Have you ever noticed that while we may have the best of intentions, we often seem to "miss the mark"? Well I, for one, can identify with this statement. No matter how I try to be perfect, or at least as good as I can be, it seems that somehow my weaknesses and imperfections always interfere.

     While this may be true, or at least seem true. I refuse to give in to these weaknesses! Some people may say "the devil made me do it", but the devil can not make me do anything. I have that wonderful gift called FREE WILL. So do you.

     It would be so easy to hide behind this worldly excuse. It would be so easy to just give into my weaknesses and human frailties. It would be so easy to just give up. But giving up is the road to misery. This is the road that I have traveled at various times in my life, just as many of you may have also traveled this road that leads only to pain, suffering, loneliness and despair.

     Is this why I was born? Is this why I was made by my Heavenly Father. NO! I am a child of God. I have a divine nature.

     I choose to be like my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. I have a choice and I do not have to give into my weaknesses and my sinful, mortal nature. I am not saying that it is or will be easy. I am not even saying that I will be successful all of the time. But then I have never known anything of worth or value to be easy to achieve.

     Could you earn a paycheck without effort? No. Could you lose weight without effort? No. Could you give birth to a healthy baby without effort? Of course not. Nothing of value comes without effort.

     Didn't it take effort for Jesus Christ to die on the cross? Didn't it take effort to go to school and earn good grades? Didn't it take effort to make dinner last night? Yes!

     Anything that is worth having, is worth working toward. Therefore, what are those things of value that you want to have in your life? What are you willing to do to earn them?

     I will share one thing that I am implementing in my life to bring about my goal of "becoming like Christ". I am searching the scriptures and praying. While this is not a new concept for any of us, it does involve effort. And I will admit, I have not always been good at putting out the effort needed to accomplish my goals.

     I am sending out a challenge to myself and to you. Let's search the scriptures. Let's look to the One who has the answers that we are seeking. Let's not blame Satan or others for our own lack of effort. We have free will, and we have the desire to make our lives better. Who can stop us?

     I mimic the Apostle Paul when I say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Christ is the answer. Being guided at all times and in all places by the Holy Spirit is the answer. Won't you join me on this journey. Won't you also make an effort to reach your spiritual goals?

     Let me ask you, "Are you in life where you want to be?" If not, why not? If not, then how can you change your situation? You have the FREE WILL, and the power to change your situation, to change your life here on earth and  your eternal life.

     Let's make this journey of change together. Let's become daughters and sons of the great "I AM".