Christian lifestyle

Because He First Loved Us

bible, Christian lifestyle, spiritual formation

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26

Devotion is such a strange concept. As we battle pride every day, it is difficult to joyfully claim we want to “devote” ourselves to something unless we know it will be highly successful. The meaning of this term is to give up a great portion of one of our most valuable possessions; time. As difficult as it can be to willingly choose to live devoted to something like the way of Jesus, we live devoted to something everyday whether we intend to or not. What we prioritize, focus on, and spend much time mastering or working at is what we devote our lives to. Maybe not your whole life, but definitely the season of life you are in now.

Pride, however, can create a conflict in our minds as we long to be the dictator of our own life while simultaneously hunger to be a part of something greater than ourselves. To leave a mark that lasts far beyond our last breath.

When I was in 5th grade, I was accepted into a middle school that was focused on marine biology. I was set on that being my future career. But after having to attend a different middle school, I was introduced to a lot of nonprofits. The work that I saw Christian leaders do through running organizations for the benefit of those in need around the world became my everything. I went into high school with the belief I would start the next being faith-based nonprofit of my generation. And when my high school launched a business track in place of our electives, I took that route all the way through senior year. I graduated high school having completed that track alongside an associates degree in organizational management. Then I went to college and was challenged more spiritually than ever before.

After only a year and a half, I had changed my major countless times from intercultural studies, to journalism, to business, to Christian community development, until I finally settled with communication and a concentration in internet and social media.

Growing up, I always knew what I wanted to do. And even when plans changed, it was never on a whim or without thought. I had reasons and dreams outlined behind every decision to change what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. But I can’t promise you that I had prayer behind those choices.

I felt the inclination to pursue writing early into college. The creation of this blog really helped me confirm my love for it. But in the back of my mind, I could not fully commit to it. I always had to have a backup plan, and that was evident in my indecisiveness regarding what I was studying.

But after college tested, crumbled, and eventually led me to rebuild my relationship with Jesus, I came to the realization that what I studied was not the dictator of my life. As a lover of knowledge, I had discovered how much I idolized my studies. Not for good grades but rather for the ability to feel prepared for the next step in life. The ability to overcome my great fear of inadequacy. Specifically, inadequacy in what I grew up hearing the world say our “everything” was supposed to be; our career.

I was so very devoted. But not out of joy. More so, out of fear of what would happen if I wasn’t dedicated and disciplined.

Isn’t that strange? I hungered for full control over my future. But I let every second of my younger years be directed by fear.

We as humans were created to worship. To live for something greater. But unfortunately, we are not born with the understanding that what we long for is completely satisfied in Christ. So we grow up spending years and even decades trying to maintain control while we slowly give more and more of ourselves to what we hear everyone tells us means the most. Sometimes that looks like pursuing money through a successful job. Or maybe it looks like finding a partner to quickly marry and build a family with. Or perhaps it looks like obtaining great knowledge through countless degrees, internships, trade schools, etc. And for the Christian desperate to leave a mark in vocational ministry, maybe that looks like building a church overflowing each weekend, spending years overseas on mission, or creating trending worship songs.

Whatever it is that we feel we have been called to spend our lives doing, we must not forget that our devotion first belongs to the Lord. Yes, God gives each of us different talents. But that is not to take first priority over Him.

As I read Numbers 6 this morning, my eyes were opened to the “why” behind a Christian’s devotion.

This chapter begins with the Nazirite vow. This is a commitment an Israelite person could make for a period of time to dedicate themselves wholly to God. There were strict rules to follow with this, and if they were broken, the person would have to restart the process.

Looking at that alone gives us a glimpse of the reality that God is so very holy and our brokenness is not something that we can ignore. We need redemption to be in communion with Him and set apart.

That’s what made the end of this chapter so mesmerizing. It reads, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.’ So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.'” (v. 22-27)

If you look back, God did not say only to speak this over those under the Nazirite vow. It was for His people, His broken and sinful people.

With the struggle of wanting to make a name for ourselves through a successful family, job, personal life, and even spiritual walk, it can be easy to forget one critical truth we see in this passage.

The blessing is from God because He loves us.

It is solely and completely His heart and decision that we experience any sort of grace or blessing. Our success or talents in life are not what determine our portion of God’s gifts of grace, mercy, or providence.

Our devotion surely matters, but not for the hope in greater benevolence from the Lord. It matters as it is how we can respond deeply in every aspect of our being to the love God has already shown us. What I mean is that true devotion; the giving up of time and resources spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally ought to be done out of reaction instead of wishful thinking.

We cannot serve enough, tithe enough, or preach enough to earn God’s love. Nothing we do will ever be enough. Yet the greatest news of all is He loves us still.

He loves us after we fall into sin. He loves us when we were battling doubt. He loves us when we are angry and confused. He loves us when we are burnt out.

He loves us so deeply and abundantly that His blessing is not just breath in our lungs right now but His very Spirit in our hearts. When we respond to the love poured out on the cross by Jesus with repentance of our wrongdoings and acceptance of His redemption, the Lord does not just stand at a distance and promise supervision of our lives. He makes a home in our hearts and in turn, we feel a grace, peace, love, purpose, and belonging any and everywhere.

But one of the toughest parts of reality is that the experience of God’s nearness is not delayed because of Him, but us.

We, with our closed off hearts, cynical mindsets, unexpectant perspectives, and complacent lifestyles are the reason we do not live every breath with confidence of the Lord’s love and longing for communion with us.

Devotion is not what earns us this love, but it is what gives our heart the opportunity to have its walls taken down by the gentle, yet mighty hand of God and allows our minds to be opened to the transformative desires of the Spirit.

My dear friend, how much longer will we live a life chasing the things that will but fade away with our last breath? I have grown weary of striving. Though I am not proud of the years I spent devoted to everything I thought would please the world or even the church, I am overwhelmed with joy that I see the ground beneath me is offered to the Lord as fertile ground now; available and open for whatever He pleases. When we begin devoting ourselves to the One who loved us to death and back, we will open our minds and hearts to a transformation no amount of striving could ever bring. Not by our own power or might, but by His grace and love alone. For that is just who He is.

Thoughts To Consider:

How might God use your unmet expectations to redirect your devotion?

Where in your life have you mistaken activity or works for intimacy with God?

What are you training your heart to love by how you spend your time?

Consider the gentleness of a God who asks for devotion, not to burden you, but to free you.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26

God With Us – Our Greatest Promise

bible, Christian lifestyle

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.'” – Exodus 33:1-3

Imagine you were just offered all you have ever dreamed of, but it’s going to cost you Everything…

This is the decision the Israelites had to make as they stood in the Wilderness awaiting further direction from the Lord. And technically, they got it. He would send them to the Promise Land, with all He told Abraham about. They would have travel mercies and even Angelic protection from all who were currently in the land. But they would not have God’s nearness.

The Israelites have rebelled again and again against the Lord. And so in this moment, He directs them to continue on, ensuring He would remain faithful to His promise, despite their disobedience. Honestly, considering how quickly they gave up on Him before, their response was surprising. But it was also what was the best decision they could have made.

They mourned. They refused to go on without the nearness of the One who had led them all this way. It wasn’t about the destination, the land, resources, or physical home. It was about the One whom they found belonging in.

So they did not go.

When I think about my dream of becoming an author, I so easily get wrapped up in the process. The research, practice, and editing takes up so much of my time and attention. Though I pray before, during, and after each blog I write, I still find myself battling what I ought to do when the editing time rolls around.

The moment I hit save draft, my mind is flooded with thoughts like, “Should I say this or that? What are better SEO words? Should I change the photo to be something more people would likely stop scrolling for? What about the length? I included all I felt led to write, but is it too long for people’s attention?”

I wish I could tell you that I don’t struggle with the thought of what others think. But I find it more frequent that I do. I want so badly for someone to stumble across these writings and find hope. But I also know for one to find this blog, my marketing strategy must be somewhat decent.

Although there is nothing wrong with good marketing, sometimes, I struggle as it becomes an idol for me. My writing is changed and my pictures take hours to take or choose as the interests of others becomes my main priority.

Yet, that is not the purpose of this. That is not the purpose of me.

During my senior year of high school, I was given a love and passion to write for the sake of making Jesus not only known, but more visible in daily life to the doubters and critics like myself.

For years, that is what I did. Yet recently, quite a few people have asked me about what I have been writing for my future book(s).

I have beaten around the bush each time because the truth is, I have so much research and ideas and yet the Lord has yet to bring me peace over finalizing any of them. Though I was content with that for years, lately it has ached me to not know why. To not even have an idea of a title that feels approved by God.

But praise Jesus for the humble teachings in Scripture.

I have a degree in communication with a concentration on social media and another one in organizational management. For years now, I have worked for different companies in social media management and marketing. So, you would think I would know something about how to get this blog out there. In fact, in the first 2 years of all this, I think I actually did pretty well. But now, I feel little to no inclination to do so.

Not because I feel unmotivated or lazy. But rather, I feel God has drawn my attention elsewhere. And for good reason. In society today, there is a great emphasis on advertising the moment a talent is discovered. But I fear that should not always be the case. One of the things I love about some musicians, is that you will hear their latest album, and then never hear a word from them for months or even years. But when the next album is released, it is incredibly beautiful. Especially faith-based artists, their lyrics tend to reveal an amazing spiritual journey compared to the last album they let out.

I feel like in this moment, in the Wilderness, the Israelites sort of felt this way. Their dreams were at their fingertips. And they had the path to get there. But their heart knew what it desired most and their soul grieved for the only true source of life and love. So they stayed in the nearness of the Lord.

Their decision was then blessed as their spokesman, Moses, received word from the Lord, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (v. 15).

What a moment of awe. I am sure there were some nervous and doubtful hearts in the Israelite crowd that looked towards the Promise Land once more and let a few tears trickle down their cheek as they put their last handful of hope in this God. Not that He would lead them down an easy path. But hope in His presence being far more worthy than any ground they could ever call their own.

And in response to their submission and trust, the Lord not only promised His faithfulness in the Abrahamic covenant (getting them to the Promise Land), but He also promised His nearness to them in every step alongside a beautiful thing called rest.

A restless mind is not a pleasant one. To constantly be unsure of the security of one’s love or reliability is quite a difficult way to live. But the Lord promises Moses and Israel that, with Him, there does not have to be any fear that He will abandon, fail, or manipulate them on their journey.

As I sit here, only feeling peace to continue my broad research and write blogs every few weeks, I fight the temptation to take the blessing over the Giver. And though I may some knowledge on how to build my own path to my hearts longings, it all fades away as I remember the worth of Christ over everything else.

So I do not force books or blogs because the world says I ought to for my own glory. But instead, I take the longer route for it is where my God is saying He will go with me. What greater promise could I have than that?

My dear friend, the journey itself was never promised to be easy. The fact that rest is given shows us that there are trials to be expected, yet no need to drown in fear, hopelessness, or anxiousness. Despite the fleeting treasures this world claims you need, as Christ followers, may we recognize that the presence of the Lord and the gifts He gives us are different. May we never lose sight of our true Everything, even for everything else.

Thoughts To Consider:

Is there a dream you feel God gave you that you struggle to have patience for? Why?

Is it the opinions of others, the feeling of failure, the fear of being behind, or something else that pulls you from putting all your trust in God’s timing?

Do you make time to simply hear from God, even if you feel He may be saying something you don’t want to hear?

Consider the beauty you could unravel instead of discouragement when you begin trusting God’s presence is worth giving up your expectations.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.'” – Exodus 33:1-3

Quit the Molding

Christian lifestyle, spiritual formation

For a while now, I have been working towards the development of a “morning routine” that first and foremost devoted time to God.

I am by no means a “morning person”, and frankly, I find it hard to believe many people naturally are. Nonetheless, studying the practices of others, I decided I would force myself to be one.

After spending 30-40 minutes with God nearly each morning, (yes, I have missed days here and there), I started to notice something…

It doesn’t get any easier. In fact, the reason I missed some days was due to the thought that I could wake up later, get ready for work first, and then do my quiet time. Yet, each and every time, I failed.

But alongside learning that, I also learned that the reason I have not quit and moved it all back to be a part of my nighttime routine, was because my heart hungered for it first thing in the morning.

When I would skip it, I would be angry and easily tempted into justify the sins that would result from that. But just a few hours later, I would find myself drowning in shame.

It was as though many soul developed a need for this time, this experience with God, before all else. So much so, that it would battle its old self and the new self all day long.

The old self would not mind if I had missed this time for weeks, as long as no one found out. Yet my new, redeemed, and Holy-Spirit filled soul knows there is better. Better when I devote my first fruits to God and invite Him into my every moment from the moment my eyes open to when they close at night.

I am aware this sounds silly or typical coming from a church worker, but I have found nothing calls me to this disciplined way besides the call of being a Christ follower. The fact that my family believes in Jesus does not compel me to spend more time in prayer. The fact that I work in ministry does not force me to read my Bible, for how would they know if I did not? And the “christian-writer” dream I have does not require me to devote my mornings to worshipping God.

No thing and no one has the power to dictate what I spend my free time doing. That is, and always will be, my responsibility. For my word can say one thing and my actions another.

The call I have decided to take on when I accepted Christ was one that would only be lived out through my personal devotion in spirit and acts to God.

So how and why then, do I say we ought to stop the molding?

I fear this society has acquired a mentality that what we want to do with our lives can be accomplished while simultaneously remaining inconvenienced.

We hear it all the time, some have even heard it from me in the past, “Find the time that best works for your schedule and section off 5-20 minutes to spend time with God.”

…I take back that advise if I have said it to you before.

What I have noticed is that our souls have a deep hunger and longing for the presence of God in every moment our lives and it’s going to take a lot more than 10 minutes of us reading a couple verses at night while we are half-asleep.

The Lord deserves more than that. And your soul, my friend, cannot survive like that forever.

We should not, and cannot, continue molding God around our lives.

We often hear the verse about giving our “first fruits” to God in relation to our money. That is what we call the tithe, our first 10% of our income.

But I would argue this should be applied in all we do. There is a lack of awareness of our soul’s needs that we cannot understand or even explain because it is so deep that we are sometimes left like babies, crying for a need, but incapable of expressing it in words.

This is not because we are dumb, but simply unaware. Our perspectives are limited, and unfortunately will remain that way without the leaning on the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 3:5-6 is quoted all over the place. We see it on a plaque at the church, printed on your grandma’s coffee mug, and surely you have seen it on a woman’s t-shirt before.

“Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Encouraging and sweet words that reveal the caring and wise heart of God, yet we still find ourselves only tuning into that source (God/Holy Spirit) for a few minutes at night.

I do not mean to be against the nighttime study crowd, but I am seeking to challenge you.

One of the biggest reasons people have told me, and even a reason that I used to say, was that the quietest time and the most free time one has, is at night, while all others are asleep, or after a hard days work.

But as I brutally force myself to continue waking up at these ungodly hours of the morning to pray and read before I begin getting ready for work, I have found I would not go back to the main quiet time being at night.

First, in the morning, one is going from full sleep, the most unaware state and gradually, with the help of God’s great gift: coffee, into a state of greater awareness. Some may take longer than others, but if you begin with being asleep, you can only ever continue becoming more awake.

Additionally, our culture struggles, including myself, with stewarding time. One of the reasons I miss my quiet time when I save it for the last part of my morning routine, is because I find myself taking too long in finding an outfit to wear or doing my hair, that I steal the minutes of quiet time and end up rushing to work before even glancing at my Bible.

This time, instead, is protected when you make it your first task.

What this also does, is train yourself to not avoid the consequences of your own actions. If you wake up late, you begin quiet time, and end up going to work late, you will think twice about choosing to enjoy those extra 15 minutes of sleep again. Yet, if you wake up, and instead, cut the quiet time for the sake of getting ready on time, you protect yourself from the consequences (being late) that you rightfully deserve. Thus, leading you to justify your bad decisions because the only person who knows you skipped your God time is you and God.

It is hard but it is necessary if you desire to grow. For what you spend your time doing is, and always will be, up to you and your responsibility to be used for God’s glory.

After all, the Lord calls us to take up our cross daily…a cross was a never a comfortable thing to endure. It was one that represented death. And how else does one live as a new creation without putting to death the old flesh and old ways?

One’s “first fruits” are those that are picked before the rest. They are not the leftovers nor the ones picked after one has gotten their filling. They are given first and foremost.

When linking this idea with the responsibility we as Christ followers have to steward our time well, it only makes sense that our every breath should be first devoted to God alone and then to the things He has placed before us.

As everyone’s jobs and mornings look differently, the amount of time one devotes in the morning may look different, as well as where exactly they spend this time at.

But what I have found, is that despite the hour we must leave for work or begin our daily tasks, we can always wake up earlier. Due to my struggle of deep feelings, I cannot get less than a certain amount of sleep or I suffer greatly, so as old as this may make me sound, I try very hard most nights to be asleep by 9-9:30pm so that I can stay around the eight hour mark. This means saying “no” sometimes to late night outings with friends and it means I must steward my nighttime chores and such to be completed by that time. In doing that, it makes less excuses available for me in the morning.

At the end of the day, this is not written in stone nor in scripture. But there is a hunger and desire written on our hearts and deep in our soul that I find, suffers, when we save but a taste of God for the night, as we drift in and out of sleepiness.

My dear friend, in your schedule, you hold the power to determine what kind of God you worship. One of convenience, that you believe you can know deeply through a five minute conversation at night, or the One of the Bible, that which may call for inconvenience, yet will grow you and fill you in ways you never knew your soul needed. Our time is considered one of the most valuable things to us, so where will your first fruits go? How long will you continue trying to mold God around the precious gift in which He gave you?

Thoughts to Consider:

What obstacles are currently preventing more time in community with God?

If you have implemented this practice in your morning, in what ways have you seen growth and what are the distractions pulling you to fall for the temptation of convenience?

How can you reschedule your priorities to protect that time in the presence of God?

Consider the growth your relationship with God could experience and how much your soul has been hungering for greater unity with Him unknowingly.

November Musings – Reflections on Hebrews

bible, Christian lifestyle, spiritual formation

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:39-40

In a world that demands immediate satisfaction, it can be difficult to be on the working end. Surely there are things we request from God, yet understand are shots in the dark, never promised to us in scripture but not irrational to desire. But then there is a kind of waiting to witness the fruit of your long-term tilling and watering after seeing a promise given. That my friend, requires a different kind of patience. One that isn’t based on results, rather, endured through by faith.

The people of the old testament show us the real beauty of faith. As I was reading Hebrews 11, I could not help but be overwhelmed with awe as I read how our God worked through person after person to show His goodness and the value of this thing we call “faith”.

Starting with Abel and moving all the way to the prophets, we see Paul describe the way these believers did more than just good motions. We see their heart for God and hope for His promise drive their every move. This faith gave them a perspective unlike any other group of people on earth. It was more than just wishful thinking. It was the “confidence in what [they] hoped for and assurance about what [they did] not see.” (Hebrews 11:1).

Many of these great followers of God were given promises they altered their whole lives around. Abraham, for example, left the land he knew for one he did not all because of a promise spoken over him. Noah, looked like a fool for a while and dedicated so much time and effort to build an ark all because of a promise he received. And Moses went to the highest in command in Egypt and persistently demanded freedom for his people all because of a promise God gave him.

God promised these broken people incredible things. Not because they themselves were great, but because they were willing. They had open hearts and availability for whatever direction God sought to turn them in.

Not by power, reputation, or perfection did these people follow God. No, strictly, by faith.

Faith that He who had made the promise was more than capable and willing to keep it. (Heb. 11:11).

Now let’s be honest. A part of me looks at that scripture and wants to argue their faith was easier to obtain because they lived in a time where God audibly spoke to people. But then, as I recall the cross, I realize the gift we have now. We have the fruit of a promise they could only hope of their entire lives.

I suppose we each have our own benefits in time. Nonetheless, the significance and meaning of faith does not decrease in either era.

Just past a week, I arrived home from Germany after spending nine or so days witnessing God do incredible things. In and through people, I saw hearts move in ways they didn’t know they could. I saw hope grow. I saw joy and desire for God increase. And in myself, I saw awe overwhelm me in deeper ways than ever as I thought of God and who He is.

I often struggle on trips focused around strictly sharing the Gospel. Not because I fear it, or don’t want to. But because I do not understand what progress or success looks like. And without a goal, the feeling of incompetence and inadequacy creeps its way into my mind rather quickly. Yet, on this last trip, I left with one expectation: to expect the unexpected.

This was a statement I heard long ago and it has eased my anxious thoughts previously, so I had hoped it would do the same on this trip. Surprisingly though, the worst of my days was near the beginning. Normally my battery was not that short, but it did not seem to be getting any better as the days went on.

A part of me was disappointed in myself as I thought of all the opportunities to share God’s love and how they would be stolen by my anxious thoughts…then I stumbled across Hebrews 11.

I encourage you to read the whole chapter, as the “by faith..” statements stir up an awe of God like no other, but for time sake, I wish to highlight the last portion.

Verses 39-40 state, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what they had been promised., since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Track with me for just a moment.

Each and every one of those old testament saints were spoken a promise to. And yet they, like us, only got to get a glimpse.

It is considered the reality of the “now, and not yet”.

In this broken world, we will see God’s glory, but only a portion. The fullness of who He is will only be revealed to us, and His redemption for us will only be made perfect (meaning complete; whole) over us, when we are finally home – in the presence of our God.

Hope is not out of reach though. This “now” just looks different for us than it did for the Hebrews. All the promises they were given were leading up to Jesus. When He came, He brought a new covenant. One that did not rely on rituals or animal sacrifices, but on faith that Jesus was indeed the Christ and all sufficient for us.

The “now” we live in is that which gives us the opportunity to have a personal relationship with the Lord and the “not yet” our hearts so desperately seek is the perfect eternity that will come on God’s timing.

This sounds easy to accept when you think about yourself. But when we look to the task of testifying to others but rejection or dismissal is the only result, our hearts can get understandably heavy.

When you have a cure for something others are dying from, any human with a heart would long to share it. But the burden of the “now” is that we still live in a broken world. We still live with people who are blinded to God’s goodness because of their pain, pride, or passions. We still live in a world where sometimes, we will only get the opportunity to move rocks for someone else to eventually plant a seed in the soil beneath.

But…the beauty of the “now” is that we still live in a world where God is being accepted into hearts daily. In a world where the Holy spirit is active. In a world where spiritual chains are capable of being broken. And my dear friend, in a world where promises are on their way towards fulfillment.

I want you to reflect on the last part of verse 40. It says, “so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

“Only together”.

Only with the “pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and as one body (Big C Church), can our work reveal the glory of who God is and show the value of our faith.

For hope has come. It is attainable. And by the grace of God, we can see many of His promises fulfilled with our every breath.

Once just a word (Messiah) promised to broken people, is now known as Jesus our savior. How true then is the promise that Savior spoke to us going to bring redemption, completion, and fullness to all of humanity when we reach eternity?

My dear friend, when I look at this world, my heart feels a lot. It feels burdened but also hopeful. And the nature we have that seeks immediate satisfaction does not help us grow a patience towards the timing of God. We often want good results and we often want them now. But who are we to demand fruit from seeds just barely sown? And who are we to expect results of a salvation we did not make happen? It is hard to accept, for what we want is a good desire. But may we never get confused about who does the saving in our hearts and our role as one body, who is made complete, only together.

We cannot do it all. And we cannot let our hope be found in that, for we were made to please God. To have faith in who He is and the plan He is unfolding. To hold a confidence in that hope and an assurance of what we cannot see. May we not grow weary in our pursuit of Jesus. Of holding onto a hope that has come and is coming again in the “not yet”. May we learn to let our hearts focus daily on the tasks God has set before us (Acts 20:24) and guard it from the hunger for our own idea of “good” results.

His timing is perfect. His plan is good. He is sufficient for you. And He has you in the place you are in now that you may continue living out the promise of redemption He gave so many generations ago.

You are the fruit of seeds your ancestors planted. You are a result of the family Abraham was promised. And you are the worker, together with every other believer, that is called to continue sowing…whether or not your human eyes will ever see the spring season.

Thoughts to Consider:

How are you involving yourself in “the body” (the church)?

Are you willing and available? What are some strongholds you have?

What is your mindset when sharing the Gospel? Do you struggle with a desire for a certain result?

Consider the way you respond to this broken world and the people living in it and imagine the difference the daily act of living out faith could change how you react.

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:39-40

On Letting Go – Minimalism and Deepening Faith

bible, Christian lifestyle, spiritual formation

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23

I threw a lot away yesterday. Over the last two years, I have been trying to become a minimalist for mostly the sake of my faith.

If you know me, you know I love shopping and I love aesthetically pleasing things. So this was kind of hard to reduce all I had. But over time, I honestly thought of myself to be succeeding pretty well in this area of my life, and I even felt like I had become less materialistic because of this discipline.

But a couple of days ago, I was thinking about my future and accidentally went down a spiral of thoughts, regrets, and missing my past. I thought about how much more responsibilities I kept up with. I thought about the way I cared for my body better with how often I worked out. I thought about the way I maintained a sabbath. And I thought about the work I put into pursuing my dreams no matter what judgement I received from it.

It was hard, but I did it. And for years, I have taken pride in that season of my life. And since then, every failed attempt to maintain good stewardship of my time and work has been rationalized because of how “good I was in the past“. But what I noticed this week was the way the rationalizing only eased my mind for a moment.

I said it was okay to not be as disciplined as I used to be, but within the same hour, I realized the shame and hopelessness that mindset would lead me to.

I thought, “It was good while it was, but it is what it is now.”

That was, until the light bulb lit up two nights ago.

I looked in my car, and on the rear view mirror I saw the tassel from my high school graduation next to the school parking pass from my senior year (2020-’21). And hanging next to those was an air freshener from the church I attended in college, right beside my college graduation tassel.

It was a hanging mobile of my beloved memories. Now, that may sound cute, but all it stirred up inside of me was aching pain.

An aching for the freedom I had in high school, the endless possibilities of majors I could’ve studied in college, and the joy in serving my sweet group of youth students at my old church (even they are now on their way to college).

This was all wrapped around my rear view mirror with the air freshener that recited Colossians 3:23. And that’s when I noticed the point.

God has blessed me with so many new things. Some more exciting than others. But nonetheless, new. I graduated high school over 3 years ago and college 6 months ago. But after each milestone, I placed them in front of me again by hanging their mementos on my car mirror. A place I spend far too many hours in a week.

So two nights ago, I went on Amazon. I scrolled for a while and ended up buying a hanging yarn plant.

When it arrived (praise Jesus for Amazon prime) yesterday, I took off everything on my rear view mirror and replaced it with the yarn plant. The tassels, I kept, but the other things, I tossed.

And when I got in my car this morning to go to work, for the first time in a very long time, I actually thought about the verse that used to be hanging on my air freshener.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

I had practiced minimalism for so long. But I completely overlooked the deeper way it could be implemented into my life. For three years, I had been collecting good things that reminded me of God’s blessings, but turned it into something that stirred up anything but joy.

I wanted the past. And what that mentality does, is stiff arm God from allowing Him to show you what He has planned next.

The air freshener was given to me after a sermon about stewarding your work well, especially on the days you don’t want to. It had in big, bold letters on the back, “MONDAYS 🙂 You were made for this”. Because let’s be real, Mondays are dreadful and the joy from Sunday is tempted to be forgotten the moment your “get up for work” alarm goes off before the sun even rises.

It took me getting rid of the memento to appreciate it and actually consider how I can move on with my future while appreciating what I learned in my past.

As I write this, I find it even more interesting that those items were wrapped around my rear view mirror. A tool to help me see what is behind me so that if I need to switch lanes while moving forward, I can with peace in knowing I am clear of any obstacles. But that is just it, any time I look at what’s behind should be for the purpose of moving me more forward. Even if I have to back up a little, it is so that I can get around something and press on my journey even farther.

Those mementos are great to appreciate the past. But the purpose of minimalism in terms of growing your faith, is to get rid of the unnecessary things and keep my attention on what is needed and what brings me closer to God. Though I was maturing from my materialism problem, I had never noticed the way I held onto the past so tightly.

A simple task like relocating or getting rid of things from my past has allowed me to have a greater visual of the future and more freedom for God to use me for whatever it is He pleases.

May we not forget the purpose we have because we are so attached to the things we have known. For God’s plans and desires are beyond our imagination. We only limit ourselves to the life God made us for when we refuse to walk into the “Mondays”.

Not every season of life will be exciting. Some will feel tiresome, pointless, or painful, but God has a purpose for every minute you breathe, and you have a responsibility as one who claims to be His follower. You have the duty of good stewardship. Of giving your best, for what you have in front of you was given by the Lord, even if you cannot see how.

My dear friend, taking a step on the water is going to come with fear when you’ve only ever walked on land (credit to Chris Renzema for his sick song lyrics that say something similar). But how much longer will you live obstructing your own view of the future and what’s ahead because you can’t look past the past? God’s hand is reaching out to walk with you…will you take it even if you cannot see the next step?

Thoughts to Consider:

What are some material, or immaterial things from your past that you are enabling to block your view of the future? Bring them to the Lord in prayer.

Have you truly allowed God to use you in ANY way He desires, even if it is new or uncomfortable?

How can you work on developing the mentality and lifestyle described in Colossians 3:23?

Consider the growth you could experience and the deeper connection you could have with God if you took His hand in walking into the “Mondays” of your life, no matter what they entail.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23