When you want to reach for more … here’s how

When you want to reach for more … here’s how. (New Year’s, still!)

The enemy of more is satisfaction. One of my four children is hyper competitive when it comes to athletics. (Now all of them are competitive, and they come by that quite naturally, but one is over the top.) If I could bottle his drive and sell it, I would be rich! It has been so of Dylan since he was a toddler, and remains true at almost 20 years old. He taught himself to ride his little two-wheel bicycle because Daddy had to participate in a conference call, and he just couldn’t wait. And then every sport since, at whatever he tried his hand, (or foot), he had to rise to the top. He did not have to worry about this expression – the enemy of more is satisfaction – because he never was, satisfied that is. There was always one more wave to catch, one more soccer ball to stop (in goal), some new trick or jump to perfect on his snowboard, etc., etc. But his drive would have meant nothing if he did not channel his drive into personal discipline. His prowess would not have profited him on the various playing fields without intentional choices.

Here’s the thing—most Christ followers, particularly as they do a little introspection recognize their desire for more of the power of God to be present in their lives. So the challenge comes in figuring out how to convert the decision to put God first in 2015. Among some of the resolves I have heard are these--

IN 2015, I want be more faithful in:

~starting the day in prayer

~reading God’s Word and personally applying it

~thinking of others first before indulging self

~getting to church on Sunday to worship God

~giving faithfully to the work of God

~finding a place of service

Like Dylan and his competitive athletic pursuits, the decision to grow spiritually will be flimsy without intention that leads to personal discipline, and the discipline to make the best individual daily choices. ‘Want to start your day in prayer? Go to bed at a reasonable hour and set your alarm, so you don’t miss out on your private conversation with God. ‘Want to read the Bible—set it near the coffee pot so you’re ready in the morning! Join a Bible study—be intentional! ‘Want to think of others before yourself? Ask God each morning to help you be ‘other’ focused and to really ‘see’ those near you that you might touch and encourage. ‘Worship on Sunday? Announce your intentions ahead of time, and just get there. It is commanded, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy,’ and ‘do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.’ Giving? Who ministers to you? Be intentional about systematically giving to their ministry, and be generous. Finally, ask around, look around for a place or someone to serve. When we are serving others, we are most like Jesus.

Paul said [God] “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” ‘Catch that? God wants to do so much in our lives that it cannot even be measured! ‘Have I been at a place called ‘satisfaction’ in my spiritual life?’ Yes. What’s wrong with that? God wants to do more than make me satisfied, God wants to do way more than I can ask or even imagine; he wants to grow and stretch me, and in general, blow my mind. God wants to use me to change the world around me, all from the power of his spirit that is within me. But he does so through an invitation, and then my individual choices to put him first.

“Father, I want to be about you and your plans for me. Holy Spirit, please come and do a new thing in my life in 2015; I am ready and I am desirous. Amen.”

When the Holy Spirit came to radically change lives from the inside out, he came to a people who were faithful, expectant, obedient and in prayer. He did not come to a satisfied lot. From that day forward, the Holy Spirit of God filled the hearts of devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Let me be clear: at the time of conversion, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the heart of the new believer in Jesus. That is why we must individually make that decision for Jesus Christ—he does not come unasked for, undesired, or unsolicited. Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11.13) That is the beautiful, miraculous rebirth—the Holy Spirit comes to live inside, to love us, grow us and claim us for his own.

If you have never recognized Jesus as the leader of your life, you can do so now, by a simple prayer—something like this—the words are not critical, but the heart is: Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that you died for my sins, and I recognize that on my own, I sin regularly! Please forgive me of my sins, make me clean … and then Holy Spirit of God, come and make your home in me. Amen.

The enemy of more is satisfaction … let’s want more… all our God has for us!

Christine

PastorWoman.com

p.s. As for Dylan, as I was writing this, I learned that he had just fractured his leg in two places while snowboarding—seems a tree moved into his path as he came off a jump!