How Bad Do You Want It?

It’s January 6^th. By now a lot of people who have made New Year’s resolutions are giving up. Less than a week into the year they have apparently run out of gas. Did you have one?

Bigger question: Is there something you always say you want, something you tell everybody you are all about, a dream in your heart that you say you’re working towards? If the answer to that is ‘yes’, then I have another question: Are you really pursuing it?

I watch people all the time, young and old, go from being crazy excited about something to not doing a thing in the world about it. They get discouraged when they meet any resistance; they give up when things don’t fall perfectly into place the first time they try. Basically, they want this amazing dream to just fall into their lap without putting forth any real effort…and when that doesn’t happen, they jump ship.

It irks me enough when people won’t follow through on the big plans they have and talk about to everyone, but it absolutely sets my righteous anger ablaze when people won’t act on what they’ve been given straight from God. There’s a distinction here. Yes, God puts dreams and passions in you, and you should definitely follow them (and you know I write about that a lot), but sometimes it’s bigger.

For example, I like to travel. I might make a New Year’s resolution that I will save enough money this year to go to Europe. That’s something I would just like to do. Also, I love music. So I made up my mind a long time ago that I’d like to be in a band. After talking about it for years, I finally formed one. God put that passion for music in me and I’m living out one of my dreams right now.

But here’s where it gets bigger. While I do like traveling, and I do have a passion and talent for music, there are some things that go to that next level. I KNOW I’m supposed to lead worship. I know it because what started as something that was just another way to do music became a passion I burned for. I found myself being a better expression of who I am created to be when engaging in worship. The desires of my heart started to change when I entered into the presence of God and just loved on Him and let Him love on me. And then I started hearing from God about leading worship—how to do it, how not to do it, etc. He told me to leave one place so I could be open to going somewhere else. He gives me words to speak while leading worship. I’ve had people prophesy over me about my role in leading worship. These things are next level things! These are things God has told me!

When people ignore this kind of thing in their life, it kills me. Do you think following the voice of God is always going to be easy? Do you think that it won’t require lots of effort and sacrifice? Of course it is going to be hard at times, and you will probably have to give up a lot in your obedience. But you’ve got to make up your mind that you are just going to do it—no matter what other people say, or what obstacles are put in your path.

It really boils down to how bad you want it. Is it worth giving up comfort, money, recognition, approval?? Is it worth pushing through walls and beating on doors until they finally open?? Is being obedient to your Creator and Lover of Your Soul important enough to you to lay down everything else so you can become what you’re intended to be?? I know it is.

I can promise you it’ll never be more than you can handle with Him on your side. Pray for strength and perseverance and He will faithfully give it to you. Father, I pray for strength and perseverance to follow You and live out what You’ve told me. Give me clearer direction on what to do and the boldness to do it. In Jesus Christ of Nazareth’s holy name, Amen.

Boldness and Fear

There have been a couple of different things I’ve considered writing about over the past few days, but one dual topic comes back to me more than the rest. That dual topic is boldness and fear. Let me explain… and it’s gonna be a little more random than usual :)

Boldness, to me, is wrapped up very closely with faith. When your faith is large, then boldness to share that faith in any circumstance flows naturally. When you know something, then you have no problem telling about it and acting on it. It’s when you have doubts about your beliefs that timidity and uncertainty set in. Thus, when the time comes to actually put your faith into action, fear can come swooping in and paralyze you.

For me, the most common way this manifests itself is when I’m in a public place (at the mall, at a ball game, at work—basically anywhere but church) and I have the opportunity to do something for God. Whether it is the urge to pray for someone, the opportunity to witness, or an occasion arises to just step in and make sure justice is given to the helpless, I sometimes hesitate. My mind starts to wonder things like, “What if I pray for them to be healed and it doesn’t happen?” “What if they laugh at what I say?” “What if this guy beats me up for getting in his business?” All of these questions stem from fear. Even though I can feel the Lord pushing me to do/say something, I have given fear a voice in my decision-making process.

Those times that I give in to the fear, I walk away so mad at myself. Only later, after the heat of the moment has cooled, will I start to see how my timidity was foolish. The main reason I have for not doing what I know God wants me to in certain situations springs from stupid crap; i.e. I’m scared of what people will think about me. Additionally, the hesitation can spring from a lack of faith. If I genuinely believe what is written in the Bible about healing, will I not pray for the sick with more boldness? If I genuinely believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, then won’t I witness that to more people? If I really think it my duty to carry out the will of God and make sure that nobody is taken advantage of, then won’t I speak up for the widows, orphans, and powerless every time I see it happening?

The answer to having more boldness so you can do these things is increasing your faith. You increase your faith by reading the Word, walking out what you read, praying and talking to the Lord, and experiencing the work of God firsthand. As you see the truths of God manifest in your life and in the lives of those around you, fear loses its stronghold. You worry less about what people think of you; you start to care more about God’s opinion of you.

There is a Jason Upton song I was reciting the other day that says, “In your presence, all fear is gone.” How true. When we are covered in the presence of God, fear has no residence. I pray that you press into the life-changing presence of the Lord more and more. That fiery presence is what pushes out fear and raises up boldness. Please pray for me, too. I need that boldness now more than ever.

May God bless each of you richly and deeply through His Son Jesus Christ.

In His Never-Ending and Boundless Love,

adam