In the movie City Slickers, Curly (Jack Palance) tells Mitch (Billy Crystal) that the secret of happiness is found in one thing.

"What's the one thing?" Mitch asks.

Curly says, "You have to find out that for yourself."

Paul defined the one thing for himself. He said: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

His "one thing" was winning the prize — the prize of knowing and being known by Jesus. This goal was the driving force behind all that he did.

Paul was a driven man. He was driven to accomplish great things in life. But more importantly, Paul was driven first by the desire to know Jesus. His devotional life, not his ambition, fueled his ministry.

Here's how this plays out in my life. When I'm driven by the desire to see results, I'm frustrated most of the time. Nothing, not even success, is quite good enough. When I'm driven — as I always should be — by the desire to know Jesus, two things happen: One, I tend to work harder. Two, I have peace in the process.

Actually, everyone is already driven by one thing. Some can define it, some can't. When your one thing is the goal of knowing Christ and becoming like Him, as Paul says in Philippians 3, you will find peace. And when your work for Him is fueled by your devotion, not your ambition, it will becomes less of an exercise in frustration, and more of the adventure God intends it to be.

With Love,

Mike