Momentum, by Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey's Momentum Theorem provides an illustration of how God-applied momentum can bring sustaining peace to any obstacle in our way: It goes like this: Focused intensity over Time multiplied by God equals unstoppable Momentum.

Dave Ramsey deliver this talk at a church a while back. It is well worth checking out. Here is the first part of the message (it is broken into four parts).

Calm in the Chaos

I heard a song today that was a direct message from God. He weaved an answer to a prayer into an alarm clock awakening. God has me swimming in this chaos so that I will take action to achieve my lifelong dreams. Without chaos it would be easy to leave things as they are. It's tough to make a change when the current situation is so easy to stay within. But the chaos is my tipping point. Time to make it happen regardless of my comfort zone. He is there pushing me along, by my side, knowing that I will fully understand His plan when it is fulfilled. I have trust.

Surrender is the Ultimate Payoff

When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that he is not a tyrant but a savior; not a boss, but a brother; not a dictator, but a friend.

Surrender is the heart of worship

by Rick Warren

"...Give yourselves to God... surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes." Romans 6:13 (TEV).

The heart of worship is surrender. Surrender is not a popular word, disliked almost as much as the word submission. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser. Surrender evokes the unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context. Captured criminals surrender to the authorities. 

In our competitive world we're taught to never quit trying, never give up, and never give in - so we don't hear much about surrendering. If winning is everything, surrendering is unthinkable. Yet, the Bible teaches us that rather than trying to win, succeed, overcome, and conquer, we should instead yield, submit, obey, and surrender.  

And by surrendering to God, we enter into the heart of worship. This is true worship: bringing pleasure to God as we give ourselves completely to Him. Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience, cooperating with your Creator. You say, "Yes Lord" to whatever he asks of you.In fact, "No, Lord" is a contradiction. You can't claim Jesus as your Lord when you refuse to obey him. 

Peter modeled surrender when, after a night of failed fishing, Jesus told him to try again: "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." Surrendered people obey God's word, even when it doesn't make sense.God is not a cruel slave driver, or a bully who uses brute force to coerce us into submission. He doesn't try to break our will, but woos us to himself, so that we might offer it freely to him. God is a Lover and a Liberator, and surrendering brings freedom, not bondage. 

When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that he is not a tyrant but a savior; not a boss, but a brother; not a dictator, but a friend.

Learn to Dance in the Rain

"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain!" Vivian Greene

View the movie.

How To Find Strength

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13 NIV). We're not as strong as we think we are, but God is stronger than we think.

"I can do everything . . . " doesn't mean, 'Now that I'm a believer, I'm strong enough to do everything and anything for God. God gives you the strength you need for each day. Your ability to "do everything" is wholly dependent upon Him because your strength is dependent upon Him.

Strength comes from submission. The thing you do that may require the greatest strength is to submit yourself completely to God! But God is "working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

Give and Receive

"Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:19 NIV).

You are not responsible for everyone in the body of Christ, but you are responsible to them. God expects you do whatever you can to help them.