Here is a guest post from my father Phil Barrett…

“So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.” So the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:15. Those two words, “I am ready,” speak volumes about Paul and his determination to get to Rome. We learn in preceding verses about  his intentions to go there. We do know that he was hindered from going, we don’t know what was preventing him. (Romans 1:13) Paul eventually does make it to Rome and fulfilled his desire—the rest is history. 

Let me pose a question to you. What are you ready for? Are you ready to press into the passion God has placed inside of you? Are you ready to go after the vision that has been reoccurring in your mind?  Are you ready to say to yourself, “I don’t want to live a life of regret.” In the future, you don’t want to look back and wish you had done some of the things that you were prompted to do. We push them out of our mind, our thoughts, our lives, only to find them reoccurring in our dreams! 

Let me share this short story about William Borden who was heir to the Borden family fortune.  After graduating from High School in 1904, he traveled around the world, and felt the call to be a missionary. He wrote two words in the back of his Bible: “No reserves.”

In 1905 he began his freshman year at Yale. His time at Yale is a story in itself.  He dedicated himself completely to Christ, and upon graduation he wrote another two words in his Bible, “No retreats.”

William did graduate work at Princeton University, and in December of 1917 he sails to Egypt to study Arabic, as he wanted to be a missionary to Muslims. While there he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, he died at age 25. In his Bible was found another two words, “no regrets.”—No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets! That was how he lived his life. Though he was wealthy and could have chosen any profession of his choosing, he chose to serve Christ Jesus and follow his calling! 

As with young William, we to should follow his lead. Have we the courage to live a life of “no reserves”  “no retreats” “no regrets?”  We will always be faced with challenges that are greater than ourselves. Throughout the Bible, men and women of God have always faced challenges bigger than themselves. We must settle the issues of faith and trust in our heart. Faith will see the victory before the battle even begins. We serve a God who is greater than any obstacle we can possibly face. David saw the victory over Goliath before the battle even began! If the challenge is not bigger than we are, then we would not need God—we could do it without Him!  Living a life of what I will call the “Triple R’s” will take courage, faith and trust. God has not called us to live a life of mundane faith, but of great faith. The type of faith that stirred up Peter to step out of the boat and begin walking toward Jesus (Matthew 14:22-23). Oh, I can hear you say, but he failed! Failed? When was the last time you stepped out of your boat? I would not say he failed, as much as he was learning how to be obedient to Jesus. Yes, he had his growing pains, he had his bumps and bruises, but he learned. Maybe that is why he could write…“grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2Peter 3:18.

Now that you have read this blog, what is it that you have long thought about but never done? Do not hold back, do not live a life of reserve, retreat, and regret! This can be the most exciting time of your life, if you choose to follow your passion! It is not a time to fear, but a time to put your faith into action, step out of your boat, and trust that Christ is standing with you!

Now is the time to take action. Now is the time to fulfill your calling, your purpose, your destiny. Now is the time to live a life dedicated to the highest calling of God! Now is the time to apprehend that for which we have been apprehended in Christ Jesus. 

Are you ready? To go, to do, to speak, to live, to be—are you ready to live dangerously, to risk all you have for Christ? Are you ready?