Psalm 1
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
CONSIDER THIS
It was the spring of 2014 and I had no idea what I was doing. I’d done four years of college, changing majors far too many times to count. I’d settled on mortuary science and embalming because, you know, that’s what can happen when you’re in a season of uncertainty without a fully formed frontal lobe.
Few things were clear to me during that time. But one thing was certain, I loved the story of God. The best parts of my day were spent sharing the gospel on campus, worshipping with friends, and seeking his presence. Spending time in his Word, we became more and more surprised at all the ways he’d been in pursuit of us. Spending time in prayer, we became more and more certain that he wanted to show us more!
I didn’t have a concept for full-time ministry in those days. After encountering Jesus, following him was a no-brainer. But the idea of vocationally helping others follow him wasn’t a thing. That simply wasn’t something that I saw growing up, so it never crossed my mind. I also hadn’t seen anyone in the secular sphere connect their work with the call to spread the love of Jesus, make disciples, and seek the kingdom of God. I’d slipped into thinking about my life as a compartmentalized narrative—vocation on one side and faith on the other.
But the story of God doesn’t make room for such compartmentalization. It doesn’t speak of moments of being influenced by the Word, but having our imaginations fixed on it, meditating on it day and night. It doesn’t speak of producing for God in separation from him. Rather living a life being planted in him. Jesus doesn’t say, apart from him we can’t do religious things very well. He says apart from him, we can do nothing. This includes choosing a career path. This includes the career.
Fortunately, I met others who were more seasoned in the Story than I was. That semester, the Wesley Foundation campus ministry I attended went to a camp for college students. The speaker of the camp randomly invited me to come intern at his church. That internship allowed me to spend an entire summer chasing after the things of God. I learned how Jesus doesn’t just impact our Sundays, but our families, our vocations, our communities, our lives.
God used that community to help me see what it might look like to spend my life in his service. They helped me think about using my gifts of creativity to share the story of his love. They even helped me book my first event. It was some random group of believers who were gathering in Franklin, Tennessee. They were hungry for the things of God and committed to sowing for a great awakening. They called it New Room.
When the psalmist says “whatever they do prospers,” I don’t think he means “whatever religious activity they do.” The story that God is inviting us into changes everything. From the heart, to the home, to the church, to the city. The more you dive into his story, the depth and breadth of his grace begins to tear down any divides that could lead to compartmentalization.
He wants your all, friends. I pray you become more and more surprised at all the ways he’s pursuing you. I pray you become more and more certain that he wants to show you more.
THE PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for entering into our story. Thank you for the grace that invites us into yours. Help us to see you as the main character of our lives. That in all things, you might receive glory, in all things we might delight in you. Amen.
For the Awakening,
Lo Alaman
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One Response
God wants to show us more. Will we let Him, even if it goes against our self-consumed desires, feelings, and opinions?
Our focus on the Word of God and the presence of the risen Jesus needs to be greater than our focus on self. Self-satisfaction isn’t found by self-seeking but by seeking first the kingdom (government) of God with all your heart. Jesus wants our all!
The way to true self-esteem is full self-surrender to the risen Jesus. The greater my self-awareness the more I realize my selfishness and my desperate need for Jesus. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Your self-doubt is a wakeup call to rely on God instead of on yourself. Base your self-worth on Christ’s forgiveness and love for you, not on your love for yourself or your self-forgiveness.
Self-justification can never talk away guilt. Self-forgiveness without God’s forgiveness is meaningless. Focus on Jesus instead of on yourself.