Early in ministry, I came to a crossroads where I had to decide to go in one direction or another. I essentially had to choose between a situation that offered security, financially and otherwise, and following the call of God with all its risks and unknowns.
I had an inward conviction that I had to give myself fully to one or the other, but I didn’t want to let go of either option. In prayer I said, “Lord, I don’t want to be foolish and put all of my eggs in one basket.” Then I heard the Lord speak. He said, “You can trust My basket.” I have seen this to be true. God’s basket is the best one; it is fully reliable and never breaks.
When Hernán Cortés, the famous Spanish explorer, arrived in Mexico’s harbor of Veracruz in 1519, he faced overwhelming odds. Before him lay the mighty Aztec Empire with its vast armies. But, Cortés had only about six hundred men with him. They were far from home in a strange land; all possible odds were stacked hopelessly against them.
Cortés knew his men would always have one eye on the ships, longing for home. He knew that in the back of their minds they would always be considering the highly attractive alternative of retreat. He knew that if these men were divided in heart or mind, the mission would surely fail.
So Cortés did something unthinkable. He ordered all eleven ships in their fleet to be burned. When the men stood on the shore and watched their only escape route going up in flames, it was a defining moment. There was no longer any possibility of turning back. They would either conquer or die. This consummate and unmitigated commitment unlocked unbelievable potential that gave them the power to succeed where all those before them had failed.
James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” You will never really succeed at anything if you are halfway in and halfway out. If God has called you, it is not necessary to have a “backup plan.” You don’t need to hedge your bets. You don’t need to hold some of your eggs back “just in case.” Cast out the unbelief, put all your eggs in God’s basket, burn your ships, and give yourself to Him and His plan, body, soul, and spirit.
When you are 100 percent committed and there is no turning back, you will break into a level of effectiveness and power that you’ve never experienced before. You will succeed where others have failed. You will overcome in the face of overwhelming odds.
Mountains will move for you, and nothing will be impossible for you.
Daniel Kolenda, a missionary evangelist, has led more than 10 million people to Christ face-to-face through massive, open-air evangelistic campaigns in some of the most dangerous and remote locations on earth. He is president and CEO of Christ for all Nations and hosts an internationally syndicated television program.
