation who were resistant to his new ways.
Hard Work and Sacrifice: Hezekiah was willing to give up his time, energy, and resources to reach his spiritual goals. His dedication serves as a reminder of the sacrifices we may need to make in our own journeys.
Daily Discipline: Changing a culture and the mindsets of people is no easy task. Every day, Hezekiah worked tirelessly to teach and instil God’s principles into the minds of the people.
Constant Pressure: Those who supported Hezekiah’s changes expected to see results, and they weren’t necessarily patient. Despite the pressure, Hezekiah sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so, he prospered.
The principles that guided Hezekiah can guide us too. Today, I encourage you to begin applying these principles in your own life. Remember, going all in for God may not be easy, but it is always worth it.
The Rewards of Going All In
When we go all in for God, we find that our lives become more fulfilling. We become stronger in our faith, and we earn the respect of those around us. Plus, we get to experience the joy of knowing we’re living in obedience to God. In my own life, I’ve found that the things I feared most - being ostracized by family and friends because I had become a devout Christian - turned out to be unfounded. In fact, my family and friends respected me more as a Christian.
Practical Steps to Going All In
So how do we go all in? It starts with a decision. A decision to change our lifestyle, to stand alone, if necessary, to face criticism, to work hard, to stay disciplined, and to deal with the pressure. It’s not easy, but remember, we’re not doing it alone. God is with us every step of the way.
Conclusion
Going all in for God is a journey. It’s a journey of faith, commitment, and transformation. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. So, let’s take that step today. Let’s go all in.
I urge you today to identify and commit to one step that deepens your faith and commitment. Whether it’s dedicating more time to prayer, engaging with scripture, or serving your community, take that step. You are not alone in this journey; God walks with you. Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below. How are you going all in with your faith? Your stories are a beacon for us all. God bless you on your journey of commitment.