Awakening – Part 1

 

This has truly been a growing month for me. I have earnestly sought the Lord out to hear what He has for me. Through this listening, discovery period over the course of the month, I have come to realize a few points that I would like to share with you over the course of this 3 part blog series. Hopefully this will awaken and shed new light on your life as well. So in this month, on this race, I have wanted to know what the Lord wants for me in my life. So I guess that is where the first reality check came in…

 

 

1. This life? This life is not my own. I never owned it to begin with. This life was bought with a price, a heavy one, a blood sacrifice so that I may live in freedom today. there are men and women around the world who are literally risking their lives because of their beliefs. And yet I was born in the United States, with freedoms handed to me that most other people die for. So now the question is, what am I going to do about it? I cannot change where I was born and how other people were not. But I can fufill The Great Commission and tell the whole world about the TRUE treasure. That, I CAN do.

 

2. Satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found on what our culture deems most important but in radical abandonment to Jesus. – Radical by Platt
I recently finished reading this book, and if you know me at all, you know how much of a big deal that is. I actually READ a book. But not only did I read it, I enjoyed it. And not only did I enjoy it, but it actually convicted me enough to change my mindset about a few things, or a lot of things. The “American Dream” prides itself on individualism and self worth. “You can put anything you put your mind to, if you just try!” is the kind of mindset we are all born into and is practically shoved down our throats. So bear with me as I attempt for you to throw this terrible logic away. There are many Christians who claim to be Jesus Followers and yet fall into the trap that is the “American Dream.” What about Philippians 4:13 which states that we can do all things through CHRIST! Now wait, doesn’t that completely contradict our American teachings? Why yes, it does. I can do nothing apart from the Lord – John 15. These “radical” statements only seem radical because the contradict our socially acceptable American standards, whis is the scary part. Do we really want to live in a place where the social norms contradict the Bible and our Christian lives?

 

3. Recently the question – “What are you doing after the race?” has seemed to come into my life, which is utterly annoying. It is oh too similar to the, “What are you doing after graduation?” question. On the one hand, I get that these people mean well and are just trying to spark conversation. However this usually leads the person so go on some tangent in order to avoid the question all together. I am the kind of person who likes to have all the answers. I am the kind of person who likes to know what comes next. I am the kind of person who just likes to know. However, I do not have all the answers. But I have God, and He knows, so really what more do I need? I will be safe, and well taken care of. I will do the Will of God and bring Kingdom to the nations. I could sit here and try to conjure up some great plan that will bring other people some security, but why? God gave us all one life plan: spread the good news to people of all nations, baptize them, teach them, and obey me! So that is my life plan. I know I could not think up a better one.

 

4. God is not calling me to a 9-5, cookie cutter life. I am currently fighting a “spirit of comparasion” if you will. It can be alarmingly easy for us to compare our lives, and our callings with one another. However God is calling us each to something different. We cannot give Satan the power over our lives by letting fear and hurt take over. We were all made and equipped to do different things, which is awesome! We need to embrace that, not scrutinize and condescend one another for not reaching some imaginary “American success” platform. I am fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image to change and transform the world. I am a force to be reckoned with. I will not settle for anything less than radical abandonment to the purpose of serving Jesus Christ, wherever that takes me.