The journey has started - a 40 day journey with God and with God's people. At the very start it was helpful to be reminded that it starts with God; our life, our purpose, our destiny starts and finishes with God. In todays chapter from Purpose Driven Life, we are reminded that purpose and meaning is not actually about achieving dreams or planning life goals. We were directed to Matthew 16:25 were Jesus Christ reveals to his disciples that if they want to save their life, they will lose it but if someone loses theiir life for the sake of Christ, they will find it. Rick Warren writes "it is about becoming what God created you to be".
I think, in our society and in our day, being told that my job, my dream, my career are not the most significant things I need to be reflecting on, in counter-culture. Our young adults are spending their VCE years focusing on this very issue and the years that follow, whether in uni or in apprentiship or in other form learning institution or work place, demand that these young people do some serious thinking. To say that there is something more important than what I will do in my working career is indeed counter-cultural.
So if my life, - indeed, if your life, is part of something much larger than ME and my world, I am left pondering how I might best approach this week in such a way as to give God room - and permission - to direct me on this journey. What might I do tomorrow, Monday, at the beginning of the week, so that I am positioned for a godly win. If it is to truely be about God and the glory of Jesus, how might I serve him, so that I am ready to make a significant contribution to Kingdom work. Now that is a significant step for me to start out on - deciding to go God's way, I mean. If everything got started in him and finds its purpose in Christ, then I want to be sure that my focus is on His purpose. I don't want to wast my time, what little I have left.
Tonight at GWAC celebration, we witnessed God at work in peoples lives - God was working his purpose out. I know there were some people tonight that took serious steps towards a relationship with God and there were others who made the decision to get serious in an area of their life that needed to be surrendered to God - and they did. And we can be sure that were people have stepped out in faith and trust that God would not only hear the prayer fo their heart and the desire expressed, but has already begun to answer theor prayer. There could not be a better place to be, than in the place that God's want sus to be. Go for it!
Drew
That is so awesome, all of us starting on this journey together. It feels a bit like reading in the bible when the Israelites moved from one place to another or when the disciples moved around with Jesus, because God told them to. Even more exciting is to read about some of those in our midst getting touched by God and acting on it!
ReplyDeleteYour mention about the counter culture really hits home. I re-read that passage in today's (Day 1) writing where Rick says: life is about letting God use you for HIS purpose, not your using him for your own purpose.
Last Sunday I was touched by the words from Rom 12:1 and since then the word 'offer' has been in my mind. I'm praying for HIM to show me what he wants me to offer.
Great comment Frank about Romans 12:1. And it is important to let God show us in what specific way he wants us to offer ourselves - and in the meantime, I think it is important that each of us be active in the offering of all that we are and have - make it available without reservation, and see what he does with this obedient heart. Bring on day two!
ReplyDeleteHow about our second awesome day. Sadly, there are so many people in this world who live without hope when it's clear that God made all of us in his own image as his expression of love. When we understand that he had a purpose specifically for each person - for you and for me - we can appreciate that God knew exactly what he was doing and knows what he is doing today. The sad thing is that many people who have consciously decided that they prefer to live lives without purpose go out of their way to prevent others from ever hearing this good news; the good news that we are here for a reason, that life is worth living no matter what the circumstances - and lasts forever. Someone once said "Hope springs eternal". Faith in Jesus Christ guarantees that.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the reality of the hope that is found in Jesus and the disappointment is that some decide not to accept the opportunity to get to know the love of God that is on offer. It is important to remember that our current struggle is not aginst flesh and blood - our battle is ultimately a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6) so our first and primary approach to this needs to be prayer.
ReplyDeleteYou're right and it's good to be reminded of that. Thanks
ReplyDeletePrayer. What a wonderful privilege it is to have received this amazing gift from God so that we can communicate with Him ...and what's more, this gift is available to everyone who would like to accept it. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteJust over 9 years ago, as a new Christian, prayer was something very foreign and a bit scary to me. I didn't know how to use this new gift, but I was determined to find out, so that I could use it for its intended purpose. My Bible, many Christian books and my new-found Christian friends continue to help me understand the mystery and power of prayer.
My Prayer Journey so far has been filled with much learning and understanding as I talk to and listen to God. I've discovered that I can't hear Him if I'm constantly rushing all over the place "doing stuff". I need to make time to be still in His presence and so allow Him to speak into my heart.Writing my thoughts and prayers (Journalling) is a way I can slow down and hear what God is saying, as I spend quality time with Him.
I don't know how Prayer works, I just know it does, and I give Him thanks and praise for this wonderful gift.
It's only as we listen to Him that we will discover His purpose for our life.
Jeremiah 29: 11 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".