April 29th

April 29th

How often do we settle for less than we could have? We stop short of all that our relationship with the Lord could be when we settle for just going to church once a week or CR or bible study. We sell ourselves short when we don’t spend time talking with the Lord, listening to Him, and fellowshipping with Him. He wants so much more than we make time for but we can do it if we just give ourselves the opportunity. Just open that door.

Louie Giglio tells a story about one time when he was a guest speaker at a youth conference when he was younger. The church ministry that brought him in to speak put him up in hotel for the night. He tells that the minister that picked him up at the airport told him that he couldn’t wait for Louie to get checked in to the hotel because he would just love his wonderful room. Louie had a few hours before speaking that night so they dropped him by the hotel so he could rest. He checked in, went to his room and decided to nap. So far nothing impressive about his hotel room, a bathroom, a bed, a desk, a TV, -nothing unusual. The view? -just overlooking the parking lot, nothing special.

When they picked him up for the evening speaking engagement they commented to him in the car on the way, “How about that room huh?”

Louie hesitated, unsure why they were making a big deal about it and so he just said, “Yeah, it’s nice. I had a good nap this afternoon.”

That night after the conference was over and they dropped him off, it was obvious when he walked in his hotel room that the turn down service had been there and left chocolates for him on the pillow. They also left a door ajar. A door, that he earlier in the day thought was to an adjoining hotel room. Since it was ajar, he opened it and found it was to a hallway and at the end of the hallway was a huge living room, a kitchen, another bedroom and 2 bathrooms, -a whole suite. Here he was in a huge suite the whole time and didn’t even know it. He never bothered to open the door. Now all the fuss everyone from the conference was making over the hotel room made total sense. (Apparently the owner of the hotel attends the church and lets them put their guests in a suite there.)

How many times do we miss out on all that God has for us, much more than we realize, because we don’t bother to open the door? When is the last time you went on an adventure exploring God, who He is and what He has for you? Are you settling for routine, missing out on extraordinary? Not just God’s plan for us, that is good of course, but also our relationship with Him. We can experience His presence in a real, intimate way that opens up a whole amazing “suite” to us. He wants to be involved in every part of our lives in a real way, not just as a distant Judge on a throne somewhere “up there.” He wants us to draw near to Him and experience His heart for us.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Ephesians 1:17-21 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Jesus, I don’t want to stop short of all that you have for me. I want to know you more and experience all that you have for me. I don’t want to miss out. I don’t just want routine. Please show me how to seek you with all of my heart, show me how to lean in to you. Holy Spirit lead me on the journey that takes me closer to you. Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes and my heart to more of you.