Day 2, August 10, 2011
So as I begin day two of this journey, it is hard to not think about the fact that I am a youth minister at a church and I am a maintenance technician who also leads worship at a Christian eating disorder facility. To some of you the concept may be bothersome but to others maybe not so much. To me, I sit and wonder why Jesus has me in the positions he has me in right now. I do not wonder if he put me in the positions I have now because I know with full confidence that he orchestrated where I am. It feels like such a mystery to me that at one avenue I know exactly what Jesus wants for my life and then on other things I have no clue.
Part of this challenge for me is reconnecting with Jesus on a daily basis. I definitely believe He is active and working in my life. I know that I have been saved by His saving grace also. What eats at me is that I do not feel as though I have a direct relationship with Him. I do not feel as though we share a daily connection. I do not allow Him to lead all areas of my life.
The lesson that we taught tonight in youth was a video from Disciple 2 Disciple ministry. It was about How do you do the Christian life? The speaker, Greg, really had some great things to say and spoke about John 15:1-8 where Jesus spoke about being the vine and us being the branches. It requires us to fully lean and depend on Jesus to produce growth and fruit. It is impossible to do anything to further the kingdom without depending on the Jesus.
Just that one concept really stuck in my soul. It is impossible to do anything to further the kingdom without depending on the Jesus. We live in such a world today where we are told that through determination and will we can accomplish anything. All we have to do is want it bad enough and never give up. My wife and I were watching the Adjustment bureau the other day where the moral of the story was that God has always intended for us to make our own path and exert our own free will. This world’s message is it is all about the individual. We can do anything even defy God and God is pleased with that. It is no wonder that we struggle so much as Christians to know Jesus. Many of us spend more time trying to figure out how we can live our life on top of serving Jesus instead of realizing and accepting that we have no life without Jesus.
Jesus,
I come to you humbly surrendering my will to you tonight. I am so sorry for the many times in my life that I have ripped the reigns of my heart from your hands vainly thinking that I could lead my life better than you. Please take complete control of my heart. I ask that you come in and cultivate, prune, prepare, and seed the garden of my heart that I may grow and produce your fruit. Help me to remember that I can do nothing without you. That my life is truly and completely dependent upon you and the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, protect, and prepare the way for each moment of my day. I love you Lord. Forgive me for my rebellion. May I completely open myself up to you.
Your Servant,
Greg
I hope that you would find peace and solace in the fact that Jesus is the core of your life. He is the vine and you are the branch. Let him fill you with the spirit of life. Allow him to grow you and produce fruit in you. Be willing to trust Him when he prunes you. Even though you may experience pain, trust that he is pruning your heart for maximum growth. Jesus loves us. He is kind and gentle. He only seeks the best for us in the way of extending His kingdom. May you all have peace tonight.
Blessings
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