I've got lots of friends down front. They are in the trenches of ministry, doing the hard things that no one else wants to do. These men and women aren't getting all the press. They aren't receiving medals or lots of accolades, but they are indeed great warriors. They are doing the work of the Gospel. Loving men and women and children in the name of Jesus in hopes that they might say yes to Christ's incredible invitation to receive His forgiveness and live eternally with Him. They are literally binding up wounds, touching the poor, caring for the homeless, ministering to broken families, caring for little children, writing words of hope to the hopeless, challenging the wayward, teaching truth, feeding the hungry, singing songs of healing and hope, and spurring on the believer.
Sometimes, if I'm honest, I have a tendency to get a little jealous of their position. I know they would laugh at reading that because the places these men and women serve, the things God has asked them to do are hard. They are lonely. And they are often done without thanks or recognition. But oftentimes I long to have the impact I see these men and women making. I want to make a difference in what really matters - the matters of eternal life and death - the things that will far outlive us all.
But you know what? This morning as I was thinking about that, wishing I had a place on the frontline, God showed me something. If we are His, we are all on the frontline of ministry. There is no back of the pack file pusher. There is no overlooked wayside wanderer. God has work prepared for each one of us to do. And His Word tells us it was prepared in advance.
My frontline may not look like what the world (even the church world) defines as frontline ministry. And that's the rub. I think that's where the enemy corners us many times. We simply overlook the importance of where God has us. We fail to trust the sovereignty of His hand in knowing the lives He longs for us to impact. We are looking for platforms and avenues, when we are standing on and in them. And as we sit, idly wondering when our day will come, we are missing the opportunities of the days in front of us, the ones passing by under our noses. May it be so no longer. May you and I wake up to see that there is no ministry too small.
So where does God have you and me? What is our frontline? Is it your family? your neighborhood? Your office? Do not doubt God's ability to do mighty things right there in your backyard. He finds every life precious and is not willing that any should perish. Don't lay idle in your calling simply because your "mission field" looks differently than you would define it or envision it. Step up to your frontline and reach out to the lost and the hurting all around you. Minister boldly and intentionally with dynamic and authentic love and compassion.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Put Your Hands Together
A few weeks ago my family and I were blessed with tickets to the Circus. While there, I noticed something. Hardly anyone applauded. These festively dressed men, women and animals were performing death defying stunts and engaging acts of skill and delight. They were performing "the greatest show on earth." And what response did they receive in return? A half-hearted clap or two, if at all.
And it got me thinking. When did we become so numb to displays of joy and wonder? Couldn't we see how hard these people (and animals) were working to bring smiles and excitement to the audience? Have we become so entertainment based that we cannot applaud and celebrate the simple wonders of life?
And I thought about how we do the same thing to God. How often do we glaze over the magnificent displays of His splendor each day? The sunrise, and the beauty of nature that surround us each day are enough to warrant praise and thanksgiving. The miracles of life and love are enough to draw admiration and joy. And the Gift of Christ's salvation and of God's abiding presence are certainly worth a great deal of applause and gratitude.
But we don't do that very often.
We fail to stop.
And gaze.
And truly breathe in
the miracles that are every day before us. We overlook the moment by moment opportunities to applaud the God of Heaven.
May it not be so.
May God give us eyes to see just how much His glory is on display every day in the things we are tempted to call common. May we be a people who applaud, and woot woot, and shout and sing praise and thanks to God for all the things He has done. If we awaken our eyes, we find that there's no shortage of things to applaud. His majesty, His character, His love....the works of His Hand....His faithfulness....there are so many reasons today - this very day - to put our hands together and clap loudly. Never has there been and never will there be, a more worthy recipient of our applause. So whatever you're up to today, take in the demonstration of God's love and beauty all around you. Put your hands together for the truly Greatest Show in Heaven and on Earth.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
And it got me thinking. When did we become so numb to displays of joy and wonder? Couldn't we see how hard these people (and animals) were working to bring smiles and excitement to the audience? Have we become so entertainment based that we cannot applaud and celebrate the simple wonders of life?
And I thought about how we do the same thing to God. How often do we glaze over the magnificent displays of His splendor each day? The sunrise, and the beauty of nature that surround us each day are enough to warrant praise and thanksgiving. The miracles of life and love are enough to draw admiration and joy. And the Gift of Christ's salvation and of God's abiding presence are certainly worth a great deal of applause and gratitude.
But we don't do that very often.
We fail to stop.
And gaze.
And truly breathe in
the miracles that are every day before us. We overlook the moment by moment opportunities to applaud the God of Heaven.
May it not be so.
May God give us eyes to see just how much His glory is on display every day in the things we are tempted to call common. May we be a people who applaud, and woot woot, and shout and sing praise and thanks to God for all the things He has done. If we awaken our eyes, we find that there's no shortage of things to applaud. His majesty, His character, His love....the works of His Hand....His faithfulness....there are so many reasons today - this very day - to put our hands together and clap loudly. Never has there been and never will there be, a more worthy recipient of our applause. So whatever you're up to today, take in the demonstration of God's love and beauty all around you. Put your hands together for the truly Greatest Show in Heaven and on Earth.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
My Favorite Shoes
I have a favorite pair of shoes. They certainly aren't the best ones in my closet, but when I put these brown Mary Jane's on, I just feel comfortable. They are perfectly broken in, they're cute and they go with lots of things. But if I'm honest, there's a problem with my favorite pair of shoes.
You see, at the top of these shoes, where there used to be a darling shade of chocolate brown, there are now two solid lines of white scuff. Time and wear have taken their toll on these shoes and these marks tell the story. Even though these shoes are looking pretty rough, it's hard for me to let them go. And here's why: It took time and wear to make these shoes mine. And now they're oh so comfortable. (I also happen to like the way they're styled. ) And even though the scuff marks now betray their cute factor, I still find myself going to them first, like "golden boy" on Seinfeld - Jerry's yellow sweatshirt that was always the first thing he wore when all of the laundry was washed.
A few weeks ago, when I put on these favorite shoes, I saw them for what they were: past their time. And it was a sobering picture to me of the way I approach other things I've outgrown in life. I began to think about the parallels between how dragging my feet had scored those timelines on my shoes and how dragging my feet in life was doing the same on my heart.
What is it when God asks us to move on that causes us to hold so tight to the present, or sometimes the past? I think my shoes can shed some light on this phenomenon.
1. We value comfortable. I don't want to get new shoes because these are so comfy. I like the way they've been primed to cushion my feet. And I have been willing to give up the new for the comfortable. How much more so am I doing that in life? Forsaking new for the sake of comfortable?
2. We avoid pain. Starting something new costs us. Getting a new pair of shoes will cost me money. It will cost me time in discovering what pair will next best suit me. It forces me to face my fear: What if I give my shoes up only to never find a pair I like as much? So, starting fresh costs me money, time, emotion, but there's more. Just like my shoes will cost me discomfort as I learn to walk in a new pair, so beginning new steps can be equally hard. No one likes the pinching, blistering or squeezing that new shoes sometimes cause. But there are times when we must press on anyways. Sometimes, what we find so uncomfortable in the beginning opens the door to a whole new pair of shoes, a whole new part of life, we would have never imagined we'd like so much.
3. We get stuck looking down. I love my little brown shoes. And though others may see a scuffed, boring pair of plain shoes, I see a darling little set that's perfectly suited to my personality. I love to admire their shape and their stitching because it makes me happy. You may laugh at that, but I promise you there are ways we all do this in our lives. There are pet things in our lives that we get stuck admiring, when the time to give them up has long passed. Just like I do with my shoes, we get busy looking down, admiring where we are or where we've been instead of where we're headed. You can't go very far with your head looking down. Sometimes, what was good for a season loses its value and its relevance for now, and it becomes time to pick our head and our feet up and move on.
So what do we do when we find ourselves stuck in a rut? We make a decision to go forward. We take time to treasure the comfort and beauty and enjoyment of a particular season or thing or experience. We thank God for it. And then, we lay it down. We trust that this life is just a passing through to the eternal life we were meant to live forever with Christ in heaven. And we realize that anything He asks us to lay down is of far lesser importance than the treasure of Christ Himself. We trust the God who had the creativity to even dream up shoes. We trust that His ability to design new and tailored shoes and seasons and assignments would blow our minds if we were able to see it from His point of view. His creativity is endless and His attention to personal detail is both comforting and trustworthy.
So this morning, I'm asking myself, as I'm asking you: Are you willing to quit dragging your feet? Are you willing to lay down your favorite projects, ideas, and dreams and trust God to lead you to your next set of shoes?
Galatians 5:25 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
You see, at the top of these shoes, where there used to be a darling shade of chocolate brown, there are now two solid lines of white scuff. Time and wear have taken their toll on these shoes and these marks tell the story. Even though these shoes are looking pretty rough, it's hard for me to let them go. And here's why: It took time and wear to make these shoes mine. And now they're oh so comfortable. (I also happen to like the way they're styled. ) And even though the scuff marks now betray their cute factor, I still find myself going to them first, like "golden boy" on Seinfeld - Jerry's yellow sweatshirt that was always the first thing he wore when all of the laundry was washed.
A few weeks ago, when I put on these favorite shoes, I saw them for what they were: past their time. And it was a sobering picture to me of the way I approach other things I've outgrown in life. I began to think about the parallels between how dragging my feet had scored those timelines on my shoes and how dragging my feet in life was doing the same on my heart.
What is it when God asks us to move on that causes us to hold so tight to the present, or sometimes the past? I think my shoes can shed some light on this phenomenon.
1. We value comfortable. I don't want to get new shoes because these are so comfy. I like the way they've been primed to cushion my feet. And I have been willing to give up the new for the comfortable. How much more so am I doing that in life? Forsaking new for the sake of comfortable?
2. We avoid pain. Starting something new costs us. Getting a new pair of shoes will cost me money. It will cost me time in discovering what pair will next best suit me. It forces me to face my fear: What if I give my shoes up only to never find a pair I like as much? So, starting fresh costs me money, time, emotion, but there's more. Just like my shoes will cost me discomfort as I learn to walk in a new pair, so beginning new steps can be equally hard. No one likes the pinching, blistering or squeezing that new shoes sometimes cause. But there are times when we must press on anyways. Sometimes, what we find so uncomfortable in the beginning opens the door to a whole new pair of shoes, a whole new part of life, we would have never imagined we'd like so much.
3. We get stuck looking down. I love my little brown shoes. And though others may see a scuffed, boring pair of plain shoes, I see a darling little set that's perfectly suited to my personality. I love to admire their shape and their stitching because it makes me happy. You may laugh at that, but I promise you there are ways we all do this in our lives. There are pet things in our lives that we get stuck admiring, when the time to give them up has long passed. Just like I do with my shoes, we get busy looking down, admiring where we are or where we've been instead of where we're headed. You can't go very far with your head looking down. Sometimes, what was good for a season loses its value and its relevance for now, and it becomes time to pick our head and our feet up and move on.
So what do we do when we find ourselves stuck in a rut? We make a decision to go forward. We take time to treasure the comfort and beauty and enjoyment of a particular season or thing or experience. We thank God for it. And then, we lay it down. We trust that this life is just a passing through to the eternal life we were meant to live forever with Christ in heaven. And we realize that anything He asks us to lay down is of far lesser importance than the treasure of Christ Himself. We trust the God who had the creativity to even dream up shoes. We trust that His ability to design new and tailored shoes and seasons and assignments would blow our minds if we were able to see it from His point of view. His creativity is endless and His attention to personal detail is both comforting and trustworthy.
So this morning, I'm asking myself, as I'm asking you: Are you willing to quit dragging your feet? Are you willing to lay down your favorite projects, ideas, and dreams and trust God to lead you to your next set of shoes?
Galatians 5:25 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Monday, February 8, 2010
On Monday, as on Sunday
Ephesians 6:10 "...be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."
Ahh Monday. Perhaps one of the most hated days of the week, a far cry from the love and fanfare of Fridays. Dread and fatigue are usually the first to greet us on Monday mornings. Usually, long lists of duties and errands, which cry out for our attention seemingly simultaneously, follow closely behind. But there is another voice crying out when Monday rolls around. It is the voice of Jesus, our Savior.
He wants to show us that instead approaching the day with fear, disdain and resentment, we can face it with joy and with hope. God's mercies are new every morning. His love never fails, regardless of what the calendar says. This is the day that He has made, we can be glad and rejoice in it. He beckons us to come close and to see Monday from His perspective.
And we have a choice. We can choose to be a prisoner to the Monday monotony. We can opt to start the day lamenting over all that must be done, versus the little time to do it. Or we can look to Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because He remains faithful, we can approach the day with gratitude at His goodness. He is God on Monday, just as much as He is God on Sunday. Your lists and problems don't intimidate Him. Your emotions don't surprise Him. Your weakness doesn't weaken Him.
This Monday, why not take a different approach? Come to God with a sacrifice of Thanksgiving. Ask Him to help you see this day as a new dawn of opportunity. Dwell not on all that's yet to be done, but dwell instead on all God has already done. See how many times you can recall how faithful He's been in the past. Let it encourage you that He will again remain faithful in the future. Even on Mondays, we can take heart. We can find encouragement and hope to face the week, no matter what it may bring. God is God every day and I want to live like it! How about you?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Ahh Monday. Perhaps one of the most hated days of the week, a far cry from the love and fanfare of Fridays. Dread and fatigue are usually the first to greet us on Monday mornings. Usually, long lists of duties and errands, which cry out for our attention seemingly simultaneously, follow closely behind. But there is another voice crying out when Monday rolls around. It is the voice of Jesus, our Savior.
He wants to show us that instead approaching the day with fear, disdain and resentment, we can face it with joy and with hope. God's mercies are new every morning. His love never fails, regardless of what the calendar says. This is the day that He has made, we can be glad and rejoice in it. He beckons us to come close and to see Monday from His perspective.
And we have a choice. We can choose to be a prisoner to the Monday monotony. We can opt to start the day lamenting over all that must be done, versus the little time to do it. Or we can look to Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because He remains faithful, we can approach the day with gratitude at His goodness. He is God on Monday, just as much as He is God on Sunday. Your lists and problems don't intimidate Him. Your emotions don't surprise Him. Your weakness doesn't weaken Him.
This Monday, why not take a different approach? Come to God with a sacrifice of Thanksgiving. Ask Him to help you see this day as a new dawn of opportunity. Dwell not on all that's yet to be done, but dwell instead on all God has already done. See how many times you can recall how faithful He's been in the past. Let it encourage you that He will again remain faithful in the future. Even on Mondays, we can take heart. We can find encouragement and hope to face the week, no matter what it may bring. God is God every day and I want to live like it! How about you?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Come, Rest
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
Are you tired this morning? Do you long for the relief of rest? Have you awakened today from sleep only to find it was not enough to satisfy? Does your soul strive to just be at peace?
Jesus is offering you rest. He longs for you to come to Him and to abide in the peace He alone can give. Let the majesty of His presence cause the chaos of your circumstance to diminish to the background. Let the goodness of His love bring comfort to your pain. Allow His grace to cover all of your efforts and striving.
Just Be Still.
And Know He is God.
He is good.
He is enough.
He is rest.
When Jesus came and died in our place, and rose to life again to conquer death, hell and the grave, He bought a way for us to find rest. His rest blankets to the bone, from the height of emotion to the depth of the soul. For every circumstance and every situation, He is enough.
All of our efforts to please God, to measure up, to "keep the law", to be good enough were crucified with Christ on that cross. He bought a way for our souls to find peace forever. If we belong to Christ, sin can't steal it. Death can't. Time can't. Riches or lack of riches cannot. Jobs or joblessness, family or no family, dreams broken or realized, hurtful words or haunting words. These all stand powerless to overtake the rest Christ bought for us with His own blood.
Child of God, your life is paid for. Your sin is paid for. Your righteousness has already been made whole. Your God is enough. Come, Rest. Abide in Your Savior's presence and find the strength you need afresh today. Let Him lead. Let Him carry the burdens of your day. You will find that even when life lodges the heaviest of loads, Christ shoulders them with you, covers you in His yoke and leads you in His abiding love, grace and peace. His arm is never short. His grace is always enough.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message Paraphrase)
Are you tired this morning? Do you long for the relief of rest? Have you awakened today from sleep only to find it was not enough to satisfy? Does your soul strive to just be at peace?
Jesus is offering you rest. He longs for you to come to Him and to abide in the peace He alone can give. Let the majesty of His presence cause the chaos of your circumstance to diminish to the background. Let the goodness of His love bring comfort to your pain. Allow His grace to cover all of your efforts and striving.
Just Be Still.
And Know He is God.
He is good.
He is enough.
He is rest.
When Jesus came and died in our place, and rose to life again to conquer death, hell and the grave, He bought a way for us to find rest. His rest blankets to the bone, from the height of emotion to the depth of the soul. For every circumstance and every situation, He is enough.
All of our efforts to please God, to measure up, to "keep the law", to be good enough were crucified with Christ on that cross. He bought a way for our souls to find peace forever. If we belong to Christ, sin can't steal it. Death can't. Time can't. Riches or lack of riches cannot. Jobs or joblessness, family or no family, dreams broken or realized, hurtful words or haunting words. These all stand powerless to overtake the rest Christ bought for us with His own blood.
Child of God, your life is paid for. Your sin is paid for. Your righteousness has already been made whole. Your God is enough. Come, Rest. Abide in Your Savior's presence and find the strength you need afresh today. Let Him lead. Let Him carry the burdens of your day. You will find that even when life lodges the heaviest of loads, Christ shoulders them with you, covers you in His yoke and leads you in His abiding love, grace and peace. His arm is never short. His grace is always enough.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message Paraphrase)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
He knows
"He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him." Daniel 2:22
I don't know where you're at this morning. Maybe you woke up eager to face the day, invigorated by the challenges and adventures ahead. Maybe not. Maybe you woke up with that dark fog over your head and your eyes. Maybe this morning, as Bill Hybels once put it, you're flipping coins - tossing back and forth over whether to just quit. Perhaps the struggle to continue, to keep pursuing, to keep pushing back that addiction, to keep investing in that relationship, to keep doing the right thing with no reward, seems like swinging in the dark.
If so, let this verse be an encouragement to you today. God reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in darkness. And light dwells with Him. Light always overtakes darkness. Whatever your hurts or struggles today, I am praying that God will reveal the deep and hidden things behind them. I pray that He would fill you with courage and belief and inspiration to put one foot in front of the other for one more day. I pray He would give you specific insight and revelation into what ails your soul. And I pray you would find encouragement to know that all of that seed you think you're simply planting in the dark does not go unnoticed. Your Heavenly Father sees. He knows the time and money, the heart and soul, the physical and emotional investments you are making, and those you have already made, to seek His kingdom first.
As you allow Him today to continue to unfold the mystery of His grace in your heart, think about what this scripture says. And look at Daniel 2:27 too: "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." God knows the dreams and longings, the fears and failures. He knows what lies hidden beneath dark layers. More than any mere man, friend, or professional, He knows.
Why not take a moment now to just sit at His feet, to let Him show you His perspective on your hurts and habits and hangups, on your unrealized dreams, your wavering faith, your struggles with unbelief. Ask Him to do what only He can do, to reveal the mysteries, the dreams, the hopes of your life, to expose, to heal, to renew. May Christ renew your mind and your hope this morning by the washing of His Word. There is no darkness He cannot overtake, for dark is light to Him.
Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
I don't know where you're at this morning. Maybe you woke up eager to face the day, invigorated by the challenges and adventures ahead. Maybe not. Maybe you woke up with that dark fog over your head and your eyes. Maybe this morning, as Bill Hybels once put it, you're flipping coins - tossing back and forth over whether to just quit. Perhaps the struggle to continue, to keep pursuing, to keep pushing back that addiction, to keep investing in that relationship, to keep doing the right thing with no reward, seems like swinging in the dark.
If so, let this verse be an encouragement to you today. God reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in darkness. And light dwells with Him. Light always overtakes darkness. Whatever your hurts or struggles today, I am praying that God will reveal the deep and hidden things behind them. I pray that He would fill you with courage and belief and inspiration to put one foot in front of the other for one more day. I pray He would give you specific insight and revelation into what ails your soul. And I pray you would find encouragement to know that all of that seed you think you're simply planting in the dark does not go unnoticed. Your Heavenly Father sees. He knows the time and money, the heart and soul, the physical and emotional investments you are making, and those you have already made, to seek His kingdom first.
As you allow Him today to continue to unfold the mystery of His grace in your heart, think about what this scripture says. And look at Daniel 2:27 too: "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." God knows the dreams and longings, the fears and failures. He knows what lies hidden beneath dark layers. More than any mere man, friend, or professional, He knows.
Why not take a moment now to just sit at His feet, to let Him show you His perspective on your hurts and habits and hangups, on your unrealized dreams, your wavering faith, your struggles with unbelief. Ask Him to do what only He can do, to reveal the mysteries, the dreams, the hopes of your life, to expose, to heal, to renew. May Christ renew your mind and your hope this morning by the washing of His Word. There is no darkness He cannot overtake, for dark is light to Him.
Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Backwards If
"If is a big word." That was one of my Moms favorites to me growing up, and turns out she was right.
If is a concept with which we must all wrestle along the way, most especially when walking out our dreams. What if I'm not funny enough, clever enough or savvy enough? What if no one reads, supports, likes, agrees, etc.? What if I fail? What if I make a good start and never finish? What if it becomes plainly clear to those watching me step out that I don't have what it takes? Yes, "if" is both exhausting and inexhaustible. And it's often that way simply because we're using the backwards if.
What would happen if we re-framed our "ifs" to start from a totally different place?
Look at Galatians 1:10: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
That perspective changes everything.
Dreams mean nothing when all of our ifs start with man or self. They mean everything when we start with Christ. It doesn't matter if people find us witty or smart or clever. It doesn't matter what our follower count is, on our blogs, in our churches, around the office, or at school. It matters Who we follow. Are we trusting? Are we trusting with more than our bobbing heads and flapping jaws? Are we obeying? Are we more concerned with what God thinks about what we're doing than what our other "audiences" think?
Look at the book of Daniel. Look at the book of Genesis, the life of Joseph. Look at your life and mine. God gives the dream AND He gives the interpretation. We often get that confused. We think we are responsible for both or either, when we're really responsible for neither. It's not the dreams we muster, the plans and grand visions we map and plan out with detailed vigor. Instead, it's the way we respond in trust and in obedience to God's dreams and plans for our lives.
The truth is, no matter the "if", God is bigger. So, press on. Even when your efforts aren't perfect. Even when no one stands up to say "atta boy." Even when dollars and high fives run dry. Keep doing the thing in front of you, because of the faithfulness of the One Who's asked You to do it.
For me right now, my ifs have a lot to do with myself. I know I'm great at starting things, and not so great at finishing. But you know what? The Bible says that God is the Author and the Finisher of our faith! See, no matter the "if", God's bigger.
What are your "ifs" right now? How can I be praying with you for a shift in perspective to see that no matter the "if", God is bigger?
If is a concept with which we must all wrestle along the way, most especially when walking out our dreams. What if I'm not funny enough, clever enough or savvy enough? What if no one reads, supports, likes, agrees, etc.? What if I fail? What if I make a good start and never finish? What if it becomes plainly clear to those watching me step out that I don't have what it takes? Yes, "if" is both exhausting and inexhaustible. And it's often that way simply because we're using the backwards if.
What would happen if we re-framed our "ifs" to start from a totally different place?
Look at Galatians 1:10: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
That perspective changes everything.
Dreams mean nothing when all of our ifs start with man or self. They mean everything when we start with Christ. It doesn't matter if people find us witty or smart or clever. It doesn't matter what our follower count is, on our blogs, in our churches, around the office, or at school. It matters Who we follow. Are we trusting? Are we trusting with more than our bobbing heads and flapping jaws? Are we obeying? Are we more concerned with what God thinks about what we're doing than what our other "audiences" think?
Look at the book of Daniel. Look at the book of Genesis, the life of Joseph. Look at your life and mine. God gives the dream AND He gives the interpretation. We often get that confused. We think we are responsible for both or either, when we're really responsible for neither. It's not the dreams we muster, the plans and grand visions we map and plan out with detailed vigor. Instead, it's the way we respond in trust and in obedience to God's dreams and plans for our lives.
The truth is, no matter the "if", God is bigger. So, press on. Even when your efforts aren't perfect. Even when no one stands up to say "atta boy." Even when dollars and high fives run dry. Keep doing the thing in front of you, because of the faithfulness of the One Who's asked You to do it.
For me right now, my ifs have a lot to do with myself. I know I'm great at starting things, and not so great at finishing. But you know what? The Bible says that God is the Author and the Finisher of our faith! See, no matter the "if", God's bigger.
What are your "ifs" right now? How can I be praying with you for a shift in perspective to see that no matter the "if", God is bigger?
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