Day 10 From Repurposed Find to Life Found

Day 10

The first step in resetting our lives is actually making the decision to do it, next comes the hard work, envisioning our world differently and trusting in it. We’re releasing something that has been a security blanket, its been comfortable, it’s what we’ve known. Don’t get me wrong friends, it’s not always a terrible toxic thing, but it could be that it isn’t what is best for us. It could be that there’s more waiting but unless we’re willing to let go of where we’re at, we can’t get to where we’re supposed to be. Make sense? David McNitzky was speaking on Abraham and it was so clear the way he explained it. He said Abraham was missing a child, they were barren. In order to receive the destiny that God had for them to make him a father not only to Isaac but of a great nation of people, Abraham had to be willing to let go of the community he knew, the land he was in and go where God directed him to go. You see, where Abraham wasn’t bad. He was comfortable, he was doing ok, but God had more. I wonder if sometimes we don’t get lulled into where we’re at is ok, do we know that we’re ok with ok?

Friends, I feel like sometimes we color Jesus in a safe, sweet, unobtrusive way. I believe Jesus is sweet and safe but I also think he is passionate, strong and warrior like. I believe he birthed desire in each one of us to fulfill a destiny for abundant life in Him. Sometimes I think we can almost feel guilty for wanting more. I’m not talking about more of material things, more money, more power. No friends how about more love, more joy, more hope, maybe more faith in a world that can seem so busy it doesn’t even notice that you exist? You ever feel like that? There are times in my life I can be surrounded by a sea of people and yet I feel the most alone. My heart beats but what does it beat for? What at the very core of my being do I long for? 

Why do we think it’s ok to quench that in us? Why do settle for a life that is at best mediocre? I remember living a life where I was literally simply trying to get by. Oh I had success, I had money, I could buy my son whatever he wanted, within reason of course. I sent him on amazing trips around the world for his tennis. I bought enough clothes to fill up 4 closets, let’s not even talk about the pairs of shoes! And yet, many nights I curled up in my bed and wept…I felt so empty inside and didn’t understand what I was supposed to be doing. I had my relationship with Jesus and my ministries in church but there was more…and I didn’t know what it was. You see, for the longest time, I fulfilled what I thought was expected of me. Be successful in your job, make lots of money, give back. I repurposed my life to fit the example I was taught. But where along the way, do we let our hearts into the equation? 

I had to give my heart an opportunity to have a voice. I had to reframe “desire and passion” in my world. I had to be ok with checking in with my heart. I had to be ok with not always choosing what everyone perceived as safe. I had to be willing to take leaps of faith, to challenge myself and take risks. I had to be ok with knowing that sometimes God likes to see us venture a bit. I imagine him watching us through the kitchen window while we play in the backyard of life. We’re on the monkey bars and maybe we’re gonna try it one handed this time, maybe we’re gonna try to go farther than the last time, maybe we’re gonna really leap this time and He’s tickled as He watches. He’ll be there if we fall, but He loves the light in our eyes that dares to try! 

In your quiet time today, I wonder if you couldn’t consider what desire and passion look like for you? Do you unknowingly associate those words with something forbidden? What is it that your heart beats for? Where are you on the playground of life? Are you sitting and watching where it’s safe or do you dare to take the monkey bars? What is it your heart’s truth? Life is waiting friends and your Father would love to see that spark in your eye and that fire in your heart!

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire is a tree of life.