A couple of days ago, as I was responding to a question in my Journey Marker for this week, I received an awesome revelation. I have gotten this same revelation before, in different words or through different situations or circumstances, but this one was the most direct and straightforward, and the most powerful.
The word I received from the Lord is this: it is illegal to live with a ¨me¨ perspective in the Kingdom. Once you have accepted Christ and given your life to Him, the only legal way to carry yourself is through the ¨God in me¨ perspective.
Each week, we read through and respond to a Journey Marker. These are just short devotionals, a few questions for reflection, or something along those lines. This past week, the Journey Marker encouraged us to do what they call an ¨ATL.¨ ATL, in this case, does not refer to Atlanta, but is an acronym for Ask The Lord. The idea is to go out with a friend or small group into your town, city, community, school, or whatever the case, and pray as you go, asking the Lord for specific signs to lead you to someone He wants to talk to through you. It is a humbling experience. I realized I am not quite as confident as I had thought going into it. Of course, there is no reason to be afraid, but fear somehow always finds a way in if you leave even the smallest amount of room for it. For example, these questions might pop into your head: What will they think of me? What will they think I think about them? How will it make them feel if I ask to pray for them? If I tell them I think God is speaking something to me about them? Will I make God look bad if I mess something up? What if I am not hearing Him correctly? And etcetera…
Well, all of those questions are, to put it plainly, ridiculous and a waste of time. On the surface, they seem valid; but only if you value your image over being conformed into the image of Christ. Only if you prefer comfortability for yourself and others over truth invading your heart and the hearts of those God wants to speak to through your mouth. The fact is, He has chosen to use us. He does not need us, but He wants us. He can do it by Himself, but chooses not to. Jesus said it very bluntly: ¨Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you” John 20:21. The only way we can be affected by fear is if we live with the ¨me¨ perspective. Never focus on your own flaws, your ability to fail, what you are good at or what you are not good at, unless you want to fail or never try in the first place. Rest in the truth: the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you! You are powerful and strong in Him. It is not even about you, though. It is about Him; Him living out His life and purpose through your life. If you deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him, He will do just that. That is the Gospel. We were all predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Not the image of Reece, of the world, of my parents, of my pastor, my church, my greatest earthly hero, or anything or anyone else but HIS image.
¨To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace¨ Romans 8:6. What does that mean? Well, I surely encourage you read the whole chapter if you do not know. However, in short, it means this: thinking according to the thought pattern of the world will kill you (spiritually, and eventually physically); but thinking according to the truth of the Word of God – having the mind of Christ, seeing yourself as righteous, powerful and declared worthy of the blood of Christ, worth the price He paid for you in the sight of God – is life and peace! You choose which you prefer. Then, remember that you need to keep choosing to be spiritually minded day by day, moment by moment if you want to remain in life and peace. The fact is, this is war. But we do not war against flesh and blood. The apostle Paul said to fight the good fight of Faith. Faith is the key. To have faith is the battle and the war. Every day. All of the time.
I will leave you with the question I answered in the Journey Marker and my answer to that question, which I believe the Lord dropped into my spirit that day.
-
What would it look like for you to daily live a life that was beyond your human ability?
Reece: It would look like me depending on God for everything and forgetting about my own flaws/shortcomings. I would have to focus completely on His ability to work perfectly through me rather than on my ability to screw things up. I think we all fall short if and when we think from a ¨me¨ perspective (what I can or cannot accomplish, what I am or am not good at, etc.); I believe the best way and the only Biblical way to live is from a ¨God in me¨ perspective. Of course, that takes a lot of renewing my mind like the Bible also talks about, but I am enjoying that process and I know that a year from now I will live from that place in a much greater way than I do right now.
If you personally believe that this is a word from God, then I would love to reassure you that it is for you too, not just for me. So many times people believe something is from the Lord, but it is not a word for them, specifically. Well, this one is for everyone. If you believe it is truth, then ask God to plant this revelation deep in your spirit and let it grow with the continual watering of the Word. Ask Him to solidify this truth in your heart and mind forever, so that you never have to live below what you were called to. So that you can walk with an unshakable faith in His ability to keep you from stumbling, to teach you like a good Father if you do fail, and to make you more like Him each and every day, which is your primary and eternal purpose from the beginning. God created Adam and Eve (aka us, humankind) to multiply His glory throughout the Earth. Even to this day, He is still all about that! He is God and He has never quit anything. He does not give up. He does not second guess Himself or His plans. He has a hundred million jobs, but He does not get tired or sleep or nap. He ain’t never scared. He lives in you. Now let’s get it! Go after Him with all you’ve got. He is beyond worth it.
So, that is all for now! Soon I will post some pictures and words about the after school program, kid’s church and Saturday youth group. Until then, que vayan con Dios (Go with God)!
Love you guys!
Reece
