Essentials of Hot Pursuit

It was my desire in January to encourage you to get set for a move, to dream big dreams and to prepare to pursue your dreams in 2012. You may have started the year with good intentions. You may have taken time to envision the fulfillment of your heart’s desire, and you made plain your vision and your goals. Now as the year is getting busy, you are finding it difficult to follow through on your intentions. You are not alone.

I often watch a British TV documentary series – “Police Interceptor” which profiles the work of Police Intercept Team in Essex, UK. These Policemen with dogged determination pursue and hunt down perpetrators presenting dangers to the public. It involves high-speed car chases with the aid of a high-tech helicopter referred to as the “ever-ready Eurocopter” flying overhead and relaying essential information about the movement of the perpetrator. The high-speed pursuit is sometimes so hot that it requires skills and caution to preserve lives. One thing is usually certain, once they are in hot pursuit, they do not relent until the perpetrator is apprehended.

I find the determination of these policemen and the coordination between the air and ground units very intriguing. The air unit relays vital information that keeps the ground unit on track in their pursuit. The air unit acts as the all-seeing eye for the ground unit who trust the ever-reliable Eurocopter to guide them. Thus their unrelenting determination combined with guidance provided by the air unit become essential for success in the hot pursuit.

As you start this new month, it is important to track the progress of your pursuit of your dreams and the goals you set at the beginning of this year. How are you tracking your pursuit? What milestones have you established to enable you keep track of your progress towards living your dreams and accomplishing your goals. To whom are you connected for guidance, whose eyes can see above yours and who can relay vital information that will help you to stay on course?

In the hot pursuit of a dream and fulfillment of life’s goal we need not only relentless determination; we also need to depend on a reliable source of help, guidance and encouragement which is ever-present, all-seeing and never-failing. God is an ever-present Help in the time of need. He is constant. He is the All-seeing God who knows the beginning from the end, who knows all things and from whom nothing is hidden. His eyes are upon us to guide us. “The steps of the righteous man are ordered by the Lord” – Ps 37:23. When we are attentive to Him, He directs us in the way to go. Being connected to God is vital to the success of your hot pursuit. Remember, you are the object of God’s favor and you are under His watchful care.

His help comes in various ways – through friends who encourage us to stay on course and cheer us when the going gets rough, or sometimes it may be through mentors who use their experience and expertise to provide needed guidance to keep us on track. I am blessed with friends who consistently ask me about the book I am writing and a mentor who has eyes like eagles. At all  times, it is the cue provided by the Holy Spirit at crossroads of decision-making and the wisdom He inspires that makes the difference. I can truly testify of the inspiration given by the Holy Spirit.

Are you connected to this vital source of help and guidance in the pursuit of your dream? Are you open to the opportunities provided by mentors and friends to help and encourage you?

Above all, we want to apprehend the purpose for which God has called us – this should be our ultimate desire. Three phrases jumped at me as I read the statement made by Paul in his pursuit to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him – Phil 3: 12- 14. These are: press on (to take hold off), reaching forth (straining forward) and press towards—the goal. These are action phrases, they denote purposive and intentional moves to apprehend – take hold of – a goal or the prize of a higher calling.

Despite the mileage Paul had made in his spiritual growth, he was still actively and persistently pressing on to attain perfection and conformity to Christ. This has application not only in the pursuit of a higher calling in Christ but also in the day to day pursuit of our goals and dreams. It definitely gives no room to laziness, lethargy, or giving up.

Are you still in hot pursuit or is your enthusiasm is waning? I encourage you not to relent until you apprehend the prize.

I started blogging 3 months ago. This is a good time to evaluate—is the blog on track and is it fulfilling its purpose? I do appreciate your feedback. How is this blog helping to inspire hope in you? What improvements would you like to see in the blog?

Thank you for stopping by. Each time you do, you make it worthwhile for me to continue to be here for you. I wish you a fruitful and rewarding month in hot pursuit of your dreams and goals.