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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Live to the Hilt

“There’s a life we need to realize. And this will guard you from procrastination. For goodness’ sake, live. I love Jim Elliot’s line: ‘Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.’ Live it. Don’t put it off. Live it! It’s a wonderful way to conduct your life. And so much more to do than helium balloons on a lawn chair. Because I’m going to tell you, if you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

“If the Lord Wills”

“So, here’s what we ought to say. ‘If the Lord wills.’ Not about my will. It’s about His will. Not about the attorney who draws up a will for my life, it’s about the Lord’s will. If the Lord wills, we will live, meaning I don’t have forever, and then we will do this or that.”

Dangers Lurking in the Year Ahead

“There’s a danger of our walking in the flesh instead of the Spirit and suffering the consequences. Not walking by faith, but walking by sight, which fills our lives with worry, stupid worries. Then there’s a danger of planning every detail right down to the gnat’s whisker and forgetting the most important part of all and that’s praying for direction as we walk into these 11 and a half months that remain. And the danger of running ahead of God rather than waiting for Him to open doors and to make the path straight and to clear the obstacles instead of our trying to move them out of the way ourselves. And that constant battle everybody has with worry. Chances are good your worry list is longer than your prayer list. You’re all worried about some big thing on the horizon. And it’s a very real probability it’ll never happen. My worst worries and fears never realized throughout my life.”

Respect God’s Will

“Number one, there is a will we need to respect. Our Lord’s will. Notice the name, Lord. I don’t need to remind you of all that that includes, our Master. There is a will we need to respect. This, by the way, will guard us from pride. Constant problem we all fight, pride. If the Lord wills.”

Remember Who Controls Your Destiny

“There is a destiny we need to remember. This will guard you from presumption. I say work hard. I say give it your best. These are the only few years you’ll be at this place. Give it everything you’ve got. Grades will take care of themselves. Give it everything you’ve got because there’s a destiny you need to remember. We’re all going to wind up there.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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