"take me deeper than my feet could ever wander"

"and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior" (Hillsong United lyrics, Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

We sang this at IWU Spring Summit 2014. I almost lost it. I was on the verge of tears. That wouldn't have been the first time I cried at a Summit service. I hold myself together but sometimes I just stop everything and become overwhelmed with God: His goodness, faithfulness, beauty.

Everything He is.

Everything I'm not.

I long to get to a place where I break before God and let down all the walls. I'm not there. I'm holding myself together with my strength. I won't let myself fall apart.

information vs. revelation

Information is defined as "knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction." In contrast, revelation is defined as "the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, especially something true."

 

God convicted the core of me last night. He brought to my attention that I have all this knowledge about him, but do I actually KNOW him? I need to stop. pause.

 

I need to examine where my heart is in relation to him. Do I spend time with God to avoid "trouble" or am I serious about pursuing and knowing God deeply?

 

I want to go beyond legalism: reading, studying my Bible because I feel I have to but because I want to know God. The cry of my life is to intimately know God, not know about Him. There is a huge difference.

renew.reshape.refresh.restore

My prayer for this year is that God would renew my desire for growth in Him, reshape my desires to be fully pleasing to Him, refresh my life so I have the strength to pursue Him above everything and restore me to a life pleasing to him and I would be a testimony that I belong to God to those around me.

God is present

"...for God is present in the company of the righteous." -Psalm 14: 5

As I begin a new year, I have hope that God will do amazing things in me and those around me. As I look at this verse, I am reminded God is present in those who are righteous.

 

This chapter begins with an description of mankind: no one does good. no one seeks God. However, I find this verse interesting because although there is no one that does good on their own, God equips me to be righteous, to live a righteous life. He is present.

 

He is in this year. I am thankful that He gives me the strength I need to be righteous.

God is our refuge

In this life, there will be pain, struggles, etc. I believe and trust in God as my refuge in everything.

A refuge is "a shelter or protection from danger or distress." Based on this definition, God is my shelter from danger/distress. I never have to face anything alone. In anything (and everything) I can turn to Him.  And when I take refuge in God, I will be satisfied. He will spread His protection over me. (Psalm 5:11).

When fear overwhelms me, I can take comfort knowing God will keep me safe.  There will be affliction and suffering in this life. I know God is stronger than all of life. I never have to be afraid of the road ahead. He goes before me.

That brings me comfort. I never have to live in fear. Fear distracts me from the life God wants for me. I don't have to fear because God is stronger. He is our refuge.  

lukewarm

I can hide it from everyone. I can put on a good face. I can say and do the right thing. However, is that really what God calls me to? Recently I read Crazy Love (Francis Chan) and there is a chapter "Profile of the Lukewarm."

I never classified myself as being a "lukewarm Christian." Reading that chapter convicted me. I am a lukewarm Christian. I lost my passion for God.

Romans 12:11 states, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Zeal means passion and the opposite is apathy. Now I know I'm not apathetic. 

I want to be moved out of lukewarm Christianity. I either want to be on fire for God or completely cut off. I know that sounds drastic but isn't that what God calls me to? To be completely on fire for Him? I used to equate being on fire for God emotion driven but maybe it's not.

I don't know where this is going or where God is leading me. All I know is that tonight God revealed to me that I'm lukewarm and I want to do something about it. Life is too short not to be passionate for God.

spiritual gifts

The following is an inventory of spiritual gifts:

1. Administration (1 Corinthians 12:28)
2. Discernment (I Corinthians 12:10)
3. Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11-13)
4. Exhortation/encouragement (Romans 12:8)
5. Faith (I Corinthians 12:9)
6. Giving (Romans 12:8)
7. Helping/hospitality (I Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:13)
8. Knowledge (I Corinthians 12:8)
9. Leadership (Romans 12:6)
10. Mercy (Romans 12:8)
11. Pastoring/shepherding (Ephesians 4:11-13)
12. Prophecy (I Corinthians 12:10, 28)
13. Serving (Romans 12:7)
14. Healing/miracles/tongues (I Corinthians 12:9-10, 28)
15. Teaching (I Corinthians 12:28)
16.  Wisdom (I Corinthians 12:8)

(This list is adopted from the book Wake Up, Generation by Paige Omartian p. 82)
Out of the preceding list, I believe my "gifts" include serving, discernment, exhortation/encouragement, and faith. I challenge you to prayerfully ask God what areas He has blessed you in spiritual gifts.