Our first priority is to focus on the task which God has assigned to us, whatever it is. Then, we must make frequent “checks” along the way. We must be certain that we have not allowed something that is second or third in importance, take first place.
We must pay close attention to what we do in life in order to continue in the right direction. There are signs to help to gauge our progress. Should we see an unfamiliar sign on our path—a sign that does not point in the direction of our assignment—we must stop and see if we have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way.
A couple of years after we were born again, the Lord told Dennis that one day we would be trained in a traveling ministry as staff members of Kenneth Copeland Ministries. As time passed and we became busy with our lives, we were approached by a man who didn’t have any children to inherit his business. He was close to retirement so he offered us a wonderful opportunity to work with him in business. Once he retired the business would become ours as though we were his heirs. He told us he had been watching us and was impressed with our diligence. It looked like an opportunity of a lifetime! We were so excited, but we couldn’t seem to get peace about his offer.
Finally, after praying about this door of opportunity, we realized his offer had nothing to do with the assignment God had already given us. And after discussing his offer for many days we realized it was a major distraction sent to ruin our ministry and our lives. Looking back, we realized he never intended to give us his business. He was only trying to hire a couple of naive kids who would work hard in expectation of a future that would never be.
Dennis and I have learned through the years that whenever we receive solid direction for the will of God in our lives, the devil will present us with an opportunity that looks almost too good to be true. And it is just that—too good to be true. It is only a mirage that will try to lure us off course, to distract us from the will of God. Its end is destruction.
Second John 8 warns us to, “Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (AMP). One thing is certain, no one wants to lose their full reward! Our desire is to run our race, finish our course, and receive our reward. Paul did exactly that: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NAS).
We can receive our full reward just like Paul! But we must be attentive to the things that come our way. We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked or distracted. We cannot lose what we have accomplished. We want to receive our full reward!
