What a Concept!
The one true mark of spirituality is to love God, love people, and love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-40)
We have all been given the gift of “a lifetime” to make our mark, leave a legacy, and be world changers. Sometimes the pressure of this calling, coupled with our Western tendency to measure success in terms of money and people, can distract us from the most important things - and rob us of our peace and joy at the same time! That’s why it’s so important to surrender our passion to Him.
Jesus came to pronounce a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. I clearly remember a season in my life when my mind and heart were muddled with a kingdom of marketing, smart ministry, and the weight of influencing the masses. This isn’t wrong in itself; however, I was ready to throw my phone, iPad, and computer into the sea of forgetfulness! Everywhere I went technology joined me, pressuring me to tweet and post with clever hashtags so I could change the world for Jesus.
Out of desperation I finally stopped the nonsense, fell on the hammock in my backyard, and communed with Jesus. For a good long while I seriously unplugged, just soaking in His love, pouring out my heart and receiving His love. . . and His perspective. After much solitude and serenity, I could feel His peace flood my heart. He gently spoke, “Audrey, do you know why I put you on this earth?” I said, “Please tell me, because I’m pretty tired.” The simple answer was profound: “To love and celebrate. Love Me, love others, celebrate life, celebrate Me.” My mind resisted: but that’s too easy. I love loving and I love celebrating. I don’t even have to try to do that. What a concept!
That day changed my life. Not much changed on the outside, but a new level of trust grew in my heart. With greater peace I daily loved and celebrated, and Jesus downloaded the strategy each day to do “what I saw my Father doing.” Nothing more, nothing less.
Living a surrendered life naturally evolves into a life of significance. Your daily choices to surrender your life for His will journey you from a place of merely surviving, to becoming stable. Once you have reached stability, you will begin to experience personal victories and you’ll begin to feel yourself living free from worry and fear, and laughing and smiling will come effortlessly!
After finding your place of rest, you’ll soon find yourself naturally helping others. You have now moved to a place of significance where your life in God influences others and enables them not to quit. You are in this world, but you’re not of it. Your dreams of tomorrow will reflect the kingdom from which you come from. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). As you live a life of unspeakable joy and peace in your heart, you will be contagious and naturally fulfill the assignment for which you are on earth.
So what does that mean for you? It means you are in constant interaction with God, worshipping him, hearing him, and then accomplishing His agenda on planet earth! Instead of trying to get him to accomplish your agenda, you simply find yourself living life and being at the right place at the right time to bring comfort, words of encouragement, healing, truth and hope.
Today is my day to acknowledge the significance of my life…what a gift from God! The choices I make to make the most of today and every day has the potential to catapult me into a glorious tomorrow – when I wake up smiling, I can look forward to being amazed beyond my wildest dreams!
Bob and I are praying for you and believe in the gifts God has given you!
Love Audrey