God to David: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I’m making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth -II Sam. 7:8

When I read through the Bible I’m noticing more and more that it’s full of “Only God” moments.

David defeated Goliath – Only God

David went from tending to sheep to being King of Israel – Only God!

Joseph went from being a slave in prison to 2nd in command in all of Egypt – Only God

Paul went from Killing Christians to Writing 3/4 of the New Testament & Preaching Jesus to the Gentiles- Only God

Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead to redeem the World – Only God

When it comes to us living for God – we need to get this truth in our heart: In ourselves we are nothing and can do nothing! But in Christ, we can do everything! People should look at our lives and say “Only God”:

Only God could have gotten them that job

Only God could have gotten them that spouse

Only God Could have blessed him that way

Only God . . .

My prayer for my life and for yours is that we’ll lay down our lives and trust God for everything. I have no desire to do anything with my life that I could look at and say “I did it! I figured it out! I had a plan and it came to pass” No… I want to be able to look at everything in my life and say to people, “Only God”

When we do, our natural response will be like David’s:

King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: “Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? . . . What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You’ve done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart! -II Sam. 7:18-21

Thoughts?

“If God gives you a dream, and the dream comes to life and God shows up in it, and then the dream died,  it may be that God wants to see what is more important to you – the dream or Him. The impact God has planned for us doesn’t occur when we’re pursuing impact. It occurs when we’re pursuing God. At last after a lifetime of striving, God was enough. Not God and impact or God and ministry. Just God.”

-Phil Vischer

My favorite verse in the Bible is Matthew 6:33 – Seek First the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you. Putting God first really is the key to experiencing life to the fullest, however, all too often we put ourselves first, in the name of putting Him first. “God if I’ll put you first, I know all my dreams and plans will come true!”

Well, what if God has a different plan and dream for your life than you do? Sure, God will give you the desires of your heart, but only when you desires line up with His desires. We’ll only get to that point when we’re willing to let our dreams and desires die.

God is longing for us to get to a place where we willingly lay down our dreams, desires, wants, and plans in exchange for His dream, His desires, His wants, and His plans. The place where God alone is enough. Only then can we really pursue God’s dream for our lives.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of trying to do things in my own strength. I’m laying down my dreams, will you?

Thoughts?

⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”        -Acts 1:8

I was talking to a Pastor that lives in a small town. This man has been all over the world and done some pretty incredible things. As I was talking to him, he said, “Because of what God has done in this town and through our church, it’s opened up the whole world to me.”

That really got me thinking. I’ve always desired to do so many things – travel all around the world, meet incredible people, and do incredible things. When he said “Because of what God has done” it got me thinking about my life.

I’ve gotten to go to Peru, Africa, a ton of places in the U.S., I’ve met some incredible people, run 3 marathons, and done some pretty awesome things. I would have never done any of these things if I wouldn’t have made a decision in my life to go after God with all of my heart.

Jesus said to go into the entire world and preach the good news. God wants to take us on the adventure of a lifetime through serving Him. An adventure we won’t even believe we get go on. But the adventure has a cost:

Jesus always set a high bar for people who wanted to go on an adventure with Him – Leave everything and FOLLOW ME. The ones who weren’t willing, missed out on the adventure of a lifetime. The ones who did had the entire world open up to them.

Where are the places God wants to take you if you’ll simply follow Him? Who are the people He wants you to meet? What are the things He wants you to do? Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

Will you follow Him? If you do, watch as the entire world opens up to you!