April

(Ezekiel 37) We are called to bring life where there is death and not judge others’ worship, for it makes you barren. Someday you will die, are you living like you could die tomorrow? Be the heroes, remember people's names, be consistent, and be kind. Be strong in the good and the bad. Clean out the house and dedicate things that are good to the Lord. Pick up commitments, not vows. You’re not going to be happy by making yourself happy, it’s by making others happy. People who fight for their rights do not change the world; only those who give up their rights change the world. Identity comes from where you dwell. Our highest calling is belonging, our most common calling is believing, and our specific calling is our behavior.

(Proverbs 16:9) “In his heart a man plans his ways, but the Lord determines his steps!” (Psalm 37:3-5) Trust, dwell, delight, desire, commit, trust! (Proverbs 29:18) Without vision and constant revelation, you’ll perish. I don’t live for my future, I live for now so that my life can testify to all God’s grace and mercy!

Don’t get comfortable with your sin. Now, let's touch on this because sin is what God tells you is wrong. My journey has been that God doesn’t ever cast shame; that’s the opposite of mercy. I want to be disciplined, so I think of it as a sin when I hear something from God and don’t do it. I want to get up in the morning to have time to start my day. It’s a sin when I reap the consequences of not obeying because the comfort of sleep matters more to me in that moment. It’ll get easier if I commit, and over time it’ll get natural, but it takes me laying down my sleep for the Lord and saying I only want what He has for me. Can you see how this correlates to all aspects, as if, for instance, you take drugs or even if you feel God pulling you to talk to someone? The opposite of obedience is sin. Plain, simple. It's not the drug that's the sin. It's not sleep. It's when I’m told, I do. Sleep is good. Coffee is good. Jesus turned water into wine. I don’t want it if it's not for me. Offer it to me, Lord, and I’ll drink it, but my body is such a temple anointed for you that I will not defile it. I am yours. My heart, my body, and my mind are your property. I give it all. I don’t want gluttony. Gluttony is like wanting something that hasn’t been offered to you, in my mind. I don’t want to yearn for anything other than Jesus!

Do not be loyal to an old version of yourself. Do you see how this world grows and transforms? That’s how God designed us as well. Just as you get wrinkles, you ought to get wisdom. Vulnerability brings growth! Whatever you focus on, you are being discipled by. Whatever you behold, you become. Jesus is everything, you have access to everything. It’s the heart, the character, not the place, not the stuff. It’s the meaningful, not the material. We are the ones with the authority to cast value on things! (Genesis 1:26) What aspects of your time do you value most? You can change your mindset. You can give God control over it. He only has access if you let Him. Read your Bible every day.

Can I blow your mind? Anxiety comes from trying to take control of something, whether it's relationships, events, or the future, when it is supposed to be under God’s control. He’s God; it’s dependent on Him. Just pray and watch. It’s going to explode your heart, but it’s way better than pleasures that make you feel empty, then filling the emptiness with drugs that don’t fix anything.

One more second. You could take control of the 10 things and set aside the one, or you could focus on the one thing and let God take care of the 10. I believe God answers every prayer, but not always in the way you would think. If they are against what you bring, it may expose a greater need for what you have. Don’t look back on your life. Lot’s wife looked back and turned into salt. Don’t have one foot in and one foot out. Unpack your bags in the place you are, no matter how much time God is giving you there. Take advantage of every second.

The man closest to success is the man listening to God’s voice. When the baton is passed to you, you are ready. Wait till God gives you vision, don’t make up your vision. God isn’t on your schedule; staying on your schedule will end in frustration and self-pity. Just like you give someone time to blow off steam, God will stop talking until you’re ready. Don’t miss out on the potential He has for you. Stop thinking about yourself, the Kingdom is other-focused. Do some prayer gymnastics so God can say, “I can speak now that you’re done trying on your own.” Instantly, He will ask you a question; the correct response is the first to come to mind without hesitation. Surround yourself with God hearers.

I got these notes from sitting in lectures of Josh Cole, Mark Parker, and Kel Steiner.