Loving God Archives | Page 37 of 39

January 4, 2016April 2, 2017

Is there more to being a Christian?

I’ve always believed that being a Christian should make a real difference – not only in terms of where we spend the hereafter – but also in the here-and-now of our daily existence. So how do we connect the dots between what we believe about our relationship with The Trinity and what happens to us in “real” life? Or do we?

As you may recall from Genesis 3, the serpent started up a conversation with Eve back in The Beginning. The most crafty of beings, he got her to question …

God’s goodness and
her own identity.

If you’re going to connect those dots …

… between what you believe and what you experience, you need to know the Truth about those same 2 Things!

[callout]“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ― A.W. Tozer[/callout]

The enemy probably tries to do the same thing to you he did to Eve – virtually every day. He plants doubt to get you to question God’s care and personal involvement in your life.

But mostly, he distracts you with what’s going on in the physical realm – what you can know with your five senses. He wants to keep you thinking the spiritual realm is just something that happens in the movies.

He doesn’t want you to know who you really are in Christ because he knows he wouldn’t stand a chance against you. So he does the only thing he can do: confuse and intimidate you with everything that’s going wrong – to keep you living your life in the flesh.

My Prayer for You (Purloined from Paul)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

~ Ephesians 3:14-19, NIV

And that’s where I’m heading this year. Are you with me?

January 4, 2016April 2, 2017

Joyful Anticipation

“I know the plans I have for you. They will stretch you. They are stretching you now. My plans are for your good and the only way you will be truly happy. Trust me. You are more dear and precious to me than you realize. I put those desires in your heart, and I am the only one who can fulfill them.

Walk closely to me. You cannot screw this up. You cannot even delay it when you become fearful because I’m at work in your anxious times, too.

Do not let shame rule over you. Do not listen to those lies.
I will turn your mourning into dancing.
You will face challenges, and you will overcome them all.

Watch me. Watch what I do next. You’re going to love this one!

Love, Papa

November 16, 2015May 27, 2021

Destiny … via Detours

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

If you’ve read Our Vision, you know Divine Destiny can create some pretty cool concepts.

But if you only look at what’s happening right now – and if you don’t know the Lord’s ways, you might begin to wonder about me and my ability to hear God’s voice.

But if you do know The Lord,
then you totally understand the cool concept of detours.

Right now, I live in Los Angeles.
But my office is still in the OC.
It’s interestingly complicated.

Google Maps helps me find my way to work each day. Depending on the time of day I leave and the current flow of traffic, the mysterious voice (small “v”) coming through my car’s audio system tells me which way to go.

Most of the time, the voice sends me east on the 101, then south on the 405. But some days, the voice tells me to take the 118 to the 5. Which is actually 2 miles longer. But still may be the fastest route.

For today, that is.

Once I’ve heard the instructions and headed in the given direction, the voice (small “v”) reassures me:

You are on the fastest route, and your route is clear.
You will arrive at ____ (the quoted time).

Pretty cool.

GPS > God’s Positioning System

I realize that God is the One Who has put me where I am today – for His purposes. And – just as He’s promised – it will all be for my good. And being on a Detour puts me in Good Company.

Remember Joseph? Dr. Tony Evans has an inspiring sermon series called Detours to Destiny, which you can download … or watch on YouTube. Or read a summary here.
- Joseph was the spoiled, favored son of Israel.
- And he had a lot to learn on his way to his destiny.
Remember the Exodus? Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt toward The Promised Land. It could have been an 11-day walk. But it took them 40 years.
- The Hebrews had been slaves for 400 years.
- And they had a lot to learn about how to follow Yahweh.

Learning to Follow

Am I taking the Long Road? Yes. The Scenic Route. I still have a lot to learn. And The Lord is faithful to His Promises. And He is making my path straight. That is, He is in the process of positioning me (physically and relationally) and preparing me (spiritually and emotionally) to fulfill His Purpose in my life.

As I listen to the Lord’s instructions and follow Him – even if it seems illogical, His Voice (Capital “V”) reassures me:

You are on the fastest route, and your route is clear.
You will arrive on time.

Hallelujah!

QUESTIONS: How about you? What is your Destiny?

If you don’t know, ask. God will be happy to tell you. (Jeremiah 29:11)
If you already know, are you on a Detour? Ask The Lord what He where He wants you and what He wants to teach you during this season of you life. He will be happy to tell you. (Jeremiah 33:3)

How cool is that?