Forward movement for believer is perseverance. When Daniel Webster was a young lawyer he took a case for a fee of $20.00. It was a difficult case and in preparing for it he had to make a trip to Boston, which in itself cost more than he was getting as a fee. He was determined to do a thorough job on case and win it, which he did. Many years later a big company wanted him at short notice to undertake a case for what was in those days a fabulous fee. Webster looked over case and found it was almost identical with one he had researched and won 20 years before! Although it took 20 years to turn profit, his perseverance paid off.

Remember this point to safe-guard yourself against complacency: Resist temptation to rest on your laurels and live in past. Keep yourself moving forward in Kingdom of God. Steadfastness has its rewards in time.

III. Thirdly, complacency comes when we lose focus. The object of our faith is Christ alone. Christ is our focus.

There are two ways to see something. I can see an object with my eyes. But, I can also see an object with eyes of my spirit. One of greatest gifts God has given man is to visualize something internally. I can’t see Jesus with my physical eyes. But, I can see Bible. I can read Bible. And as I read Bible, I begin to visualize internally what Jesus is like. In fact, Holy Spirit is sent for this very purpose—to help us maintain our focus on Christ. As our focus is maintained, we become changed in to His likeness.

Many people today fall to complacency because they take their eyes off Word of God. They simply lose focus. They place their focus on other “things.” Before long they become transformed by “things of this world.” The “things of this world” become their focus and then their god. With your eyes on Jesus, you avoid misdirection in life. The best way to hit a bull’s-eye every time you throw a dart is to throw your dart at a blank target. Wherever dart strikes, select that spot as bull’s-eye and draw concentric circles around it.

Crazy, you say? No more absurd than an aimless person who stumbles into one day after another, setting today’s goal on basis of yesterday’s deed. Wouldn’t you agree? A steadfast gaze upon Master will direct you on a straight pathway.

With your eyes on Jesus, you can see what He’s up to. Isa. 45:11 tells us to ask God about things to come. I can tell you this. Jesus is up to something big! In fact it wouldn’t surprise me if He’s no longer seated, but standing before Father and ready to carry out this order, “My Son, it’s time. Go and gather up your bride. I’m calling them home.”

Remember this point to safe-guard yourself against complacency: Stay focused on Word. Stay in fellowship with your Christian brothers and sisters. Keep communicating with Lord—pray without ceasing!

Concluding remarks: I have shared with you danger of complacency. Be very cautious after great victories. To let down your guard and revel in victory is to invite disaster. Stay alerted to advantage you have when enemy is on run. Pursue darkness, and crush it with light of Jesus! Resist temptation to live in your past accomplishments. Keep moving forward. And above all, keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay alerted to what Spirit of Grace is doing around you. Don’t miss move of God in this latter day.

What about you? Has complacency slipped into your relationship with God? Are you distant and needing a change? May I re-introduce you to solution? His name is Jesus. The Bible says that there is “no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” The name Jesus is greater than name, complacency. Just as light overcomes darkness by driving it away, so does name Jesus when spoken with meaning from heart, overcomes and drives away all uncertainty about your eternal future.

You see God has provided you an eternal home in Heaven, but you must ask Him for it. And when you call upon God’s Son to save you, Bible says that He will save you to uttermost. He will name you as one of His own. He will nurture you and care for you in your relationship with Him. And then one day, He will call for you and carry you home. I must say though, heaven is not a place for complacent. It is not a place for “lovers of this world.” Heaven is home to those only who love God, who want to serve God, and who can stand in His courts of praise forever and ever, rejoicing with saints.

Only Jesus makes this happen. Call upon His name—JESUS.

Keep faith. Stay course. Jesus is coming soon.

Pastor T.

Life Improvement Tip 4 Don't procrastinate! The more you put something off and something else off, more all your undesirable chores pile up.

Until they're an insurmountable task that would make a paid cleaning crew shudder. In fact take these chores and work them into your schedule so you will do them.

Life Improvement Tip 5 If you don't already keep either a schedule or make yourself a to-do list each night, this is your cue to start.

A to-do list helps you with get things done because it gives you a urgency "must do this today" attitude.

It will also help you remember things that you might have otherwise forgotten. You can put things on them that you're afraid of forgetting, or want to make sure you make time for.

Life Improvement Tip 6 This is by far most important tip I could give you. Forgive and Forget.

Either imagined or real slights should always be forgiven. To forget them is to not dwell on them and not remember angry feelings if you ever look back on that moment.

Let me just tell you this: Holding a grudge will not hurt begrudged as much as it will hurt you and your personality. As well as your existing relationships.

If there are any ancient or recent rifts or fights between you and a relative, friend, or spouse that are hurting your relationship or have ended it entirely, make amends.

This life is only life you get, we'll never know when it'll be our or begrudged person's time to die, and by then it will be too late to say "I'm Sorry".

So pick up phone or walk up to that person and apologize, even if it wasn't your fault. This may be last chance you'll get to make amends.

You will be surprised at feeling you'll get after fixing things up between you. As if a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. This is definitely a step towards life improvement.

Life Improvement Tip 7 Do something kind for someone else. Today! Not just on a birthday or anniversary, but spontaneously.

Buy a rose or other flower for a friend and tell them it's just "because". Because they mean a lot to you, and because you care for them.

Tell your family and friends that you love them. Offer to help a friend with a chore. Babysit for someone you know so they can have a night out.

Help teach a young niece/nephew, son/daughter, brother/sister, etc.... how to read or do some other "grownup" thing.

The list of things you can do is endless, and I'm sure you can procure some ideas of your own on subject.

Now for your convenience I've summed all seven life improvement tips up:

1. Get up early and jog or watch sunrise

2. Eat breakfast

3. Smile at strangers when you make eye contact

4. Don't procrastinate

5. Keep a schedule or To-Do list

6. Forgive others and Forgive past wrongs

7. Do something for someone else

Remember it's all up to you whether you take these steps to improve your life, but improve it they will.