The Next Step

I’m a planner.  I like (good) surprises, but I’m a planner.  I like to make calculated decisions.  I like to be sure.

Guess how often I am sure about a decision I make…rarely…especially the important ones.

I feel like many times when God calls me to move, He is leading me down a path that is not well lit.  The next step is usually clear, but often only the next step is clear.  Sometimes all I see behind it is pitch-black darkness.  That scares me.

When I am scared, I grasp for control.  I frantically start planning more.  I try to “regain” control (as if I ever had it) and assuredly navigate my future, basing my moves solely on my own knowledge and strength.  Why I ever feel capable of this is beyond me.  What I need is discernment and faith.  What I need is to ask God not for the whole map, but for the next step.

God is not going to give me the map.  He knows better than to trust me with it.  He knows I can’t handle it – that if I saw the map, saw where He was taking me, I probably wouldn’t go.  I’m not ready for the whole trip.  But He has prepared me for the next step.  And He will continue to prepare me for each next step.  I must continue to follow with each step, trusting not in my strength and wisdom, but in the One who guides my steps.

I love the way the author of Proverbs puts it:

Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.

-       Proverbs 4.25-26

He doesn’t say, “Look as far into the distance as you can; ponder the path miles ahead of you.”  He says to look “directly forward” and at the “path of your feet.” 

We can only do this when we are sure of our God who goes before us.

“Be strong and courageous, …It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31.7-8

So as I look to the future, I cannot let the uncertainty paralyze me.  I must take the next step in obedience and trust that God is already there. 

Hopeful Realism

Sometimes people accuse me of being cynical (shocker, I know).  I quickly correct them, telling them I am not, in fact, cynical, just realistic.  I mean, my experiences, lack of naïveté, and knowledge (albeit limited) of the world provide me with what I consider a realistic outlook on life.

The truth is, though, that my “realistic” view is not based on a complete view of reality.  It’s usually based only on earth, the here and now.  If our life on earth was all we had to take into account, my view would be almost flawless.  The problem is that, as a believer, my view of life is to take into account more than earth.  In fact, not only am I to take into account more than this earthly life, but I am not even to use this earth as my lens through which to view life.  I am to view life – past, present, future – through the lens of eternity.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3.1-4

So then my perspective is not flawless, but rather flawed.

In How People Change, Tripp and Lane suggest a new realistic view:   “The gospel welcomes us to a hopeful realism.”

Hopeful realism – what exactly does that mean?  The authors elaborate:

“We can look life in the face and still be hopeful because of who Christ is and where he is taking us.  Everything God has brought into your life has been brought with your destination in view.  God is moving you on, even when you think you are stuck…Your destination is secure…you cannot lose your identity in Christ…[Christian joy] is about taking an utterly honest look at all earthly life through heaven’s lens.”

When I survey life from an earthly perspective, I easily arrive at a negative, hopeless outlook.  That perspective looks and feels realistic and accurate, and if earth was the only vantage point from which to view life, it would be.  Fortunately, God affords us a completely different vantage point.  He gives us not only hope in a future eternity, but also give us a glimpse into our very real future.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. – Revelation 21.1-7

When I am able to view life through that lens, suddenly my realism isn’t quite so cynical.

God of the Redeemed

We are chosen.  We are redeemed.

If you know much about me, you know how I love quotes, especially song lyrics.  I have been trying to meditate on the truth of being chosen lately, and a couple of weeks ago song lyrics drove the point home.  As we were singing "God of the Redeemed" I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of God's actions and love.  Take some time to read these words and let them impact you.

God of the Redeemed  (Bethel Live)

We belong to You, Father
Love has come and we're orphans no longer
Brought into Your light and freedom
By the blood and mercy of Jesus

It's rising it's rising
A song of hope from us set free
It's rising, it's rising, it's rising up

Hallelujah to You God of the redeemed
Hallelujah You've opened blinded eyes to see
And we will praise You
You are the everlasting light
Hallelujah to You God of the redeemed

We belong to You Father
We're living for Your glory and honor
Here on earth just as in heaven
We usher in the reign of Your kingdom

It's rising it's rising

A song of hope from us set free

It's rising, it's rising, it's rising up

Hallelujah to You God of the redeemed

Hallelujah You've opened blinded eyes to see

And we will praise You

You are the everlasting light

Hallelujah to You God of the redeemed

Chosen

I think it started in 5^th grade.  It was always in me; always a desire in my heart, but it really came out in 5^th grade.  Maybe it’s because that desire was at least partially fulfilled then or maybe I just came to a greater understanding of what my heart desired.

I’m talking about being chosen.  Being picked first.  Being favored.  Being loved.  Call it what you want – fear of man, arrogant, needy, self-centered – but we all desire to be chosen on some level.  It’s inside of us.  It’s rooted deep in our hearts.

In 5^th grade I changed schools.  I went from a private school where I felt alone and ostracized and very different than everyone else to a school where I almost immediately felt accepted.  I had a great relationship with my teacher and made friends quickly.  I was a pretty athletic kid, and it only took a couple days on the playground for the other kids to start picking me among the first for dodge ball or kickball or whatever.  I liked that. 

That continued through middle school.  I got picked first for sports.  Teachers would give me “special” projects or privileges.  I was president of clubs, gave speeches for different events, and had various other responsibilities. 

While I thought these things were fulfilling at the time, they were only increasing my desire to be chosen.  And while they were deepening that desire, they were also helping me buy into the lie that something besides Christ could satisfy my desire to be chosen.  I still believed in Christ and somewhat understood my need for Him in my life, but these idols clouded my vision of Him and damaged my relationship with Him.

Then at some point in high school, I realized that I wasn’t being chosen for as much.  I wasn’t the best at everything.  People didn’t pick me first for the team.  Guys didn’t ask me out.  Each disappointment came with its own heartbreak.  I got cut from my first team when I was 15.  I didn’t get into my first or second choice for college.  I wasn’t first in my class.  As each idol broke my heart, I was devastated.

I think we all experience some level of devastation at some time or another.  We all have idols that we think will satisfy our desires.  It’s rooted deep in our hearts.

But no matter how many times we’re picked first for the team, asked out by the dream guy, or chosen for a certain honor, we’ll never be completely fulfilled.  The only true fulfillment comes in being chosen and loved by Christ.  So many times, though, we look everywhere else to be fulfilled.  So many times, I turn my gaze to temporal things and imperfect people to fill the hole only Christ can fulfill. 

And the truly crazy thing is that He has already chosen us.  He chose us before we breathed our first.  He chose us before the foundation of the world.  He chose us, knowing that it would cost Him His glory in coming to the earth, being abused, and dying for us.  He chose us knowing that even as He conquered death in His resurrection, He would be rejected by those for whom He died.  And He chose us anyway.

I am chosen.  You are chosen.  We are chosen.

Living in the Truth

Many times, we, as followers of Christ, get distracted.  We turn our eyes off the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  We somehow forget that the Creator of the universe calls us His children, His beloved.  It is so easy for us to look to something on this earth to define our identity, to try to fulfill us.  That has been a major struggle for me lately.  Unless I constantly renew my mind and turn my gaze toward Him, I am completely defeated.  But when I do open my eyes to the truth, I hear Him say over and over again, "I chose you."

Recently a friend of mine wrote a blog about all of the blessings that we experience when we are identified with Christ.  I love the bold truth in her writing:

Though We Are Not, We Are

Continuing the Conversation - Articles

A friend of mine sent me this article earlier in the week, as he thought it went well with the Modesty series.  I agree. 

Lust: Not for Men Only

It's written by a woman, and it's not the typical perspective presented to the Christian community.  She sees what is going on in culture in general and in the culture of our churches and is not afraid to address it. 

Here's another article (that I found through links on the blog above) about women and lust, particularly pornography. 

Why More and More Women are Using Pornography

It is clear from this article that culture has a voice on this issue.  The church needs to, as well.

Modesty - all posts

Here are the links to all 5 posts about Modesty in case you missed one.  Enjoy!

Modesty
Modesty - Identity and Value Part 1
Modesty - Identity and Value Part 2
Modesty - Loving Well
Modesty - Instructing the Next Generation