I’m Not the One You’re Looking For

I can’t be the leader you’re seeking. I’m a grown man, coming up on 20 years of following Jesus. Yet still, I struggle with lust, fear, greed, and doubt. To name a few. Still every time my face is in the dirt I see Jesus right there with a towel. “Come on you’re more than this. Watch this dirt wash away, but you have to get up. Keep walking. My promises are true. My plans surpass your understanding, stop trying to figure it out. Stop trying to be something in a world that fades. Be who I’ve called you to be in my kingdom. Let her go, let the things go, let it all go. Hold fast to me. I control the unseen forces of nature. Who can stop the wind? Who can bring low the tide? Who can keep the earth from shaking? What is keeping you from who I’ve called you to be? My greatest forces are unseen, you bet I can call you from obscurity. You have yet to imagine the deeds I have planned for you to do. But you have to walk in them. Its never to late, my call never goes out of date. You’re not called to tasks to be done but to be the person you were created to be. Dream it up and go after it. What would you do with endless resources? How will you impact the kingdom with the identity I have given you? My promises don’t expire, they are only fulfilled. Stop rejecting them to hold on to what you think is good. The time is and will only ever be now. This truth I tell you, you neither be a giver or a receiver with your hands in your pockets. Open your arms to the need and I’ll open the heavens to yours.”

Ephesians 2:8-10, Proverbs 16:1-9, John 13:1-17

How often do we have this conversation? “What me God???” And his response is a simple “yeah I believe in you”. Come on now fellow believer you have what it takes. You’re strong and powerful. You’ve yet to realize what’s in you. Heaven come to pour out the power of your presence on us. We can’t without you. Our dreams are a lost cause without the presence of God. Then WHY do we neglect it? For Netflix? I little “freedom” to do what flesh wants? Frankly, I can’t take it anymore. There’s so much more that has yet to be tapped. Can we put aside the temporary for the eternal? Come on mighty warriors the harvest is out there, let’s go fight for it. (in the least striving way possible)

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Mirrors

Today is hard. I sit in the middle of the shop by myself writing this. Frankly, I have many days like today. As I’m sure many others do too. From the outside, and to many degrees from the inside, life is going well. But so often we can let what’s going on today get you down hard. That desire you’ve been asking God for, but He’s teaching you to wait. The expectation you had for the day up in smoke. Maybe your normal has been shaken up. Or today you just feel alone like me in the shop. Whatever it may be, today is hard. It’s days like these when temptation is strongest. “You know coming to me will make you feel better…” your shame will tell you. Most would say that shame comes from sin, but it’s only shame that would suggest it. It’s what you look into that will give you an answer. Like a mirror. You go look at it to reflect back what you can’t see. On hard days you look into the mirror to see what’s going on. The mirror of shame looks back at you saying “You’ll always look this way and you’ll never change. You may as well go to whatever you’ve done in the past, it’ll feel good this time.” But the mirror of Grace says “Look at me, reflect what you see in me not what you see in yourself.” Grace knows today is hard but there’s hope for tomorrow, even for the next hour. Shame knows today is hard but wants you to think yesterday was easier. The only difference between yesterday and today is perspective. Yesterday you didn’t know today would be this way. Maybe you thought yesterday was hard. But Grace got you through it, or maybe you failed entirely. Shame will highlight that it was easier to sin yesterday, it’ll feel good today. But Grace knows sinning today will only make tomorrow harder. Resist the enemy and he will flee(Matt. 5:39). If you keep looking into the mirror of shame you’re only making room for the enemy to linger. Put it down, drop it, destroy it, leave no more room for shame in your life. Put a big ole fat mirror of Grace in your every moment.

“Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:19‬ ‭MSG‬‬

What is it that reflects upon your face, Grace or shame? Even in your hardest day, you have to go to Grace. If it was the darkest night of your life, Grace still only reflects who you are and not how dark your night was. Keep Him in the middle. “This is my day and this is my Grace.” That’s what we need to be saying. He alone allows me to even breath. Even in the midst of hard days, if I’m breathing Grace is with me. And He knows just how tough your day is. I warn you not to put on the pseudo joy of grinning your way through. That will only lead to bitterness, both for you and those that experience your mask. Find real Joy and place it before you. The only way through in to truly experience Grace.

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:15-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬

We go through exactly what Christ goes through? So if today is hard, Christ is right there too. The key is going through it with Him. Not just going through and seeing Him on the other side. The promise is not a good or easy time, but Christ with you through it all. What use would a good time be without Christ? Better to have one bad day with Christ, than a thousand good ones without Him. God is reigning you in until you are completely ready for the release of the glorious times. Let it be joyful anticipation that builds in you and not resentment.

“….Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I’m the only one left and now they’re after me! And do you remember God’s answer? I still have seven thousand who haven’t quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It’s the same today. There’s a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They’re holding on, not because of what they think they’re going to get out of it, but because they’re convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they’re there to this day. David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:2-10‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Your loyalty to God cannot be based on what He can get you out of, but the purpose He has put in you. Your awareness of His purpose in you will be the key to getting through today. If your loyalty is based on what He can get you out of, you will become loyal to getting out. Who or what you’re comfortable with, you’re loyal to. Therefore what you go to for comfort will determine your loyalty. Is escaping reality what you’re loyal to? Whether that’s a substance, porn or unhealthy relationships. We can’t say “God get me out of this day.” We have to go through it good or bad. The challenge is to dive into reality and take it head-on. That doesn’t mean we can’t ask for help through it. This is where healthy relationships come in. How often we think we’re alone? If only we would look around. Beyond our problem to its purpose. What is it teaching? Many times I lay my problem down to engage with someone, only to find that encounter held the answer I was looking for.  Another perspective on my situation. A good friend will tell you who you are and that you’ve got what it takes. Maybe not in so many words, but God will use them to bring context and truth. If we will be open and not self-consumed. When we search for the solution to our problem out of our own self-interest we get into a hall of mirrors. Looking back at each other only reflecting the problem back on us. Where all you see is the problem and not who you’ve been called to be. The mirror of Grace says “Look into me and become like me.”

“Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:25-28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Are you convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing you? Do you see the attention He is giving you today? Pruning and cutting back the lies that you’re believing. Yes, today is hard, but not without reason. Maybe today God is teaching you through your pain. Let there be more purpose than just a hard day. He is loyal to those He calls His own. He is tender to your pain but fierce toward the lies you believe. Look into Grace and remember who you are (James 1:23). Lean on Grace today, because tomorrow is coming.

Change my Mind

Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

I remember when this passage came to life for me. I typed it up and printed it so I could pin it to my ceiling. Every morning I would look up and see the words. I’ve since committed it to memory, and I am constantly reminded to apply it to my life. I often pray a simple prayer “Lord, change the way I think.” He has been faithful to make those changes, as I much as I submit to Him. I often times get frustrated because I still think certain way, and I wonder will I ever change. It is then that Jesus subtly reminds me of how much of my mind He has changed. I used to hate people for various reasons and now I don’t let my anger or frustration lead to hate. Instead asking how can extend love, how can I allow Holy Spirit to work through me? Unbeknownst to me the Father has been teaching me how to repent. A skill I misunderstood and many others may as well. A prayer I only began a short while ago is “Lord, help me repent.” The trouble was I would pray that after I would sin. To which the Lord would say “Okay I’ll help you.” then He would just let me go on my way. I never understood His silence after that until now. Repenting is not a post sin act, but a sin preventing act. It is stopping in your temptation and reconciling your thoughts. If I go down the path of sin I am denying my identity, but if I go down the path of life I am accepting my identity. Repentance is the self reminding of how you think as a child of God. For if I am a child of God I behave as such, therefore if I behave like the world I am identifying with the world. Repentance is proactive, it tears down lies and builds up truth in you mind.

When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are decedents of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7-9

It is not enough to simple say I’m a child of God and not change your behavior. To blatantly continue in sin and proclaim I'm a christian is hypocritical. This is not about your security as a child, your inheritance has been set aside beyond the reach of decay. This is about your authority as a child. A repentant heart has power over sin. It's not simply not thinking about sin, but replacing those thoughts with truth. I am a child of God, therefore sinful behavior is unbecoming of me. And as a child of God I respond to the urge to sin by turning from it. The lie may be someone is purposely is against you. The temptation is to hate the person. The truth is that person’s behavior towards you has a myriad of reasons and they deserve your understanding. The response is to love the person without conditions. Repentance is choosing to see through the lens of truth. Viewing both yourself and others in that light. Seeing where you need to change and where others need your understanding. Jesus didn’t die on the cross just for my past sin, but also that which I have not committed. Thus a repentant heart does not simply look at its past and say “That’s bad I shouldn’t have done that.”, but looks into the future to choose which person to be. The child of God or the child of the world. Which will you choose?

Rest in the Storm

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” 

 Luke 8:22-25

How often is it when we step in the direction we feel to be God and a storm immediately follows? More often than not it seems. But are these storms unavoidable or are they self-made? In either case, the storms have a tendency to wash away our expectation of what we thought the journey would be. We start off and see the possibility of a storm in the distance, but Jesus is still in the boat so we’re not concerned. Then the waves begin to lap over the edge some as Jesus lays down to sleep. “Uh Jesus…?” we say, but He starts to doze off. At this point begin to get concerned. My bank account says this, my work has layoffs coming, or this relationship is harder than I thought. The storm begins to rock the boat more than we like. “Jesus I have bills” and all we hear are Zs. “Jesus, can’t you see my storm?” more Zs. At this point, we’ve forgotten what Jesus said at the beginning, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” He didn’t say, “Let’s go to the middle and drown.” There is a promise of seeing this through to the other shore. The new job, the promotion, or restoration of relationship. He not just sleeping in your storm, He’s resting in the promise. You’re going to make it the other side. But we are so easily get consumed by the storm. What is it that consumes you? Things of this world, sin, doubt, lack of direction. The things of this world pass away, sin has no power over you, doubt is essential for faith, and Jesus is the way. When we realize that we are being consumed and we are in real danger, our cry for help is what wakes Him. He can immediately bring peace to the storm because he came from a place of rest. Authority comes from a place of rest. Until we can find rest in the storm we won’t have authority over the storm. How do we find rest in the storm? Trust in the one who made the promise, submit to His peace. Not every storm is avoidable, but you can find rest in every storm. If the waves listen to Him surely your circumstance will too.

Thoughts on Influence

The capacity to have an effect on, to shape change.

Take an inventory of the impact you may have made in the past year. Who has entered your life in the past nine months, three weeks, or 72 hours? How have you touched their life? Even if only for a moment, it may be all the time you have with them. In Acts 19 Paul so happened to find several believers. Not by chance, but by appointment that needed to be introduced to the Holy Spirit. Paul didn’t necessarily know they were believers when they met. How should I bring up what God might want to speak to that person, you might ask. I’m pretty sure Paul’s opening line wasn’t “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?” It more likely was “Hello, I’m Paul. Know good coffee shop?” He started a simple conversation that led to their discussion. Also, he didn’t wait to establish a history with them. Start simple conversations, they could lead to divine encounters. If you’re not investing into those in front of you, you’re not influencing anyone. No matter how persuasive you might be. Your friend from high school might simply reject your messages on Facebook. That’s okay, we’re not the ones to make them listen. Your influence might not reach all people. I wouldn’t get an aneurysm over those that aren’t influenced by you. There are two dangerous thoughts you might assume here. If they won’t listen to me, they won’t listen to anyone. The other is that God cannot use another person to influence them. Both thoughts are birthed from pride. Paul came against that pride in this passage, by simply moving his focus. Better to influence those you can, rather than be influenced by those you cannot. Your messages should not be based on who can I get to listen, but what truth am I supposed to be sharing? In today’s world, one might think that influence in measured by your following. Paul’s influence was not measured by a number of people that accepted him. True influence comes from the Lord. Influence is something that is given and cannot be earned. Your measure of influence is determined by the measure you share it. If your influence is measured by likes, then what you give is based on what people want rather than what they need. Influence comes when you have what people need. Someone needs what you have to offer. Don’t limit your influence by your amount of followers. The world measures influence by who you know and how many you know. But it’s not as simple as that. It turns out in this instance, in Acts 19, that their adversary knew who they knew. Walking in knowledge is very different than walking in authority. Believing in your knowledge does not hold the same power of believing in your authority. Jesus was tempted with influence and submitted to authority. Therefore influence should not be measured by volume, but by quality. You may have a million followers, yet are they being positively influenced. You will always be reflected by those that look up to you. What can you change in your life that will positively impact those influenced by you? First and foremost it should be the Holy Spirit that has the greatest influence in your life. In the Tree of Life Version, it says Paul resolved in the Spirit. This means that he had several options set before him, and he was able in partnership with the Holy Spirit to determine which one was from the Lord. Allowing that thought to take precedence and determine the next steps. When we become familiar with His voice we can learn how to direct our thought patterns. It also says that Paul gave direction to his assistants. They submitted to a Spirit-led leader in their life. We also need spirit filled leaders in our lives to help give us direction. Not so our life can be dictated by them, but to learn how we to can submit ourselves to the Spirit. Those we allow to influence us is who we become like. Now not all of our influences will be a leader directly over us. But they should still have a thriving relationship with the Spirit. There are a few instances of influence being used at the end of Acts 19. That of Artemis in a negative way, that which convinced Paul to keep his distance, and that of the mayor to the people. Each case affected the well-being of others. Influence is important because it can guide people in the right direction. Unfortunately, it can easily be used negatively and cause harm to those under it. Therefore we should always be aware of who is listening. When you speak you’re releasing either life or death. No matter how much you think you influence what you have to say matters. Invest in how you think, because how you think affects what you say, and what you say impacts what’s around you. You’re an influencer whether you believe it or not. I urge you to use it well no matter how many you influence.

Daddy Is Strong Enough

I was on the plane from Naples, Italy to Athens, Greece. I had the pleasure to sit next to a couple and their daughter who was about two years old. In the few minutes around take off she was a bit fussy. Her parents tried many things to calm her down. Soft words, toys, and whatever else they could think of. Finally, her dad said the, “I’m going wrestle you down (for the sake of her safety) and I don’t mind doing it because I am significantly stronger than you.” Thank you, Holy Spirit. This is what Daddy says to you, “I don’t mind loving you even if it is wrestling you because I am significantly stronger than you.” Papa doesn’t steer away from Love even at its hardest. Keeping you from what you want, to protect you from what is best for you. You may want to wander about the cabin, but when turbulence comes He knows you need to be in His lap.

 

I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. Hosea 11:4 NLT

 

You might look back on your year with frustration. Have you gotten all that you desired out of the year? Maybe you got more turbulence than you expected. Though when you look back, you can’t help but see His faithfulness. What He has kept you from or brought you through, has it not been for your good? You have been lead by the ropes of His kindness and love. Even when it felt like you were being held back for no reason. We too often mistake His kindness for suffering. When we are being wrestled into the place where He wants us, rather than where we want to be. You can’t have it because He loves you too much. Either you’re not ready for it or it is not ready for you. This is why God requires faithfulness in little things before there is trust in greater things. Little things are made great through faithfulness. When something is placed in your hand it always feels small, because it fits in your hand. We mistakenly drop what is in our hands to go after the greater things, but miss the greatness already in our hands. Complaining about what is placed before you will keep you from seeing God’s faithfulness through it. He works everything out for the good of those called according to His purpose. (paraphrase Romans 8:28) We must not forget if we are walking according to His purpose for our lives. What is happening to us is good. His plans are for good. Whether it is to teach you something new or to help you align your desires with His. What happens to you is good, no matter how bad the world says it is. Yes, it sucks to go through, but the results are what matters. What He is doing in you is to draw you closer to Him. Closeness to God is the greatest good there is. Paul was made blind that he may see, the persecutor became that which he persecuted. Your perceived hindrance just may be your deliverance.

 

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 NLT

 

What you are going through or have gone through, is not painful for the sake of knowing pain alone. It is so God might be glorified in your restoration. To help you find where your support comes from. Ultimately it is from the Lord, but practically it is from the community. Those that stick with you through pain, will be the most cherished in the celebration. It is to strengthen you. Faithfulness in the small things is a principle for what you desire and the trail. Remember the next trail may be more difficult, but our God never changes. Neither does His faithfulness. Lean on Him now in this trail, and do the same in the next. When you lean on the faithfulness of God, He places you on a firm foundation. One that cannot be shaken. Suffer for this little while, and share in His eternal glory. Being with Jesus is what makes suffering worth while, it is not suffering that makes being with Jesus worth while. Suffering sucks, let it be what it is. But go through it with the hope of being with Jesus as your anchor. Suffering is not to glorify one’s self. It is to bring greater dependence on the sovereignty of Christ. Knowing that the majesty of being present with Christ will far outweigh your present suffering. You will stay in your suffering so long as you see it as greater than the sovereignty of God. When the glory of God becomes greater than your pain, you will have been faithful in much. Turbulence alway seems more dangerous to those that haven’t experienced it. Daddy is strong enough to get through any storm. Don’t wait for Him to wrestle you into His lap, rest there for the entire journey.

OMG I Need Direction

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses. Numbers 9:15-23 NLT

As we come into the new year it may seem as though everyone around us has such clarity of what this next year will look like. While you’re in a fog. The new year always brings some sense of hope, even to the most hopeless. A chance to start fresh. A resolve to make things right this time around. While at the same there can be a sense of uncertainty. But uncertainty does not have to be hopeless. We are able to go into the unknown without fear. Maybe you haven’t set your goals for the year or made a list of resolutions. Perhaps you’re at a crossroads, and you’ve been there a while. This entire season may be the culmination of your frustrations; waiting on a word from God to move one way or the other. He’s been telling you many other wonderful things…accept the direction you need to go. In this season the work in you is of greater importance than the work through you. If He hasn’t told you to move, maybe He wants you to dwell. The children of Israel did not move until first, the cloud moved. And when the cloud stayed, they continued their work or duty. Continue to be faithful in the work He has put in your hands. His silence is not His disappointment. He has not moved you into your desire because He is restructuring your desire. Your waiting on Him is an act of obedience. It says that you don’t want to be in a place that He is not. In this time are you waiting well; are you settling deep into His presence? Even though you want it to be a transition, are you allowing it to be a transformation? Until the fog lifts stay. Resolve to allow Him to change the way you think. Become the person He wants to move into great things. Be before you do.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

Landing

I hate landing. Not because I feel in danger. Flying for me is a peaceful endeavor. I don’t have to worry about a thing when I fly. Whether or not I’m late it’s not in my hands. Plus they bring me ginger ale, unless of course you’re on an economy airline. Either way I know the flight will take off even if it is delayed, stay in the air and land. It is exactly the same every time. Some landings are more rough than others, but that is not why I dislike landing. Landing means coming to the end of this period of certainty. I have to step off the plane and into immediate responsibility. Going through customs, finding my bag, then further transportation. Suddenly I am responsible again. I wrote this poem on one of my flights.

Above the clouds there’s new terrain
Above the gloom and pouring rain
Here above it can I stay
No more sorrow and no pain
These powdered pellets begin to fade
As mountains rise into their place
Above the clouds I cannot stay
Into the grey I must engage
With the light I’ve come to know
Darkened skies will illuminate
As brokenness fades away

I hesitate to call it selfishness to get away from it all. After all we are commanded to sabbath, and God desires we seek refuge in Him. Where the selfishness might come in is our heart behind the matter. Are we getting away to hide from our problems or for rest to take on the daily once again. Personally it is hard for me to step away from my problems, I want to fix them so I can stop thinking about them. But I have had to learn to step back, relinquish control and rest. Take the time to allow God to recalibrate me and give me new ideas. The deadline will always be there, whether you rest or not it doesn’t move. It doesn’t make sense in the natural, but I always accomplish more in six days than I could in seven. The trouble comes in using the need to rest as an excuse to ignore responsibility. You have to go back to work. I remember when it shifted for me. I was working week after week longing for the weekend. Then it hit me, I can’t commit my work to the weekend. The weekend ends just like the week. I’ll never be satisfied with the weekend. Instead of working all week in hope of the weekend, what if we spent our weekend in such a way the we look forward to Monday? It never fails to come around, why not go into it joyfully?

I began my summer incredibly hopeful. I was coming in for a landing from a time of rest, yet I was naive enough to think it would go smoothly. Then I began to go through customs, what is your purpose in entering this territory?parenthetical I thought I’d get the girl, business would boom and life would be dandy. Nope, not at all. He stamped my passport, but the territory still needed to be fought for. More so in my heart than in any area of influence. You see, we are the customs agent in our heart. And it is still sometimes a long process for a citizen to enter their own country. But we keep giving visas to lies from the enemy. I began to ask why I was having such a hard time entering my own territory. I was reminded of this.

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the tongue’s answer is from Adonai. All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Adonai weighs the motives. Commit whatever you do to Adonai, and your plans will succeed. Adonai works everything out for his own purpose even the wicked for a day of disaster. Adonai abhors all the proud in heart. Be assured, they will not go unpunished. By mercy and truth is iniquity atoned, and by the fear of Adonai one avoids evil. When one’s ways are pleasing to Adonai, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him. Better a little with righteousness than much income without justice. The heart of man plans his course, but Adonai directs his steps. Proverbs 16:1-9 TLV

The New Living Translation says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” To often we commit our plans to the Lord, and expect Him to work in our life. I had to repent, I wanted my plans established right then. I had pride in my heart. My plan was flawed, but I couldn’t see that. In the end the Lord determined how my summer has gone, and where it will go. He kept me from some hardships and walked with me through others. I came to the beginning of a project and I prayed this, “Lord I submit my plan to yours and I commit all the work I am about to put into this project to you. This is how I will glorify you and worship you.” There were some frustrations with the project, as with any project. But in the end I spent less hours than I planned, finished on time, and I was able to do additional pieces. In reality His plans are better than mine, so I plan to make His plans for me my own. Purpose is found in giving into what He has for you. As you commit your work to Him, His plans will come into view. Your job is dull not because it’s boring, but because you haven’t invited Him into it. You will begin to see Him working through what you put your hand to. Your purpose is in His plan, and that cannot be established until your work is committed to Him. Faith without works is dead, so is works without faith. God is moving in way unknown to man. If this generation will lay down their idea of purpose and pick up His, we will see mighty moves of God. This requires a commitment to Him. Not just “I’m a christian and I’m in the workforce.”,  but “my life and work are committed to Adonai.”

James 2:20