Do you know that God is ready to pour out his blessings and purposes if we might just listen to him? He wants to bless us. He's waiting to bless us. He will even bless us through the hard things in our life. He is good. He loves us completely. He is with us even if we never wanted him to be. He is our Creator. Our Father. Our kind Papa. Graham Cooke calls him "the kindest person I know." I'm starting to know him like that. It's taken a lifetime for me to be so bold as to tell you how I feel - really feel - about Jesus. I pray it won't take you that long to connect with that true, beautiful, friendship. He's waiting for you with open arms today. He's coming after you in the mire of your life and circumstances. He's ready to hose off the mud, cook you a nourishing meal, even embrace your corny stories. He's there for every moment. He's the best of friends and the most generous of fathers. His love is overwhelming yet not obnoxious or demanding. It's worth our lives - and yet he doesn't even ask for our life for himself, for when we give it to him, he gives it right back to us - only this time with purpose and resource and hope and more freedom than we can imagine.
"If my people would but listen to me...how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." Psalm 81:13-16
How have you experienced God in your life?
Have you ever found treasures at a rummage sale you would have paid a bunch more for had you seen them elsewhere? Sometimes I think that's how we are with ourselves. We put a small price on our lives and skills that others would look at and value at a much higher price. Today, you are entering a new way of thinking of your life and your identity. You are a valuable, royal child of the Most High God - of infinite value and extraordinarily treasured. Step up - reach higher - see yourself as your wonderful Papa sees you. Beloved, incredibly created, lovely, made for a mighty purpose, thought of before the foundations of this world. You are His dream!
Ephesians 1:4-5 - Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
How do you tap into your calling?
For starters, let me ask you some questions.
What is beautiful to you?
What are you naturally good at?
What skills have you developed?
What are your dreams for your life?
What do others say about your gifts?
What is God saying to you through your dreams, thoughts, other people, His Word?
What is it you want to do? Are you doing that?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What are your loves?
What was your favorite job?
What do you do that gives you life? What doesn't?
If your life was a picture of your past and present - how would that picture extend to the future?
Your calling is in these answers. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you His thoughts as you answer them. Spend time journaling, praying, but especially listening. God thought of you for eons before you were born. He had thoughts about your life and what He was creating you to do and be. Don't you want to know who you are and why you are? Oh....what a fun journey!
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
What do you feel you are called to?
