I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God. I am in awe of His magnitude and infinite wisdom....today I had a day off! Praise God!!! God knew what He was doing when He set in order the Sabbath. Wow how I need those days....and not just a half day but a whole Sabbath. I slept in until noon today....amazing. Haven't slept much in awhile because of all that has been going on with work, family and personal items that have needed attention. After waking up I spent the day cleaning up my room - a much needed and past-due thing, ran to a sports store with my younger awesome broski, and then filled the rest of the time with listening to podcasts and reading as I drank in the wisdom of those who had gone before me in this life of living a faith-filled walk with God. Those who haven't lived life perfectly but have lived life for the One who is perfect.
These are the times I treasure. The times when I can be still before God. Being still before God is highly under-rated by the way.
I keep thinking about how Jesus never wasted anything. Even when He fed all those people with the loaves and fish, He made sure to have the disciples pick up the left-overs. That is what I have been thinking about with my time. How am I using my time to its fullest potential? What are the things I am desiring to learn and grow in? In my extra time I have been trying to be purposeful in what I read and listen to. Especially with all that has been stirring in my heart lately for God and the future.
Today I was thinking about how I need to make sure that what I am listening to and reading is feeding into my faith, my understanding and relationship with God, where I see myself going and building myself up in the Lord for those things. A warrior does not prepare for battle by just doing anything...he is purposeful in his training and very disciplined. This is the way I want to be. I have asked for the vision. I have written it down. Now I need to prepare as I wait before the Lord. If a farmer does not prepare his fields, when the rain comes to water the seed for growth, there will be no harvest later on. I have been convicted that if I am asking God to do great things with my life according to Eph 3:20, I need to be sure I am putting in the time, discipline and effort to prepare for the days ahead.
What ever you long for - you will make time for. What you treasure - you will make priority.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Just Believe
John 11:40 "Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me you would see the glory of God?'"
rely: to depend confidently
believe: have no doubt
This scripture has shaken my world and changed my life. How much do I limit God because I don not believe or "know how it would be possible". How often have I missed the glory of God in a situation because I limited Him to my understanding? That question puts a holy fear on me because I know it not only effects me but others. My heart's cry has been that I would never limit Him but that He would break any "box" or mindset I have put Him in. I want to be used mightily in this earth like many others...but it is not simply a desire that will see God's glory come to this earth.
It is making an intentional decision to believe God. Believe Him when He speaks to you and you think "How in the world could I ever...." or "that is so much bigger than me God...", "I don't understand how..."
How often I have felt this...honestly the past week or two I have been thinking so much about different things He has called me to, desires I have to see His Kingdom come to earth and in the natural there are huge obstacles. In my own strength and ability these things would never happen.
In the last year I have been challenged to believe God at His word like never before in my life. Staking everything on what He spoke to me in the quiet place when it was just the two of us. Not a word that came from a Pastor or Prophet, but from God directly to me in prayer. Taking huge risks based on that prayer time. It kept me on my knees spending copious amounts of time before Him.
Many did not understand my decisions and things God had spoken to me. (I didn't tell many because sometimes you need to guard what is spoken to you in the secret place. Know when and when not to speak.) That is when the rubber really hit the road. Was I going to believe God, or listen to man. Don't misunderstand, I received godly counsel to encourage and stand by me in prayer and to bring correction when necessary. But I had to be willing to step out of my safe and comfortable place to experience and know the greater things of God. One of the greatest lessons I learned was to follow the peace of God and His leading despite outward circumstances, feelings and words spoken by others.
This last year has radically changed my life. God knew what He was doing and even when I questioned if I had heard Him, He was faithful. My life will never be the same because of the decision to just believe.
There are still areas I am learning to just believe Him in, in my life. He is so faithful to guide and lead, but we must make the decision when we hear His voice. Will we believe and follow? Making whatever sacrifice that holy calling challenges us to make? Dying to our own will and comforts to see the Kingdom of Heaven come in others' lives??
It is worth it. Believe me.
This life was never meant to be about our comfort, but to enjoy a relationship with our Creator. Because of the fall of man, we have been commissioned with a holy calling to be set-apart unto our King...so that the hurt, lost, and dying would know Him.
If your dreams are bigger than you, good. That is how it should be, because than you will need Him to see it all come to pass and the world will be changed for His glory.
"Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me you would see the glory of God?"
I'm desperate for the glory of God so the world may know.
rely: to depend confidently
believe: have no doubt
This scripture has shaken my world and changed my life. How much do I limit God because I don not believe or "know how it would be possible". How often have I missed the glory of God in a situation because I limited Him to my understanding? That question puts a holy fear on me because I know it not only effects me but others. My heart's cry has been that I would never limit Him but that He would break any "box" or mindset I have put Him in. I want to be used mightily in this earth like many others...but it is not simply a desire that will see God's glory come to this earth.
It is making an intentional decision to believe God. Believe Him when He speaks to you and you think "How in the world could I ever...." or "that is so much bigger than me God...", "I don't understand how..."
How often I have felt this...honestly the past week or two I have been thinking so much about different things He has called me to, desires I have to see His Kingdom come to earth and in the natural there are huge obstacles. In my own strength and ability these things would never happen.
In the last year I have been challenged to believe God at His word like never before in my life. Staking everything on what He spoke to me in the quiet place when it was just the two of us. Not a word that came from a Pastor or Prophet, but from God directly to me in prayer. Taking huge risks based on that prayer time. It kept me on my knees spending copious amounts of time before Him.
Many did not understand my decisions and things God had spoken to me. (I didn't tell many because sometimes you need to guard what is spoken to you in the secret place. Know when and when not to speak.) That is when the rubber really hit the road. Was I going to believe God, or listen to man. Don't misunderstand, I received godly counsel to encourage and stand by me in prayer and to bring correction when necessary. But I had to be willing to step out of my safe and comfortable place to experience and know the greater things of God. One of the greatest lessons I learned was to follow the peace of God and His leading despite outward circumstances, feelings and words spoken by others.
This last year has radically changed my life. God knew what He was doing and even when I questioned if I had heard Him, He was faithful. My life will never be the same because of the decision to just believe.
There are still areas I am learning to just believe Him in, in my life. He is so faithful to guide and lead, but we must make the decision when we hear His voice. Will we believe and follow? Making whatever sacrifice that holy calling challenges us to make? Dying to our own will and comforts to see the Kingdom of Heaven come in others' lives??
It is worth it. Believe me.
This life was never meant to be about our comfort, but to enjoy a relationship with our Creator. Because of the fall of man, we have been commissioned with a holy calling to be set-apart unto our King...so that the hurt, lost, and dying would know Him.
If your dreams are bigger than you, good. That is how it should be, because than you will need Him to see it all come to pass and the world will be changed for His glory.
"Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me you would see the glory of God?"
I'm desperate for the glory of God so the world may know.
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