Shoot. Let’s get some truth up in this joint.
Ok first off I was tossing in bed last night totally jacked up on coffee and so bored. I decided to listen to a sermon in hopes of falling asleep. So I’m scrolling through podcasts and came across Bill Johnson. For some reason I was a little skeptical of the title. I huffed and hit play. Totally started this whole thing off with a bad ‘tude…He launched into how he’s been studying the book of Joel and I sat up. I thought, what the heck is this guy smoking? There’s no book of Joel. I was ticked. I shut it off totally annoyed and dramatically shrugged.
Ohh law, I’m laughing at myself as I write this.
Next morning I’m laying in my hammock having some Jesus time as I open my devotional…And I kid you not it starts talking about the book of Joel. I literally almost tossed the devo onto the grass. I asked myself what were the odds that two super preachers were making up books of the Bible?! I contemplated this for a second more then ripped open the cover of my Bible and there in the concordance was the book of Joel.
Dadgumit.
So Joel, God and Bill Johnson put me in my place this morning and it was hilarious. God had some pretty sweet truth in that non-book, book of the Bible that screamed power and shouted authority.
God is zealous for me and you. Man, He’s so for us. It’s like Rocky jumping around in the ring getting hyped up, ready for a fight. I feel like sometimes He’s yelling, Let’s do this! You ready!?
He constantly dreams up more ways to bless us. He constantly pours His crazy, wild affections all over us.
But are we ready? Are our hearts in that place to receive this awesome favor? We get so lost in introspection sometimes that we miss the blessings of a God who is ecstatic about us.
Joy is a gift. Grace is a gift. A gift isn’t something that’s meant to be earned. He freely gives so it’s up to us to freely receive. Victory isn’t something you attain either. It’s a gift that’s meant to be claimed, embraced, treasured. Dang, I stake my freaking claim over this stuff and I’m running full speed ahead.
If we lived our lives with the reckless abandonment we sing about in worship, my heart races to think of the ways God would be glorified. He delights in us receiving these gifts because it shows how much we value and appreciate His Son’s sacrifice. Yikes, I’m all tingly just thinking of what He’s unleashing in the corners of our hearts!
There’s a new tune playing. I’m not sure I know the lyrics yet but I’m loving the melody. I'll keep you posted.
