“He knows my name, so I ought to!”– Andrew Shearman
How many of us
struggle what God’s will for our lives is?! How many of us battle everyday to
wake up and find purpose? God has a plan, right?…but how come it seems so far
removed from where I’m at in my journey?
I mean, look at people in the Bible and the great calls upon
their lives; leading a nation through the desert, conquering an army twice the
size of their own, sharing the gospel to the nations, and even being imprisoned
and tortured for the sake of the Gospel. All my
life I’ve gone through the motions of finding purpose and the direction of this
‘call’ that is apparently on my life.
I realize that I’ve been asking the wrong questions and
praying the wrong prayers when it comes to the Lord’s ‘plan’ for my life! Truth
is that I’ve been telling God what he already knows for a very long time, he’s
an all-knowing God. I’ve discovered that all he wants is for me to simply ASK! He wants me to ask Him for the nations! He wants so
earnestly to give me people! I’m always asking for jobs, where to go
next, what steps I need to get where I’m supposed to go, and so on. But He
simply wants me to ask for hearts, for lives, for opportunities to LOVE!
As a dreamer I’ve struggled what God’s actual plan for me really
is. Now, the days that I feel as though I can go anywhere and do anything are
being challenged and other days where I feel as though I have nothing to offer
this world; and I need to get over myself and stand up! In the past weeks it has clicked with me how our churches have
mystified God’s will so much, that it’s not even desirable anymore. It’s
become obligation to perform and “step into faith” in things we aren’t even
comfortable with. People are being told they are
‘sinners’ and ‘lost’ if they aren’t conformed to the ‘norm’. But it’s
time to break that lie! God has clearly created each and every one of us for a
specific reason and purpose. And with that he has gifted us with so much that
He is wanting us to use for his kingdom.
I have discovered that I am the greatest detourant of my
dreams. I have let lies take control of my life for long enough. My dreams and
gifts have been given to me for a specific reason. For way too long I have
worshiped my successes and resume. I have gone overboard and become comfortable
in my own strength when the Lord has clearly blessed me with a heart that is
committed and a mind that dreams. The next level is not faith in Him, but
commitment to take this life to the next level! To
live out that faith. To go where no-one goes. To lead others where they are
unfamiliar. To set captives free!
Why do we reject
prophets who He sends? Because we’re scared of change?! Why are we afraid to
share our hearts in church on a Sunday morning? Is everyone else doing well and
I’m the only one struggling?! Why do we hold on so tightly to money and titles?
Are we afraid we’ll become less than everyone else?! Bottom line is that God’s
will is for you to be YOU!! Not just me as
in Matt Peters with all my titles and accomplishments, but Matt Peters with a
red-hot heart of passion for His children and an ice-cold brain to say AMEN and
go after them no matter what the cost!!
We are created to put “Christ” on! That means as sons of God
we are ONE with Jesus in his victory and we need to start grabbing it and
living it! Not just accepting the salvation part
half-heartedly and saying life’s good, but claiming ALL of it!
We ARE called, not
waiting for the call. Matthew 10 says we are to GO…shrug your shoulders if the
house rejects you, move on to another! Sleep well, eat well, live simply. Cast
out demons, stop being afraid of those little rodents, HA!, heal the sick…lay
hands on them, who cares if they smell or if they’re people you know and feel
awkward! BE ME is what Jesus is saying!
Paul says, “It is no longer ‘I’ who live, but Christ who lives in me!”
If we first seek to fulfill His dream, I’m pretty sure that our dream will also
be fulfilled. The author and perfector of our
faith should know something about a big dream if he’s the one who has given YOU
you’re skills, gifts and ideas. Think about it!!
I suggest we stop being
experiential Christians basing our lives on emotions, circumstances and an
“it’s not fair” attitude and start living a BELIEF oriented Christian walk with
faith in God’s character and Word. We need to gain a “what does God have
in this for me?” attitude in the whirlwind we find ourselves in. I’m pretty
sure he’s got something for you to learn as you’re getting by so to speak!
God’s will is to “put
Christ on”; not about a specific action or time or place. You’ll be in a place
at a time doing amazing Kingdom things once you become you with Jesus as your
core!
Paul was stopped twice by the Holy Spirit in His plan to go
to Asia. Was he wrong?! NO, of course not. God
isn’t about right and wrong, he needed Paul somewhere else. Paul never
disobeyed God, he just didn’t know which boat to get on. He was going for it.
All God did was re-direct Paul and he never looked back…he went forward.
We need to start to make a plan, but we have to be open for
a turn of a surprise in the road. Chances are that God’s change will be even
better than we could have ever planned. Waiting on the Lord isn’t necessarily
inactivity, it’s an expectant yet still heart whether moving or sitting. How do
ya think I ended up here in Spain?!
As the potter shaped the clay, Jesus broke me into
pieces because I was marred. Then He rebuilt ME with the same pieces more
perfect!!
So obviously He knows my name and who I am. He
has called me friend. I am a co-heir with Christ in Heavenly places. I live for
the sole reason that he has given me that chance to live. I have taken
hold of it, and now it’s time to run into destiny. Me being who I am is
all that is required to live this life. To just show up! But in this is a
mandate, a responsibility…that is to be like Christ and let that flow out of
every inch of who I am!!
