This is my deep desire – to go all the way, like Matthew West asks in his chorus.
How do we take the step? How do we jump without letting worry getting in our way?
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if i had given everything
Instead of going through the motions
God – Develop in me a faith and trust so deep that I take the leap. I can’t do it on my own – I need you.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
This is one of my favorite quotes from Corrie ten Boom. She was so fiercely brave; confident. She was willing to take the next step even when she didn’t know what it was. I believe it is because she wasn’t afraid since she know she would always be accompanied by God. She knew God. She knew his character, that he was faithful, sovereign, a refuge, and always right.
Why is it so hard then to let go to the God who knows everything?
Lord, I want to be like Abraham - willing to let it all go. I want to trust so deeply that I am willing to take the risk. I want to move from fear to FAITH – but it is so hard to get my feet out of this boat where it is dry and safe. And so I ask, Lord, will You lift me up over the side of the boat? Will You hold my hand? Will you show me where to put my foot next? If you lead – I will follow Lord. It is my desire to walk in Your ways and do Your Will. Amen
It never ceases to amaze me that God’s Word speaks directly to my heart. This is what I heard from Him (Jesus) today.
1st John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Victory over the world (and by the world I mean those who do not not know the truth – those who are false prophets and who are at the whim of any spirit and ultimately are separated from God) comes from believing that Jesus has the power to redeem our souls. And when we have faith in this, the testimony of God - His truth and love – will live in us.
By His love there is no fear.
So Faith is the antidote for fear.
1st John 4:1-3 Beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. . .
1st John 4:16-18 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
1st John 5: 4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
a written plan You do not have for me
nor a step-by-step treasure map
clarity I do not know
but still I hear You call me through the fog of doubt
I lean in toward You
listening for Your voice
but have I let the darkness of a busy life drown You out
keep calling me I ask
I want to follow only You
I want to take the step
that of faith into Your plan
help me close my eyes and take the leap
rip away the fear that stops me
take away the voices of reason and replace them with truth
and lead me faithfully to the place where I know that You know that I know You want me to be
yes Lord – take me there
So what is the cost of it all? The cost of following Jesus?
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. . . .”
It is not easy. It is the cost of comfort. It is the cost of releasing fear. It is the cost of letting go of security. It is the cost of our own desires.
and yet . . .
It pays for a life with Jesus. It is blessing and joy. It is freedom. It is the honor of doing God’s work. It is the pleasure of being in his presence. It is the practice of Faith. It is seeing the impossible be possible. It is assurance of the God who made all things.
It is worth it . . . now Lord, please help me to see past the cost and embrace into the vision you have for my life. Amen
Here’s what sunk into me during last Sunday’s service.
I want to be like Daniel.
He was a man who knew God’s word – he was constantly listening to what God was saying to him – and he had incredible faith. It seems as if he never winced. Daniel’s constant yearning for God made him a man that was trusted by God; and much wisdom and knowledge was given. From that, I believe that he was equipped with his faith that God is in control. My favorite verses that echo this are Daniel 2:20-23.
Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For you have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of you. For You have made known to us the king’s matter.
