There is a passage in the Old Testament (2 Samuel 23:20–21) which recounts the victories in battle of a valiant warrior, Benaiah, who goes on to become a bodyguard for King David. The most impressive, jaw-dropping even, conquest by Benaiah in the verse, however, is the following:
“Another time he chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it.”
(A LION!!)
Mark Batterson uses this story as the premise for his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and the concept from that book that I want to explore is the concept of chasing lions.
What does “Chasing Lions” mean?
Chasing lions is a metaphor for facing your fears, taking risks, overcoming adversity and conquering the biggest obstacles in your life. Our fears are like mental lions. They are big, scary and roar loudly whenever we try to step outside of our comfort zone. When we don't chase our lions it can severely restrict our growth. Normal people don't chase lions. But if you're reading this, you're not striving for "normal". You're striving for GREATNESS. You have greatness inside you and chasing your mental lions is crucial to bringing that greatness out.
Is Your Life Story-Worthy
One of the questions that Batterson has the reader ask themselves, and that I want you to answer for yourself is this:
“Are you living your life in a way that is worth recounting in jaw-dropping detail?”
If the answer is YES, then I'd love for you to share your story and the the story of how you got there. If the answer is NO, then ask yourself "Which lions should I be chasing today?" Identify your mental lions, stare them in the face and attack them.
If you would like to read more about chasing your lions I highly recommend reading In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson.