A Former Navy SEAL On Never Quitting (By Andy Stumpf)

Everyone wants to be a Frogman on Friday. One of my favorite quotes from the Teams, because it applies to everyone and every goal. To use SEAL training as an example, 80-85 percent don't see the third day of hell week, let alone the last day of training. It takes a lot of work to even show up for day one, but it doesn't take much to end it. All you have to do is say "I quit", ring the bell in the picture three times, and it's over. There is paperwork later, but in essence, that is the end.

All SEAL training is really about is pushing people to their lowest point, and watching the decisions they make. When you are at your lowest point, tired, hungry, cold...do you give in and take the easy way out? During the most difficult portions of training, the instructors bring the bell with them, to make it that much more enticing and easy to quit. It sits right there, in plain sight, always ready for the next taker. I have noticed that most people focus on the illusion of the shiny object, not the reality of what it takes to achieve it. The amateur can only see the end state. The professional focuses on the fundamentals and incremental progress. If you think the "bell" doesn't exist in your life, your eyes are closed. It is everywhere. The only difference between the BUD/s bell and everywhere else, is that in BUD/s, when you ring it, the outcome is instantaneous. Laziness, procrastination, selfishness, lack of discipline, you fill in the blank...all small rings of the bell. The bell is everywhere, and it is always calling you. Ring it enough times and you will find yourself looking back filled with regret.

Everyone wants to be a Frogman on Friday, but you will never get there if you give in on Tuesday. I know the sound of the bell haunts many men, don't let the decisions you make when things get difficult end up haunting you.

Fear of Making The Wrong Decision

In order to move forward as an eagle Christian, another fear you need to deal with is the fear of making wrong decisions, which is otherwise known as self-doubt. I do not believe it is God’s will for us to doubt ourselves; He wants us to have assurance and confidence.

I once made a decision a handful of people did not like; they did not think I made a good choice. There were also people who liked my decision and believed it was right. But I could not help thinking about the naysayers, and I began to wonder, Did I do the right thing? Maybe I didn’t do the right thing. Then I talked to God about it: “Lord, did I do the right thing?” He affirmed me, saying I had made the right decision.

Just as you may have had to do, I have had to learn not to listen to self-doubt. God still reminds me from time to time to be careful in this area because satan is always attacking us with all kinds of fears and doubts. I have learned to not merely believe my feelings, but instead to check my heart and see what I truly believe God is saying. It is amazing what we will find in our hearts if we simply take the time to listen.

If we question ourselves excessively or carry on internal debates about whether or not we have made good decisions, we can all get lost in self-doubt and quickly become double-minded. James 1:7-8 teaches us that people who are double minded are unstable in all their ways and should not expect to receive anything from God. 

Also, when we are really confused, we become discouraged and depressed. Pretty soon, we find ourselves back in the chicken yard scratching around with the chickens when we should be soaring with the eagles.

Don’t allow yourself to wallow in self-doubt and become double-minded. If you think you have made a mistake, go to God about it. Say, “God, if I made a mistake, I trust you to show me. I want to know if I made a mistake or a bad decision. Please show me if I’m wrong.” Then take some time, get quiet, and see what you sense in your heart. Remember, you will not hear wise direction by listening to your own mind, your emotions, or other people. Listen to your heart!As a Christian, the Spirit of God lives in you – in your heart – and He will lead and guide you.

Don’t assume you are wrong because a handful of people disagree with your decision. If all the devil needs to do to get you off track is find someone to disagree with you, then he is definitely in the driver’s seat where your life is concerned. Make sure you stay focused and single-minded, free from self-doubt as you continue to become an eagle Christian.

I’ve found that doubt often tries to visit me when I am praying. This vague feeling leaves me wondering if God is hearing me and will answer when I should be trusting that He is listening and will respond. Prayer is our greatest privilege and is necessary for God to act on the earth. The bible tells us we have not, because we ask not (see James 4:2), but it also says we must ask in faith with no wavering, hesitating, or doubting (see James 1:6). 

God works through our faith, not our fear. Maintaining an attitude of faith requires conscious effort on our part. We can decide to believe or doubt, the choice is up to us.

Confronting Your Fears

Hey guys, in my next few posts, I want to call your attention to some fears you must deal with in life. If you do not deal with these fears, they can keep you in the chicken yard, but as you confront them and overcome them, you will be well on your way to becoming an eagle.

Lets start with this one:

Fear of not pleasing God

If you want to go higher in God, you must also address the fear that your imperfections will keep you from pleasing God. This is a significant struggle for many people; they suffer terribly with secret worries that they are not pleasing God, they are not doing things enough or they are not doing things correctly. They are afraid God is displeased with them because they don't read the bible enough, they don't pray properly, or they don't have enough faith.
They live in bondage to the fear that nothing they do is ever enough for God. *This is a lie!*

The devil wants us to believe "enough is never enough". He wants us to feel no matter what we do, God will always want something more or something different.

This is very sad, because the truth is that God isn't nearly as hard to please as we think He is! Yes He has high standards and desires excellence in every area, but the truth is that nothing about us surprises Him. He knew what he was getting into when He called us into relationship with Himself. When we make mistakes, He doesn't sit in heaven wringing His hands saying "I am shocked by your behavior, I never expected that!" Psalms 139 tells us plainly that He knows what we are going to do before we do it, so try to keep in mind that God knows all about you and loves you anyway!

Read this next statement closely: *if you could be perfect, you would not need Jesus*. Your willingness to keep pressing towards the mark of perfection is all God requires. If you are really in love with Jesus, your love for Him will keep you pressing towards perfection everyday. But I can almost guarantee you will always fall short in some way everyday.
If you are really a sincere Christian, there is no way you can take a lighthearted "oh well, I don't care" attitude towards your shortcomings. Your love for Jesus will compel you to want to do better everyday. You will get up the next day and try to do better again; maybe you will do better in some area, but you may fail in something else.
The message God is trying to communicate to you through these situations is: "you still need me".

Instead of focusing on your faults, focus on your progress.
Stay focused as you confront and break the fear of not being able to please God. You cannot allow your faults to distract you from going on with Him. He is the only one who can help you overcome your faults and weaknesses; so focus on Him instead of them.
If you are in Christ Jesus, you please Father God completely because He sees who you are in Christ Jesus, not who you are on your own merits. Remember, we are saved by Grace, not by our own works.
Salvation is not the result of anything we could possibly do; it is a gift from God to be received by faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9)

Culled from "Never Give up" by Joyce Meyer.