Wide Awake the Live Blog: Chapter 5

The Seer

If we are going to live the life of our dreams and fulfill God's call on our lives we need to focus our intentions.  Dreams and passion might be the launching pad, but sooner or later we must use those things to create life.  That is what chapter #5 is all about.

Every great journey begins with only potential and possibilities.  What can happen as you begin to dream and imagine and open up the full spectrum of all possibilities of your future is that you end up dreaming and never living (p. 124).

As much fun it is to dream we do not want to become just another daydreamer.  In my estimation this is doing the same thing with our lives as the one talent man in Jesus' parable did with his money: hiding it in a hole for safe keeping.  To discover the life of our dreams requires that we take risks with our lives.

Refocusing My Life

“What disturbs me is that now, years later, while I still believe that nothing else matters compared to knowing God, I often live as though I don’t believe it. I struggle with spiritual passivity. It eats away at me as covertly as termites in the walls of my house.” ~ Bill Perkins; Six Battles Every Man Must Win

In my heart I know that there is nothing greater in this life than to live in a relationship with God. I recall those times when life seemed so clear and I could truly call God my friend. Yet the reality of my life is that more often than not I live as if God was a distant memory and I was in control of my life.

It is so easy to lose sight of the life God has planned for us as we are pushed forward by the tides of life. It is hard to focus on God when a thousand other things demand our attention. God quickly becomes an afterthought as we address what is urgent and immediate in our lives.

How can we be more consistent in focusing our lives on God? I believe that first step we must take in refocusing out lives is to remind ourselves that the things of this world are passing away. We put so much effort into accumulating things and trying to get noticed that we sometimes forget the temporary nature of the things we are chasing after. Champions are replaced, trophies are trashed, things break, and technology becomes obsolete. As the apostle John wrote; And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves (1 John 2:17a; NLT). We need to stop and remember what survives the ravages of time.

The second step is worshiping God. We worship whenever we focus our hearts and minds on God. It could be singing songs of praise, it could be a discussion with a friend, it could be listening to a sermon, it could be a walk in the woods. When we take our eyes off God and begin to focus on the world around us that is when we begin to become more concerned with what needs to be done and the things we need to have rather than loving God. Worship is that opportunity that helps us refocus our attention on God. Praise the LORD! Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! (Psalm 150:1,2; NLT)

The third step is that we need to focus on relationships. People are more important than the things in our lives. We know this, but often our lives tell a different story. It is very important for us to emphasis the relationships in our lives, because it is through spending time with people that we begin to achieve those things that truly have eternal significance. It is through the time spent with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors that we are able to become a blessing to them. By being a blessing we are able establish influence with them. Influence, rather than position and power, allows us to have a greater impact on their lives. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34; 35; NLT).

When our lives have lost their focus and we are drowning in the “demands” of life it is time to hit the pause button and refocus on lives on what is really important. We can allow ourselves to be pushed along with the tide of life, or we can choose to live in harmony with God. That is a choice that God has left up to us to make. For my money, there is no greater life than the life that is lived for God.

Lonely Days and Grace

It has been one of those lonely days for me today. A day when it seems nobody really cares about you and you wonder if you suddenly disappeared if anyone would really notice. This isn't about romance as much as it is about fellowship. More than anything I would like to be with a group of people who are doing life together.

As I have felt this way today a passage kept coming to mind. The passage is 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. This is what the apostle Paul wrote:

So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)

"My grace is sufficient for you," God tells the Apostle. It is hard to trust on God's grace when life isn't what you planned it to be. That is what makes my current situation so difficult, is because I know this is where God wants me to be, but it isn't where I want to be. So I end up fighting God's grace, rather than relying on God's grace.

What is the answer? How do we rely on God's grace? I really wish I knew, but I have this thought that it probably begins with thanksgiving and praise, seeing the good rather than focusing on the bad.

How do you rely on God's grace in the thorny patches of life?

Fear and Focus

“It is fear,” writes John Eldredge, “that keeps a man at home where things are neat and orderly and under his control.” ~ Wild at Heart, p. 5

I have known all too well that fear is the biggest obstacle I face as I follow Jesus. It is what holds me back from developing my talents, investing my life in the life of other people, and living out my God given passions.

As I read through The Lord of the Rings this past week a longing for courage swelled in my heart. I want to have the courage to face the Orcs of life, to fight against the Dark Lord and his agenda, and to become the person God created me to be.

What is needed for courage? Perhaps part of the answer is found in Hebrews 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

The author of Hebrews urges us to get rid of EVERYTHING, not just our sin, that holds us back (that includes our fear). He says that we find the strength and the courage to do this by fixing our eyes on Jesus.

I admit that too often I focus on myself and my circumstances, and thus lose heart. It is Jesus who is able to strengthen our hearts. So the question needs to be asked: How do we keep focused on Jesus in a world of distractions?

First, we need to be in the Scriptures so we can be reminded of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Second, we need to be encouraged by other Christians: from sermons and books to small groups and one on one conversations other Christians and spiritual conversations must be part of our lives. Third, we need to pray and ask God to open the eyes of our hearts so we can see Jesus at work in the world around us.

Fear will prevent us from living the life God created us to live. May we find the courage to live by focusing on Jesus.