Resist the Drift

(Ahhhh. For the last two weeks I spent time in Missouri. Though I enjoyed time with friends, family, and ministry leaders, it sure feels good to be home. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who wrote letting me know how much you missed my daily posts. Your words of kindness are always appreciated and so encouraging. It warms my heart to know that the lessons God teaches me inspire you as well. So...with that...I'm happy to announce that I am home and ready to get back to my normal routine.)

For the last several days, God has been stirring a message in me to "AVOID THE DRIFT!" I kept thinking about a time last summer when I watched surfers swim against a strong rip current. Stronger swimmers swam and broke free from the ensuing tide; others lacking the strength and stamina were carried away by the strong drift.

I don't know about you but for me it's easy to get caught up in the currents of life.My tendency to drift toward the mediocre frustrates me. As passionate as I am about serving and loving God, I still find the need to be INTENTIONAL to set aside time to listen and connect with Him. I get lethargic in my relationships...forget to live passionately for my family...I begin to want others to serve me instead of pouring out my life as an offering for them.


In Philippians 4:8-9, the Apostle Paul writes: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice." (NIV)

Whew! With that, all I can pray is "God help me! Help me to resist the current of mediocrity. Empower me to stay out of the rapids of disbelief or succumb to my fears an insecurities. I don't want to live content with the status quo... fill me with Your Spirit so that I might LIVE PASSIONATELY for You...strengthen me to LIVE COURAGEOUSLY. I want to LIVE in such a way as to be remembered...not for my own life...but for YOURS, GOD. I want to LIVE as if this moment may be my last. I want to LIVE with EXCELLENCE. I want to HONOR You with my every breath."

Friend, faith requires courage. Our journey of faith demands persistence. Avoiding the drift towards mediocrity necessitates intentionality. We never drift towards excellence. For most of us, our gravitational pull yanks us toward complacency and the ordinary. So...how do we Resist the Drift?

1. Know God's Vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (KJV) You were created on purpose for a purpose. (See Ephesians 2:10) We must position our lives to hear God's voice and then simply obey. Faith doesn't conjure up some noble notion and say, Here I go, now bless me. Instead, faith simply hears God's voice and aligns itself to follow after it. Have you asked God lately what He desires from you?
   
2. Remember Your Mission. Once God speaks...whew...now comes the hard part...REMEMBERING IT. So many voices call out for our defeat. Inadequacy. Insufficiency. Complacency. You can't. That's impossible. You're too... Habakkuk 2: 2-3 encourages us to: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (NIV) Friend, in our journey between here and there we will need to remember God's mission for our lives.
   
3. Finally, Live Intentionally and Surrendered to be Empowered. Perhaps the greatest area that I draw my courage is to remember God's word in Zechariah 4:6: that it's 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit', says the Lord Almighty." (NIV) Every day, we must decide to live intentionally...but that isn't by our own strength. God alone is the author and finisher of our faith. He is our strength when we are weak. He is our hope, our confidence, our protector, our provider!

Today, I felt impressed to remind you that YOU ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP! CREATED in CHRIST JESUS for good works! He has fashioned you. Designed you with a purpose, ON PURPOSE! You are NOT an accident. NEVER EVER FORGET...He has a plan for your life! Spend some time with Him to rediscover what that is.