You know those sermons where you feel like you're the only one in the room and God is speaking directly to you through the pastor? Definitely was one of those Sundays last week.
You may have gathered through my previous posts that I've been struggling a bit with trusting and believing God lately. I mean, like I know that God is good. I know His plans are great and better than anything I could ever imagine. I know that I'm never alone. But practically speaking, what does that look like? What would my life look like if I knew these things and BELIEVED them? If I took God for His Word and practically lived out these Truths in my life?
The sermon started out talking about moving from spiritual cliches to practically applying and living out God's Truth. Could it fit any better?! The verse the pastor focused on was 2 Corinthians 9:8, which says:
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
First, notice the word ALL...in all things, at all times, having all that you need....God knows what I need before I ever do and knows what I need much better than I do. And He is ABLE!!! For anything. I needed these reminders more than I realized. Pastor Vaughn even said at one point, "God just laid it on my heart that someone needed to hear these things today." (I seriously felt like there were flashing lights above me pointing at me....that's how direct it was.)
But yet so refreshing.
My God is able. Even if I'm failing, when I surrender before Him and make it about Him and not me, He is able to do it all.
Tonight, I listened to a man speak about God and His goodness that he's experienced through a horrific car accident he was in a couple years ago. This guy was in a coma for two months and is mostly wheelchair bound right now. It was incredible to hear him testify so passionately about God's character and how much he began to fully understand that through the trials and sufferings he's dealt with because of this accident. He talked about four lessons he's learned throughout the process this far and one of them being that God is enough. He talked about his ministry he was involved in and how he easily could have missed knowing God because he was so caught up in doing for God. What if everything was taken away from us? Would God be enough? Yes. But really, would He? I want Him to be. I know He should be. I know He can be. I'm not gonna lie, it's a huge challenge for me.
My life is nothing like I thought it would be at this point in time, but I want to be okay with that. Genuinely okay with that. I want to get to the point where I know and BELIEVE that He is ABLE and He is ENOUGH.
I feel like part of me loves missions trips because it forces me to that point. Going to Africa...alone...for 18 days...there is absolutely nothing familiar about it. Except my luggage. I'm pushed so far out of my comfort zone to the point of..."Okay God, I have nothing to depend on...you're it!" argh! I get so frustrated that it takes me going on a missions trip to have that mentality.
So I guess that's how you could be praying....that God would do whatever it takes for me to have a constant attitude of "Okay God, you're it!"...whether I'm in Africa or Wadena. At church or at work. Doing ministry or buying groceries. Because He is it. And He is more than able and enough. I want to testify of that.
