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Let Love In

Let love in

December 28, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Our kids wake up early. I rise at 5:30am, not to be “holier than thou”, but because, if I don’t, I get no chance at solitude in the day. So when a couple of ours woke at 6:30 this morning, we tried to convince them to sleep it out a little longer. My son was not having it.

In the middle of a temper tantrum in the darkness of a pitch-black room, I hung my head in desperation, pleading with him to lay back down and keep sleeping. Giving no relent in response to my exhaustion, I pulled my tearful child close to me and gave him a hug. The tears slowed. I was on to something.

“You want me to snuggle with you?” Immediately, he responded and headed towards his makeshift cot on the floor (because he insists on sleeping next to his sister, who he lovingly calls “gigger” because he can’t pronounce “sister”). He stopped his wailing, laid down on the giant overstuffed Costco teddy bear and sniffled on the floor next to me.

Love.

It all comes back to love, doesn’t it?

How many problems and stresses do we endure, when, if we would just let love in, we might solve or dispel in an instant?

When I’m anxious about work, fearful that a client will be frustrated or disappointed… love reminds me that I’m okay, even if I do fail.

When there is conflict in marriage… love reminds me that we’re on the same team.

When the brightness of day doesn’t overpower the darkness of hopelessness you feel inside… love says that you’re not alone, and that it’ll all be okay.

And when we scurry about from place to place, seeking meaning in gifts, or trophies or affirmation… let God’s love into the deep places that long to be held, stilled and quenched.

It will change your life, your pursuits, your interactions and expand your ability to freely love those around you. Let love in.

Filed Under: Soul Care Tagged With: love

Leaning Into All The God Has For me

Leaning into all that God has for me

October 30, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Something that God has put on my heart over the last year or two is that He has so much for us, much of which, we never actualize. Most of it, I can’t see and don’t fully understand. But, the realization that there may be more “untapped” blessings, opportunities and expressions of God that I haven’t experienced yet, has begun a journey of leaning into all that God has for me.

Getting started: Facing fears.
When it comes to God, I would venture to say that there is far more unknown than known. Humans have a hard time with change, and with letting go of control. We become fearful and start to wonder if we’ll be safe, accepted, loved, or if the changes and relinquished “control” (whatever control we delusional think we have) will work in our favor.

But God is both knowable — He invites us to uncover His mysteries and reveals Himself in all of creation [Rom 1:20] — and yet unfathomable. There are never-ending expanses of His greatness, glory, creativity and passion. His love is unending and His wisdom incomprehensible. At best, those who study God their whole lives can only claim to say, “I know God, but I am only just getting started.”

So in the face of the unknown, it is right to feel apprehension. Yet, to move towards growth, it looks like letting go of our felt-need of having all the answers or being comfortable with the outcome. As I begin my journey of leaning into all the God has for me, it looks like engaging in areas that aren’t already “normal” in my life.

For me, that looks like:

  • Strengthening my “Spirit Man” (See The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee)
  • Engaging in the work of the Holy Spirit (See The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by John Bevere)
  • Learning to hear the voice of God (See Is That Really You God? by Loren Cunningham)
  • Learning to pray (See Red Moon Rising by Dave Roberts and Pete Greig and The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
  • Educating myself on my royal sonship in Christ (See Spiritual Slavery To Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost and The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson

And that’s just for starters.

Leaning into what God has for me also looks like exercising simplicity, contentedness, joy, rest, social justice, fellowship, worship…

I’m just touching the surface. God has so much in store for me… and you!… that I’m just starting to understand that one of the most painful and disobedient things I can do is to not lean into him. If God has more in store for me — healings, knowledge, freedom, abundance, deeper intimacy with Himself — then why wouldn’t I lean into all that He has for me?!

How are you learning into all that God has for you? Let me know in the comments below.

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: Father Heart of God, Holy Spirit, Prayer

Remember To Love-To Live As Christ

Remember to love

July 31, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

In a world where the voice of the accuser increases daily, I’m urged to remember to love.

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain. And most fools do. Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

It takes a small man to find a flaw, but a great man to overlook it.

Criticism is an easy accomplice, but brings with him disunity. In a day where Twitter wars flare and incite thousands to join in, I can’t help be hear the call of wisdom to return our swords to their sheaths and humbly offer forgiveness — perhaps as we’ve been forgiven.

I’m not saying to turn off your brain — there is still such a thing as right and wrong, though many would have us forget this. And I’m not saying that blind acceptance is the answer; disobedience of God’s law still leads to death. But, especially as believers, we must move towards love as our first response.

Today, offer benevolent grace to someone. Extend understanding to someone who doesn’t deserve it. And lest I sound like I’m beating the drum of hippie lovers of the 60’s, consider that it was Christ who first knelt, drawing unknown marks in the sand, and replied, “Let the one who has no sin throw the first stone.” [John 8:7]

Filed Under: Discipleship Tagged With: Condemnation, Criticism, forgiveness, Grace, love

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