One thing that calms my soul during times like this is remembering that God is never overwhelmed. He’s never frantically looking at a “to do” list and wondering how He’ll ever get to everything on it. He’s never rushed, never frazzled.
I’ve been fantasizing about vacation ever since I returned home. My days were filled with walks, bike rides, trips to the beach and reading for pleasure. The hardest decision I made was whether to have chocolate or rainbow sprinkles on my ice cream bar.
Of course, all good vacations must come to an end. On the day of our return, we pulled into our driveway and were immediately launched into a weekend full of festivities for a family member’s wedding. (Guests arrived at our house for the first event twenty minutes after we returned home). I loved every minute, but didn’t unpack my bag until two days later.
Exhausted from the action-packed weekend, I dreaded the coming week. My inbox was filled with e-mails about the start of school, sports and other activities. Many responsibilities demanded my time and attention. In addition, one of my sons was scheduled to get his wisdom teeth out. On top of this, my other son had a soccer training camp all week, which meant waking up by 6am to get him out the door by 6:30.
In short, I’ve been overloaded since returning from that blissful beach vacation. The weather still feels like summer, but the ramp-up to fall has definitely begun. The lists and piles covering my desk make that abundantly clear. Based on the conversations I’ve had with friends lately, it seems most people are feeling overwhelmed as they prepare for the start of school and other fall activities.
One thing that calms my soul during times like this is remembering that God is never overwhelmed. He’s never frantically looking at a “to do” list and wondering how He’ll ever get to everything on it. He’s never rushed, never frazzled.
There’s been a lot on my plate since returning from vacation, but I haven’t had those usual feelings of being overwhelmed. Ironically, the early morning soccer practices that forced me to get out of bed also created time and space for reading my Bible and praying as soon as my son left each morning. I’ve been reminded that when I choose to spend time in God’s presence before rushing to conquer my day, those frantic feelings dissipate.
What I’m realizing is that rather than being overwhelmed by my schedule or my responsibilities, I want to be overwhelmed by God. I want His love to fill me so that it can flow from me and touch others with the same calming effect that He gives to me.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, run into His arms. Lean into Him and let the truth of His word encourage and sustain you today.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:27 & 33-34 NIV)
There are many things that have the potential to overwhelm us, but there is only One who is truly awesome enough to overwhelm us in all the right ways.
For those abiding in God’s love, joy comes from growing deeper in our walks with Him and helping others to do the same. Conversely, when we don’t remain in His love, we’re not producing fruit–we’re trying to do things through our own effort to prove ourselves.
There is a person in my life that causes me great angst at times. She’s critical of everything about me, always noticing my flaws and mistakes. When I don’t measure up to her standards, she’s ruthless in her criticism. No matter how many positive things I’m doing, she always notices what I’m not doing or what I could be doing more. She’s impatient, jealous and judgmental. She constantly compares me to others.
As much as I’d like to cut this person out of my life forever, I can’t seem to shake her completely. By now you’re probably wondering: who is this awful person? Well, I call her “Old Me.” She’s the person I would be without God’s saving grace; she is my fleshly, worldly self. Sadly, “Old Me” looks a lot like “New Me” on the outside, but her interior life is another story.
“Old Me” seems to show up when I haven’t been spending time with God consistently and renewing my mind in the truth of His Word. She deceives me into thinking I can perform for God to win His favor. She focuses a lot on doing for God and not much on simply being with Him.
I was thinking about “Old Me” recently while reading Tim Chester’s book You Can Change. In it, he points out that many people change their behavior but are still not pleasing to God because their motives are impure. When I think about the person I used to be (and that I can still be at times) I see that many of the things I did seemed good, but my reasons for doing them had more to do with proving myself or pleasing others than anything else. Chester explains: “We don’t do good works so we can be saved; we are saved so we can do good works. ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith…not a result of works… For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.’ (Ephesians 2:8-10).”
“New Me” experiences joy by doing good things God has prepared for me– it’s about responding to His love, not dutifully checking a box to feel good about myself or to gain approval from others. In this frame of mind, my eyes are on God, not on myself. My desire is to please Him because I love Him, not because I’m trying to earn His favor.
One of the best passages that illustrates eliminating “Old Me” so that “New Me” can flourish comes from the gospel of John. In this passage, Jesus speaks to His disciples saying,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:5-9, NIV)
Remaining in God’s love impacts our perspectives and enables us to grow and thrive in our faith. The fruit He produces in us blesses and benefits others. (One of my pastors recently pointed out that a tree produces fruit for others to consume, not for its own benefit). For those abiding in God’s love, joy comes from growing deeper in our walks with Him and helping others to do the same. Conversely, when we don’t remain in His love, we’re not producing fruit–we’re trying to do things through our own effort to prove ourselves. For me, this is when “Old Me” tends to rear her head. In Jesus’ analogy of the vine, the withered branches represent “Old Me” and the only thing they’re good for is kindling.
This battle between “Old Me” and “New Me” happens more often than I’d like to admit. Maybe you can relate. We have a choice every day to abide with Christ, to remain in His love and to let Him renew our minds. The alternative is to do things our way. It boils down to a standoff between living in our flesh and living by the Spirit. Let’s not be deceived by our “Old Me’s” anymore. God has already won the battle and we can embrace the truth that we are living under His grace. We are holy, righteous and redeemed, no matter what our old selves may try to tell us.
Mercy Me has an amazing song that speaks this truth. Click on the link to be encouraged by “Greater.”
Chester, Time; You Can Change: God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions; Crossway, 2010, p. 28
We get to carry the Promised Land mindset with us wherever we go. It gives us the quiet confidence to smile to ourselves as we go about our days. Living with this perspective allows us to recognize where God is at work and inviting us to join Him. It enables us to be peaceful in difficult circumstances because we know God is working them out for our good and His glory. Each of us has the opportunity to be “one in a million” and to let our joy and fulfillment inspire others.
Despite the predictability of mornings in my household, there are some days when my heart flutters with anticipation. I pack lunches, rinse the breakfast dishes, and kiss my boys goodbye before grabbing my helmet and lowering my bike from the hooks where it hangs in our garage. A few minutes later, I’m at the trailhead greeting my best mountain biking partner with a hug while she exclaims: “Can you believe this day? Can you believe we’re out here?” Both of us are giddy with excitement. Nothing compares with being out on the trail soaking in the beauty of God’s creation, connecting in meaningful conversation and feeling the burn of a good workout.
I come home from those morning rides feeling powerful and energized. It’s like I’m carrying this secret inside of me that makes me smile to myself even as I wait in line at the grocery store, drive the carpool or scan through e-mails. I may be playing the part of an average mom, but in my mind, I’m still that rider conquering steep hills and navigating rocky terrain as my heart thumps in my chest.
Priscilla Shirer shares a similar comparison in the closing video of One in a Million as she describes a Nike ad depicting a female runner: An athletic woman with a sleek ponytail runs through a neighborhood in the early morning light wearing Nike apparel. For a moment, all we hear is the runner’s rhythmic breathing while music from the classic movie Chariots of Fire plays softly. Finally, a male narrator’s voice speaks with authority: “There’s an athlete among us. She’s disguised as a wife and a mother…. Just do it.”
Priscilla uses this commercial to inspire us in our spiritual journeys to the Promised Land. She explains that while we may be wives, mothers, teachers, principals, nurses, lawyers or accountants, these things are just what we do—not who we are. She reminds us that those labels are merely disguises for what we really are: ones in whom the Spirit of God lives. Priscilla emphasizes that God can’t wait to operate in and through us so that the world can see Him. We get to carry the Promised Land mindset with us wherever we go. It gives us the quiet confidence to smile to ourselves as we go about our days. Living with this perspective allows us to recognize where God is at work and inviting us to join Him. It enables us to be peaceful in difficult circumstances because we know God is working them out for our good and His glory. Each of us has the opportunity to be “one in a million” and to let our joy and fulfillment inspire others.
Although it’s the end of our study, it’s the beginning of marching into Promised Land living. Priscilla says in the final video: “God is ready to launch you into new dimensions with Him.” If this sounds inspiring but difficult, be reminded that we can’t live this way on our own strength. Jesus made this perfectly clear:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)
In order to maintain the discipline of the Promised Land mindset, we must abide with Jesus daily. Priscilla says we must “press into Him,” and not try to live this way on our own strength.
As we wrap up our study, I encourage you to review the list of characteristics of a believer experiencing abundant Promised Land living through Christ. Print the one below or make a copy of it from the last page of the One in a Million workbook. Pray over it often and use it as reminder when you need a fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit.
Below the list, you’ll find a link to an old Nike ad. Although I was unable to locate the one Priscilla describes in her video, I found another that shows a runner imagining himself in the movie “Chariots of Fire.” As the video progresses, it’s clear he’s drawing power from his imagination, despite less than ideal surroundings. I hope it inspires you and gives you a good visual for keeping your focus on Jesus regardless of your circumstances.
The Characteristics of a Believer Experiencing Promised Land Living:
-Senses and acknowledges God’s continual presence (Psalm 139:7-10)
-Is led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
-Recognizes and tears down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4)
-Separates physical and spiritual abundance (Luke 12:15)
-Lives free from a lifestyle of sin (Galatians 5:1, 1 Peter 2:24)
-Shows evidence of conformity to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29)
-Has confidence in his/her standing of righteousness before the Father (Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
-Casts anxiety and worry on God (1 Peter 5:7)
-Gives thanks in spite of difficult circumstances (Philippians 4:6)
-Counts suffering for Christ as a blessing (1 Peter 2:19-21)
-Displays divine power in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10)
-Senses God’s comfort and hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
-Has confidence to draw near to God (Hebrews 7:25 & 10:19)
-Lives as an alien and stranger in this world (1 Peter 2:11)
-Hears the voice of God (John 10:27)
-Discerns the guidance of God’s Spirit (John 16:13)
-Believes God can supply every need (Philippians 4:13)
-Is open to receiving the gifts given by God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
-Recognizes and utilizes spiritual gifts for the edification of Christ’s body (1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:7)
-Displays the fruit of God’s Spirit in daily living (Galatians 5:22-23)
-Experiences consistent joy and peace (John 15:11, Philippians 4:7)
-Recognizes and utilizes God’s spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
-Desires to know and do God’s will (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10)
-Expects that God is able to do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20, 1 Corinthians 2:9)
-Anticipates seeing the miracles of God (Galatians 3:5)
-Is content with what he/she has (Philippians 4:12, Hebrews 13:5)
-Confesses sins and believes they are forgiven (1 John 1:9)
-Values connection with the body of Christ (Acts 2:46, Hebrews 10:25)
-Pursues unity in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:2-6, Romans 14:19)
-Forgives when wronged (Matthew 18:21-22, Colossians 3:13)
(from One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land p. 160)
Click here to see the Nike “Chariots of Fire” advertisement:
Promised Land living involves adopting an ongoing mindset. It is a choice to live with eyes wide open to God and His activity. It is the choice to trust Him in spite of our circumstances. It is the daily commitment to live an abundant spiritual life as we open ourselves to the activity of His Spirit.
The bride was radiant in her billowing white gown. The wedding guests stood transfixed as her parents escorted her down the aisle. Despite her beauty, I turned my eyes toward the front, not wanting to miss my nephew’s reaction as he awaited his bride. His broad smile and steady gaze in her direction revealed his joy. After a year of planning and anticipating, the day of their wedding had finally come.
The priest welcomed the bride and groom and invited the guests to take their seats. His lilting Irish accent made his words even more striking. He turned to the couple: “Today, your union as husband and wife is a living representation of the sacred covenant God makes with His people. After this ceremony, you will give your guests a glimpse of the Promised Land as we eat, drink and dance to celebrate your marriage. Our sweet time together will be a small taste of the milk and honey God promised His people when they entered the Promised Land.”
I nearly stood up and cheered at his words. Since I was in the middle of studying Priscilla Shirer’s One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land, it felt especially significant to me. As I sat listening, I thought of the many parallels between the covenant a bride and groom make during their ceremony and Promised Land living Priscilla Shirer describes in the workbook. A wedding celebrates a couple’s choice to be together for a lifetime. As they take their vows before family, friends and God, they make a public declaration of their commitment to one another. They shift their mindsets from being two individuals to being a family unit; two become one. They make a covenant that is intended to last for a lifetime and that transcends both the good and bad circumstances they will face. Similarly, Promised Land living involves adopting an ongoing mindset. It is a choice to live with eyes wide open to God and His activity. It is the choice to trust Him in spite of our circumstances. It is the daily commitment to live an abundant spiritual life as we open ourselves to the activity of His Spirit.
However, just like marriage is not all about white dresses and wedding cake, Promised Land living isn’t all about milk and honey. “Remember, the Israelites faced enemies as soon as they crossed the Jordan so promised-land living does not mean a life with no problems. It means experiencing God’s power and presence in spite of difficulty.” (One in a Million, p. 160). Promised Land living happens when our eyes remain fixed on God, no matter what. It’s about trusting Him and being committed to His plan, even when we’re not sure what He’s doing—even when the milk and honey don’t seem to be flowing.
Joshua led the Israelites through many battles as God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of Canaan. After leading them for between ten and twenty years, Joshua knew his days on earth were coming to a close. Commentators estimate he was approximately 110 years old when he made his farewell address to the people in Joshua 23 and 24. Observing Israel’s tendency to compromise with their enemies, he admonished them to renew and recommit to their conditional covenant with God. He wanted them to make a clear and intentional choice to step out of complacency:
“The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
“But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.” (Joshua 23:9-13, NIV)
He also verbalized his choice to follow God’s plan and to remain faithful to His covenant, regardless of what anyone else did:
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15, NIV)
Just like a marriage covenant, Promised Land living requires the resolve to stay focused. A bride and groom choose wedding rings as a symbol of their commitment. Similarly, Joshua used tangible reminders for the people. He wrote down the covenant they made with God and set up a large stone to remind them of the promises they made so they would not forget once he was gone.
As we embrace Promised Land living, consider creating your own tangible reminder to stay focused on this new way of thinking. Maybe it’s a bookmark you keep in your Bible with a verse from our study; maybe it’s a smooth stone with “Promised Land 2015” written on it and displayed where it will be a constant reminder, maybe it’s a journal where you record God’s activity in your life. Choose anything that will remind you that no matter where our journeys take us in the days ahead, we can always remain within the borders of the Promised Land.
Make the words of Brian Doerksen’s song “Today (As for Me and My House)” your prayer of commitment as we close our One in a Million workbooks but continue to embrace Promised Land living.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOQQVvHwJI
Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Harrison, Everett F.; Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Editors; Moody Press, 1962, 1990.
Shirer, Priscilla; One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land; Lifeway Press; 2010, 2014.
Not all of these issues have black and white answers–just like my son’s view on the quantity of his Legos differs from mine. The Bible is one of the best places to find clear answers. Determining if you have more of something than you should is between you and God.
Crossing the floor of my younger son’s bedroom sometimes feels like navigating my way through a bed of nails. When he is deep into his creative mode, colorful plastic Legos with hard edges and sharp corners cover his carpet. He can sit for hours surrounded by a pile of his favorite building materials. Vehicles, skyscrapers, spaceships and mini figures have overtaken much of the real estate on his bedroom floor. Although I often point out that he has more than enough, requests for new Lego sets regularly appear on his birthday and Christmas wish lists. He sighs at my lack of understanding when I use words like “gluttony” or “hoarding” to describe his obsession with Legos. It’s a good-natured disagreement over a fairly minor issue. He thinks he needs more and I think he has more than he needs.
It turns out the Bible has quite a bit to say about the concept of “more” but the issues have much higher stakes. Sometimes abundance is positive, as we see when Paul, Silas and Timothy urge the Thessalonians to please God and to love one another more and more:
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more… Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1,9-10, NIV, bold print added)
There are other times, however, when Scripture shows “more” as not necessarily positive:
-Hatred: “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5, NIV, bold print added)
-Corruption: “But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. (Judges 2:19, NIV, bold print added)
-Fear: “Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.” (1 Samuel 18:29, NIV, bold print added)
-Sinful Behavior: “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” (Ephesians 4:19, NIV, bold print added)
Beth Moore explains the tension between positive and negative abundance in our lives: “Something is going to grow. Something will get ‘more’ of us. Will it be hatred? Coldness? Addiction? Sensuality? Perversion? Devotion? Affection? Belief? Blessing? Ask yourself this question as I do the same: knowing the propensity of things to grow, which way do I want to go? ‘More and more’ one direction will force its antithesis into ‘less and less.’ We get to decide which we want to feed and which we want to starve.” (Children of the Day, p. 93)
Sometimes it’s wise and healthy to take a step back and evaluate the things in our lives that are influencing us “more and more.” Use the questions below to consider how each area impacts what grows “more and more” in our lives:
The company we keep:
-Are our typical activities and topics of conversation honoring to God?
-Does alcohol play a prominent role in our times together and would we still have fun without it?
-How are our personal attitudes and outlooks affected after spending time together?
-Are our worldly friends rubbing off on us more or is our Christian faith rubbing off on them more?
The social and extracurricular activities in which our families participate:
-How do they impact our schedules and ability to have healthy time margins?
-Does involvement in them still make it possible to go to church and be involved in Christian community?
-Are they defining our self-worth or our children’s self-worth?
-Are they bringing out the best in our families or making us more prone to comparison and unhealthy competition?
The entertainment we enjoy:
-Do the movies, TV shows, magazines, books, websites, social media, blogs, games and other past times we like influence us more toward worldly viewpoints or godly ones?
-Do we make time for entertainment, but struggle to find time to spend with God daily?
The material things we acquire:
-Do we talk about, look at and shop for material things continually?
-Are there any material things that have captured our attention and become the central focus of our lives?
-Are we willing to make needed changes when we recognize that material objects are mattering to us “more and more”?
The personal comfort we crave:
-Do we spend a significant amount of time arranging for and focusing on our own personal comfort?
-Is an emphasis on our physical, emotional and relational comfort causing us to become self-centered?
-Is being comfortable more important than letting God stretch us in new ways?
Finding a healthy balance with these things is a lifelong endeavor that requires constant prayer and vigilance. Not all of these issues have black and white answers–just like my son’s view on the quantity of his Legos differs from mine. The Bible is one of the best places to find clear answers. Determining if you have more of something than you should is between you and God.
If you’re feeling convicted after reading through the questions and consulting Scripture, do not be discouraged. This is a great step toward healthy growth and shows that you have a teachable heart. God is ready and waiting to help you when you admit your struggle to Him. In addition to praying, you may need to ask for help from a wise friend, counselor or pastor. There is no need for guilt or personal condemnation. God’s Word promises us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23a, NIV)
The good news is that there are things that we can pursue “more and more” without worrying about negative effects:
The Bible: The more we study it, the more we can be amazed by how God’s truth is woven together from start to finish. The more we learn, the hungrier we become to know more.
Prayer: The more we lay at the feet of God, the more we see Him working in our lives. This leads to more trust in God and more peace in all circumstances.
Jesus: The more time we spend with Him, the more He reveals Himself to us and the deeper our relationship with Him grows.
The Holy Spirit: The more we ask Him to fill us, the more He gives us wisdom and enables us to impact the lives of others.
Christian Music: The more we listen to Christian music, the more we’re drawn to the heart of God and to seeing the world through a biblical lens.
A Godly Perspective on our Time and Finances: The more we see our time and money as belonging to God, the more willing we are to put aside our personal agendas in order to pursue Him, give generously and serve others to further His kingdom.
For more inspiration, click on the link to hear Colton Dixon’s song “More of You.” Make it your prayer as you listen.
(quote from Moore, Beth; Children of the Day; 2014; Lifeway Press; http://www.lifeway.com)
The city of Thessalonica was located on premium real estate, but today being strategically placed has more to do with our perspectives than our physical locations. With Jesus in our lives, every place has the potential to become strategic for sharing the gospel.
If you’ve ever bought or sold a property then you’re probably familiar with the three most important selling points of a home: “location, location, location.” The well-known adage from the real estate industry emphasizes a simple point–a good location is the best advantage for a favorable sale.
It turns out that geography also impacted the early church’s ability to spread the gospel. During Paul’s years of ministry, the city of Thessalonica was positioned to have great influence over the surrounding regions: “It was a powerful metropolis with easy access to the interior and the northern frontier by means of good roads, and it lay not far from Asia and other Roman provinces by way of the sea” (Beth Moore, Children of the Day p. 33-4 quoting Gene L. Green).
Once the Thessalonians heard the gospel from Paul and accepted Christ, they took their strategic placement for sharing the gospel seriously: “The Thesssalonians looked outward. These were not a rustic people who were occupied only with local concerns but a city of great influence in all spheres, not only the political and economic but also the religious. Therefore it comes as no surprise to hear that when the Thessalonians turned from their idols to the true and living God, they themselves became the ones who brought the gospel to Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere (v.8)” (see previous reference).
Paul highlights how the Thessalonians looked outward: “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Because of their central location and their passion to share the gospel, everyone knew about the Thessalonians’ faith in the One True God.
The city of Thessalonica was located on premium real estate, but today being strategically placed has more to do with our perspectives than our physical locations. With Jesus in our lives, every place has the potential to become strategic for sharing the gospel. When we’re filled with the Spirit, our faith in God becomes “known everywhere.” Whatever situation we find ourselves in has the potential to be used to further God’s kingdom.
At times it may not be clear how the Lord is using us strategically, but if we continue to abide with Him, walk in obedience and pray for opportunities to be used, He will reveal His plan in time. Sometimes, our job is simply to position ourselves in a spot where God can use us and then to wait and see what He does.
When our kids were little, my husband and I made a deliberate choice to send them to public school. We wanted to be lights for Jesus among those who didn’t know Him. Our neighborhood school was a good one and seemed like the right fit for our boys. Over the nine years they attended their elementary school, I volunteered alongside teachers and parents in many different capacities. Time spent at the school provided opportunities to build trust and develop friendships. Sometimes, it also gave me chances to share my faith in Jesus.
Four of those elementary years were spent pouring myself into an after-school math program. I’d prayed about doing it and felt God was calling me to it, but sometimes questioned whether teaching math was really the best use of my time. It didn’t feel very spiritually significant to me. I didn’t realize how God was laying a foundation for future opportunities. Through my involvement there, I developed close relationships with several different parents who co-taught with me. One of those moms eventually came to Focused Living with me and later asked me to co-lead a smaller group study in her home. Another one of my previous co-teachers joined us and just began her second year with our group of ten women. (To read more about this story, see my blog “Being Open Handed is a State of Mind.”)
Now I see how God strategically placed me teaching math to fourth and fifth graders so that I could build those relationships and hone my teaching skills. The women in the home study are all there because God strategically placed them in my life or my co-leader’s life. We befriended them over the years through volunteering in classrooms, rooting for our kids on sports fields and crossing paths in our neighborhoods. Had it not been for that math class, I would not be experiencing the joy of pouring into them weekly as they learn from God’s word.
Strategic placement is about recognizing your proximity to others who need Christ’s love and then inviting God to use you in their lives. It takes time, patience and persistence. I continue to discover places where God has strategically placed me so that I can gain valuable experiences and bless others. Whether it is helping an elderly neighbor in distress, sharing lunch with a young mom in need of some adult conversation or providing encouragement to a struggling teen, any place in my life becomes strategic when I offer it up to God.
What areas in your life is God already using strategically? Maybe you’re not convinced your current “location” is a favorable one for Him to use. If that’s the case, pray and ask Him to open your eyes and show you where He wants to use you to further His kingdom. Here are a few ideas to consider:
-Within your home and extended family (spouse, kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, parents, in-laws)
-In your neighborhood (maybe it’s time to reach out to that neighbor whose name you don’t know)
-Anywhere you volunteer (secular or Christian)
-In your homeschool co-op (these parents rarely get a moment to themselves to read God’s word and be encouraged!)
-In your Christian school (families at Christian schools need to be encouraged to grow deeper too)
-Groups you belong to (Bunco, Bridge, quilting, college alumni, service organizations, country club, golf, tennis, bocce ball, hiking, gourmet, etc.)
-Places you frequent (grocery stores, doctor’s & dentist’s offices, staff and patients at your chemotherapy treatment center, banks, dry cleaners, hair/ nail salons)
-Places your kids are involved (schools, PTA meetings, sports teams, choirs, academic clubs, friends/ classmates)
-At work (co-workers, clients/ patients/ students)
Your strategic place can be with anyone anywhere. When the Holy Spirit leads the way, things just fall into place. He does all the work–you are simply His willing instrument.
Try praying a simple prayer like this: “God, open my eyes to a place in my life where You want to use me strategically to further Your kingdom. Pour out your Spirit and equip me with the tools I need to impact others for You.”
Post a comment to let us know how God is using you strategically!
If you still need further encouragement and inspiration, click on the link and enjoy Josh Wilson’s song “Pushing Back the Dark.”
Inspiring stories spill off the pages of the book of Acts. We see the lives of ordinary people transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, causing the message of the gospel to spread like a swollen river flooding the flatlands. Fishermen from sleepy villages spoke to educated men with wisdom, courage and authority. Believers gathered to pray fervently in the face of persecution and saw God move and work in mighty ways.
One of these stories happened in Acts 4 after Peter and John spoke confidently before the Jewish authorities about Jesus being the Savior of all people. When the Jewish leaders “saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
Peter and John returned to the other believers and gathered with them to pray about those opposing them. They spoke with conviction, inviting God to do a mighty work in them:
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:29-31)
The story is inspiring, but may feel like something that no longer happens in the modern world. Beth Moore begs us to reconsider: “Is He not the same God? Has He not said that He’d pour out His Spirit on His sons and daughters (Joel 2:28)? Must we hunker down in the cramped limits of the status quo? Or will we welcome Him to do the exceptional when He pleases, to wreck our small notions and loosen our tongues with ‘Who then is this who does such things?’” (Children of the Day p. 25)
Maybe these ideas intrigue you, but you wonder how something like this could happen in your life. Perhaps they sound intimidating, scary even. If you were trying to find this kind of courage or power on your own strength, you wouldn’t get very far. Let’s not miss two key phrases from these stories: “these men had been with Jesus” and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Courage, boldness and authority flow through us when we are abiding with Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit fill us to capacity. We’re just empty vessels, all the power comes from Him.
Everyone who accepts Christ receives the Spirit. After all, Ephesians 1:13 states it plainly: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
Being filled with the Spirit is not just a single event, however. It is an ongoing process. In the Acts 4 story above, the believers already had the Spirit, yet after they prayed they were “filled and spoke the word of God boldly.”
But how does that work? Can we continue to be filled more and more by the Spirit even after we’re saved?
Imagine a thimble filled with water. It’s at capacity, not another drop could fit inside. Now imagine a drinking glass. It’s bigger, so more water fits inside, but it’s still filled to capacity. Finally, imagine a swimming pool brimming over with water. Each of these containers has a limit and once it is exceeded, it will overflow. The bigger the container, the more the surroundings will get wet when it does.
In the same way, the Spirit impacts those around us as He fills us so full that we begin to overflow. But unlike a solid container, our ability to receive Him increases each time He fills us and we pour Him out. I think that’s what Joel 2:28 describes when the Lord says: I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your old men will dream dreams,your young men will see visions.
Maybe the believers in Acts 4 had a swimming pool-sized capacity for the Holy Spirit because they invited His filling so often. They prayed bold prayers and asked God to move, and He did. They spoke with authority and acted courageously because the Spirit was flowing through them.
Whether our capacities for the Spirit are more in line with a thimble, a glass or something bigger, there is always room for expansion. May I humbly suggest that if you’re interested in seeing more of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life, you pray a simple prayer each day? Try something like this: “Lord, pour out your Spirit on me. Increase my capacity to receive you and to be used by you.”
The Holy Spirit does the work of enlarging our capacities incrementally over time as we seek God and grow in faith. Sometimes we may not realize it’s happening until we see Him do something in us that He hasn’t done before. Growth happens through consistently pursuing the Lord one step of obedience at a time.
The Thessalonian church saw the Spirit work. Beth Moore points out that both the writers of 1 & 2 Thessalonians and the readers “got wet with the work of the Spirit when the wave of the gospel flooded Thessalonica.” She says “I want to get wet in that wave too. Don’t you? I long to be keenly conscious of God’s power and presence when He makes Himself known…Authentic anointing: there is no substitute.” (Children of the Day p. 26.)
Let’s pray for “authentic anointing” as we study these sacred books together. I can’t wait to see the way the Spirit overflows in our midst.
Phil Wickham’s song “Heaven Fall Down” captures the idea of increasing our capacity for the Spirit. Let the words of the song become you prayer as you listen.
“Failure is not an option.” Can you picture a macho guy in an action adventure movie saying this to his team before sending them out on an impossible mission? While it sounds great, failure is an unavoidable part of our lives. How we respond to failure is the place where we have control.
Beth Moore explored this idea at the Living Proof Live event I attended in Stockton in June. My last few posts have expanded on some of the themes from her acrostic: A-D-V-A-N-C-E.
So far, we’ve covered the first four letters:
A- A kingdom is coming
D- Dare to advance it
V- Vie fiercely in prayer
A- Add traction to your action
Today we’ll look at the next letter:
N- Never take a “no” from the devil
Beth explained that Satan uses our failures and defeats to diminish our effectiveness and to convince us we’ll never succeed. Whether it’s falling back into an old pattern of sin or seeing a ministry we’re involved with flounder, we tend to let failures have more power over us than they should. However, God can use our setbacks to His advantage. He can teach us humility and grace or show us areas that need to be surrendered to Him. Our failures fertilize the soil we need for growth.
When we fixate on our defeats, they cause us to wallow in fear and insecurity, preventing us from advancing in our spiritual journeys or taking ground for God’s kingdom. Beth used the analogy of a tank of gas, describing the way failures can drain our “courage tank” if we don’t submit them to God.
The Apostle Paul describes it this way: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)
Evaluating how full our courage tanks are should be a regular practice when we’re serious about following Jesus. If we find the needle on our gauge pointing towards “empty” then it’s time to surrender our fears to God and let Him fill us with “sufficient courage.”
Beth asked “What would you be like if you were operating at full courage? What do you have to lose?”
For me, operating at “full courage” means that I’m finding my confidence in Christ and developing the potential God has given me. I’m relying on Him to work through me and to use my spiritual gifts for His glory. I’m not looking to other people to define me or make me feel worthwhile because God is enough for me. When I’m operating at “full courage” I experience joy because of God’s incredible love for me, not because circumstances are lining up according to my plans.
A few years ago I encountered a season of failure that caused my confidence to falter and my faith to stall. Looking back, I see how Satan capitalized on my insecurity to diminish my effectiveness in advancing God’s kingdom.
Over the course of a year I developed friendships with two different women who were struggling personally and seeking me for wisdom and encouragement. As my relationship with each of them grew, natural opportunities to share the gospel arose. Both seemed interested and excited to learn more- whether it was attending church or meeting with me regularly. It was exhilarating to have them ask spiritual questions and to point them toward Jesus. And then, without warning, each of them cut off relationship with me within a few months of each other. No return phone calls or texts; no answers to my e-mails. If I happened to bump into them around town they were cool and distant.
I continued to pray for both of them, but I was confused and bitter—disillusioned that I’d put myself out there only to have the relationships end abruptly with no explanation.
For several years, I shied away from reaching out to others, assuming there was something I’d done wrong to turn them off. I could only see my perceived failure. Satan had cut me off at the knees and robbed me of my courage and confidence.
So, two years ago when a new friend began asking spiritual questions, I was wary and hesitant. Her persistence won me over and I began sharing more of my faith with her. Eventually she plugged into Bible study with me and later coaxed me into starting a Bible study with her to reach other women in our community. (I’ve written more about this story in the post “Being Open Handed is a State of Mind” in April 2013).
Because of my perceived failures in the past, I turned to God, asking for His guidance, wisdom and courage. Instead of relying on my own abilities and previous experiences, I sought Him with each plan and decision along the way. He taught me to trust Him one step at a time and to rely on Him for my confidence instead of my own skill or the approval of others.
I’d grown to expect rejection and was not prepared to have so many of the women we invited say “yes” to joining us for a Bible study. My co-leader and I moved forward with our plans in obedience. We didn’t worry about failure because we trusted God would provide whatever outcome He thought best.
In the last year, ten of us have been meeting weekly to study the Bible. For most of the women, this is the first time they’ve ever studied Scripture in their lives. Watching them grapple with God’s word, apply it to their lives and see Him at work has been like watching flowers bloom in a garden. Seeing their growth has filled my courage tank and made me realize the joy that comes from being used by God. My “failures” from a few years ago made me rely on God so much more than I ever did in the past.
A few weeks ago our group members gathered with our husbands, kids and some additional friends to host an event for Stop Hunger Now. The women in the group were eager to respond to God’s love by doing a service project together. I was overcome with joy watching as our kids laughed together wearing hairnets and packing food for the needy. Around fifty people came to help. A year ago, most of these women hadn’t even read the Bible, yet now they were advancing God’s kingdom in their families as they reached out to the hungry across the globe.
I’m glad I didn’t take a “no” from the devil when I felt discouraged after being rejected by my two friends. Looking to God to redeem my failure paved the way for His kingdom to be advanced. God has an amazing way of using setbacks to further His Kingdom. Our job is to let Him do it.
If you’ve been in a season of failure, click on the link below and be encouraged by Jason Gray’s song “Nothing is Wasted.”
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17b-19)
For more information on Stop Hunger Now, or to host a meal-packing event, go to: http://www.stophungernow.org
In my last posting, I shared the first few points from Beth Moore’s teaching at a Living Proof Live event I attended in Stockton, California. We began going through an acrostic: A-D-V-A-N-C-E based on Philippians 1:22-24. Last time we looked at her first two points:
A- A Kingdom is Coming
D- Dare to Advance It
This post will focus on the next two letters in the acrostic, which both involve prayer.
V- Vie Fiercely in Prayer
I took a peek at the definition of “vie” so that we’d all be clear on what this means. It is a verb meaning “to strive in competition or rivalry with another; to contend for superiority.” We are vying with Satan to see the Kingdom of God advanced while he attempts to thwart us. The way to claim territory for God is through praying fiercely!
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
Beth explained that we are not going to live bolder than we pray. We must access the resources God has given us. When we do this, our prayers become powerful and the gospel advances. We have to advance in our prayer lives before we can advance the kingdom of God on earth or we’ll be ill prepared to keep hold of the territory we claim for Christ. Beth admonished us saying that demons should shudder when we enter into prayer.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16b)
If you’re hesitant to think of yourself as righteous, keep this in mind: This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
We claim righteousness for ourselves through accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Once we realize our righteousness comes from Him alone, we gain access to the power of him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)
If you’re feeling a bit unsure of how to advance in your prayer life, consider studying one of the many books written on prayer. Two that have had a lasting impact on me are Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean and Lord, Teach Me to Pray by Kay Arthur. If you have a book that has impacted your prayer life, please comment below so that others can benefit from it.
A- Add Traction to Your Action
Beth encouraged us to think about our physical posture in prayer and challenged us to change it up from time to time to keep our prayer lives fresh. This shouldn’t be treated as a formula or used superstitiously, but the way we position our bodies does communicate different things to God. She examined four common postures for prayer that are repeated throughout scripture: face down, on our knees, seated and standing.
Face Down:
Lying face down on the floor with my arms spread wide is a posture I use when I want to show God I am in full surrender–this usually happens when I’m in a desperate situation and finally realize I have no one else who can help me the way God can. When I’m face down on the floor before God, my prayers are usually not very eloquent but more of a blurting of words in random order. As I breathe out, I release the thoughts and feelings that cloud my mind: fear, anxiety, confusion, or discouragement. As I breathe in, I invite God to replace all of the negativity with trust, peace, clarity, or encouragement. I rarely have the answer to my dilemma by the time I get off the floor, but I always have a new perspective and a renewed sense of peace knowing God is in control.
For biblical examples of face down prayers check out: Abraham (Genesis 17), Moses (Numbers 20), Jesus (Matthew 26).
On Our Knees:
Praying in this position shows humility before God. It was Daniel’s posture when he sought God’s help after learning King Darius signed a decree forbidding prayers to anyone other than him. Sometimes kneeling is associated with more formal or traditional styles of worship, but it is a fitting posture anytime we want to show God we know He is bigger and wiser than us.
For a few biblical examples of people praying on their knees check out: Solomon (2 Chronicles 6), Daniel (Daniel 6), Psalm 95:6.
Seated:
This may be the most common posture in the modern church, however it is one of the least- mentioned postures in Scripture. We see David seated before God in prayer as he reviews the things God has done for him and discusses the future with Him. Much of my personal prayer time happens in the seated position as I lift up prayers of adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. Many years ago I learned that my prayers were more focused when I wrote them in a journal. Sitting before God and pouring my words out on the page helps me to look back on His faithfulness and to work through the many thoughts rumbling around in my mind.
To read David’s prayer seated before God see 2 Samuel 7:18-29.
Standing:
Often prayers in this position involve praising God. When we sing worship songs with others, they are simply prayers set to music. This can be a powerful position for lifting our hands to honor the One True God. Standing shoulder to shoulder with others to worship God builds unity and strengthens a community of faith.
For biblical examples of people standing to pray, check out Solomon (1 Kings 8), and the Pharisee & Tax Collector (Luke 18).
I got to witness a variety of prayer postures during a recent youth group houseboat trip to Lake Shasta. It was a privilege to join forty other adults leading 260 high school students. Many students made first time commitments to Christ and a number of others grew deeper in their relationships with Him.
Each morning the group would gather on the beach to sing worship songs and then scatter for personal devotions. All around the beach people stood, sat, crouched and knelt before God in prayer. As I sat in my folding chair facing the water with my journal and Bible on my lap, I was overwhelmed with gratitude realizing that every person on that beach had direct access to God at exactly the same time. We’re called to “vie fiercely in prayer” but we never have to vie for God’s attention. He is ready and waiting to hear from us in whatever posture we choose any time we seek Him.
On our final day at Lake Shasta, the worship team invited us to stay scattered on the beach as we sang a closing song. It was a powerful experience transitioning from personal time with God to worshipping Him with others. Click on the link for your own “worship moment” to hear the song we sang, “Fall Afresh” by Bethel Music featuring Jeremy Riddle.
Last week I had my first experience seeing Beth Moore teach in person at a Living Proof Live event in Stockton, CA. I was impressed as she described praying that God would give her a specific word for our group of 5000 that weekend. God delivered some powerful answers to her prayers and used her to inspire the crowd in mighty ways.
Her theme for the weekend was “Advance!” based on this verse: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12)
She admonished us to advance in the gospel personally so that we could advance the gospel in the lives of others. Using the acrostic “A-D-V-A-N-C-E” she led us through a series of key points to make Paul’s message in Philippians applicable to our lives today. I always absorb information more thoroughly by taking notes and reviewing them. I’ll be using my next few posts to share the key points from her three talks and then I’ll add my own thoughts about them.
Here are the first two parts of the acrostic:
A- A Kingdom is Coming.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
God’s kingdom is a present reality and a future reality. When we share the gospel, we participate in spreading His kingdom on earth. To advance the gospel, we must know God’s word and then pray for open doors to share it with others. Whether we have the gift of evangelism or not, this is part of our call as followers of Christ.
Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to further His kingdom when we say: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10) Asking for God’s will to be done on earth allows us to claim territory for Him. As hearts and minds surrender to Christ, we advance His Kingdom and the world around us changes for the better. We also add to the ranks of the souls who will celebrate in God’s forever kingdom.
Furthering the kingdom is about living out the gospel first with our deeds and then with our words. When our actions toward others align with God’s will and word, we bless them and spread His kingdom. Mother Teresa said it well: “Spread the love of God through your life but only use words when necessary.”
D- Dare to Advance It
The Greek word for “advance” is “prokopen” which Beth explains as “to beat or drive forward as if with repeated strokes, hence to go forward or further, make progress, proceed.” She connected this to the example of clearing dense brush in a jungle using a machete. Similarly, we use the sword of the Spirit to hack through the darkness to advance the Kingdom of God. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)
If we don’t advance in our knowledge of the word of God, we won’t understand the access we have to God’s incredible power. Without these things, we can’t further God’s kingdom. Bible study doesn’t sound quite so tame when it’s described like that.
Don’t let all this talk about hacking through darkness scare you! Spreading God’s kingdom isn’t about hitting people over the head with a Bible. It’s about loving them. Here are few ideas for advancing the kingdom:
-Show compassion to a hurting world
-Give mercy instead of judging people
-Be honest about your own sin and brokenness with God and others
-Forgive people when they don’t deserve it
-Allow time in your day to be interrupted, to listen, to show kindness
-Say “no” to selfishness and self-absorption
None of these things can be done on your own strength. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and equip you, then advance!
Every time I hear Jason Gray’s song “With Every Act of Love” it inspires me to further the kingdom of God on earth. It makes me realize simple acts of love lead others to want to know Him. This is how we advance the gospel.
Click on the link to hear “With Every Act of Love.”
**Special thanks to my son for creating the scene of the advancing Lego army for this week’s photo.
