Dan Nold says that’s the recipe for relationship with the living God. If you want to hear it for yourself, click here. Our lifegroup (still lovin it!) talked at length about how that applies to our lives tonight. A few thoughts & threads…
Am I desperate for God? And if I’m not, can I create desperation? Can I decide to be desperate? I think I can, at least to some degree. Others would lobby for the other side of the coin, but I believe that at least to some degree I choose what matters to me, what I desire, what I want to pursue. I can choose work or family or adventure or Jesus or ______. I know that the word of God says that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). I’m not talking about salvation; I’m talking about my priorities. I can (after coming to faith) choose to pursue God like my life depends on it (it does, btw). My life–how I spend my time, $, energy, etc–shows what my priorities are, where my heart lies, and what I am desperate for. I want to be desperate for God.
Do I expect God to show up? Would I recognize him if he did? What would he do? One of the highlights of the Experiencing God study that we’ve been doing (love it) is the reminder that God is already at work around me/us. I have to pay attention, looking for him to reveal what he’s doing, listening for him to speak. I want to live more expectantly, to anticipate God showing up, to adjust my life to what he’s doing–everyday.
William Carey (father of the modern day missionary movement) famously said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
I want to live with those words echoing through my life. Expecting God to move, to show up in power, to breakthrough…Attempting things God has called me/us to do that are so big, so audacious, so Kingdom that God has to come through, so that he alone gets the glory.
Desperation. Expectation.
Those words are easy to say.
Those words are not easy to live.
But the goal of Grace is Relationship; nothing less. Not forgiveness. Not behavior modification. Not blessing. Oh sure, those are included in the deal. But the goal of grace is a relationship with God the Father, secured by Jesus the Son, sealed with the promise/gift of the Holy Spirit.
Maybe you want to listen to Dan talk about it now. Clicky.
I want to be able to say this (Psalm 73:25-26)
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
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