New year, new blog design, new challenge!
When I got back from Uganda, God really put a whoopin on me. For those of you who have no idea what I mean, it's when He begins to show you things about yourself that can really hurt to see. But the bible says that he loves those he corrects so the whoopin ends up being something you are thankful for because it helps you get to that next level of knowing him. It helps you become a better person, even though the process can be a little painful.
Kenny Chessor preached about the process at this years youth conference and he said some amazing things.
1. The process protects - You shouldn't venture into something before you're ready. You wouldn't give a 13 year old the keys to your car no matter how much they beg and plead. Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want because he's protecting us from ourselves. The timing isn't right. Unprocessed ministries are dangerous.
2. The process produces - The process produces self control. It produces knowledge. The process produces in you what you will need to become what He calls you to be in the right time.
So many times I've asked God why? Why hasn't XYZ happened, or why can't I go here or why can't I do this, or why is he or she doing XYZ and I'm just sitting here asking why? (Come on now, be honest. No one wants to admit that we look at others and ask why but we do. It may not be the right thing to do, you know - because we aren't supposed to compare ourselves with each other - but confession - I have done it and I'm straight up wrong for it. But I'm admitting it and moving on). And when I got back from Africa he answered those whys for me. I have been using those whys as a wedge between He and I. I have been focusing too much on the results of living for God and not the producer. My focus has been so much on the why that I forgot about the who.
Yeah. Not exactly the easiest thing to swallow but thank God he stopped me before it was too late.
Although the process is necessary, I got caught up in it.
My focus this year is simple - HIM! My only goal is Him! To know Him, to know His ways, to understand His word, to learn what pleases Him. To be 100% sold out to Him, not the things of Him. It's like dating someone for what they can give you, not for who they are. I want to know all that He will reveal to me. I want to become like Him and follow Him and learn His voice. It's not about a ministry, it's not about a calling, it's not about a religion. It's about Him.
So my challenge to you this year is this---we all question or worry about something. What will others think if I ____? What does He want for my life? What is His will? How do I pray? What church should I go to? The real question to ask is How well do I know Him? How is my relationship with Him? Do I really KNOW Him?
The answers to the last few questions are all that really matter. Because when you truly know Him and know His voice, all those other things will figure themselves out. When you know him he will teach you to pray, he will lead you into the perfect will for your life, he will show you the truth in His word, he will lead you to the right congregation of believers that you can do life with. Relationship with Him is the beginning of it all.
I challenge you this year to pick up His word and read it. Start in the New Testament and work your way to the end. Take time out of your day to stop and just talk to him. Talk to Him like he's your best friend. That's what prayer is. It's a dialogue with Jesus. Start asking Him to direct your thoughts and your decisions. Let Him be a part of every minute of your day. Be mindful of Him.
I am taking this challenge and devoting more time to getting to know Him. And I know that through this, those whys will get answered even though they will no longer be the most important thing in my life...HE will be.
When I got back from Uganda, God really put a whoopin on me. For those of you who have no idea what I mean, it's when He begins to show you things about yourself that can really hurt to see. But the bible says that he loves those he corrects so the whoopin ends up being something you are thankful for because it helps you get to that next level of knowing him. It helps you become a better person, even though the process can be a little painful.
Kenny Chessor preached about the process at this years youth conference and he said some amazing things.
1. The process protects - You shouldn't venture into something before you're ready. You wouldn't give a 13 year old the keys to your car no matter how much they beg and plead. Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want because he's protecting us from ourselves. The timing isn't right. Unprocessed ministries are dangerous.
2. The process produces - The process produces self control. It produces knowledge. The process produces in you what you will need to become what He calls you to be in the right time.
So many times I've asked God why? Why hasn't XYZ happened, or why can't I go here or why can't I do this, or why is he or she doing XYZ and I'm just sitting here asking why? (Come on now, be honest. No one wants to admit that we look at others and ask why but we do. It may not be the right thing to do, you know - because we aren't supposed to compare ourselves with each other - but confession - I have done it and I'm straight up wrong for it. But I'm admitting it and moving on). And when I got back from Africa he answered those whys for me. I have been using those whys as a wedge between He and I. I have been focusing too much on the results of living for God and not the producer. My focus has been so much on the why that I forgot about the who.
Yeah. Not exactly the easiest thing to swallow but thank God he stopped me before it was too late.
Although the process is necessary, I got caught up in it.
My focus this year is simple - HIM! My only goal is Him! To know Him, to know His ways, to understand His word, to learn what pleases Him. To be 100% sold out to Him, not the things of Him. It's like dating someone for what they can give you, not for who they are. I want to know all that He will reveal to me. I want to become like Him and follow Him and learn His voice. It's not about a ministry, it's not about a calling, it's not about a religion. It's about Him.
So my challenge to you this year is this---we all question or worry about something. What will others think if I ____? What does He want for my life? What is His will? How do I pray? What church should I go to? The real question to ask is How well do I know Him? How is my relationship with Him? Do I really KNOW Him?
The answers to the last few questions are all that really matter. Because when you truly know Him and know His voice, all those other things will figure themselves out. When you know him he will teach you to pray, he will lead you into the perfect will for your life, he will show you the truth in His word, he will lead you to the right congregation of believers that you can do life with. Relationship with Him is the beginning of it all.
I challenge you this year to pick up His word and read it. Start in the New Testament and work your way to the end. Take time out of your day to stop and just talk to him. Talk to Him like he's your best friend. That's what prayer is. It's a dialogue with Jesus. Start asking Him to direct your thoughts and your decisions. Let Him be a part of every minute of your day. Be mindful of Him.
I am taking this challenge and devoting more time to getting to know Him. And I know that through this, those whys will get answered even though they will no longer be the most important thing in my life...HE will be.
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