By An Anonymous Man Imprisoned and Later Martyred For His Faith

"The dye has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down or back away. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future secure.

I'm done with low living, sight walking, small planning, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals: I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, positions, promotions or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversities, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ."

I just really love this quote; it's powerful. I have this hanging on my wall, and try to remember it. Because really, this is what I should be like all the time; confident in my faith and sure in my salvation through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sometimes, I'm a wuss. I don't tell people about my faith like I should. Sometimes, when I get hard questions, I pray for the words and still wonder if I goofed it up. What if I misheard God? I am a broken, sinful human, after all.

Sometimes, I struggle with things, only to realize that there is one thing I didn't do yet. Pray. Talk to God about it. Then I do, and I feel a sense of peace. And I wonder why I'm such an idiot. And I'm getting better, really I am, it's just an issue of pride and in some ways, a feeling of unworthiness. I have no trouble praying for other people, but sometimes it's hard to admit that I need help. And sometimes, I can see my own flaws so clearly, that I don't feel worthy to ask God for help.

And it's times like that that, I believe, He wants me to talk to Him most.