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Jesus at the center of it all

Jesus at the center of it all

January 25, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment


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What would it look like if Jesus were at the center of every piece of your life? To be the breath, the heartbeat, the one single goal and desire of our existence; even if you could picture it, how might you go about putting Jesus at the center of it all?

Often, this concept lives just outside the realm of my understanding. It exists as an ideal that I can’t quite put my finger on. Yet, when I’m still, I know that deep down, my soul longs for Christ to be at the center; even when I can’t fully grasp what that means in practice.

Letters from a potato-cutting monk, known by the name of Brother Lawrence, were compiled into a book titled “Practicing the Presence of God” in which he stumbles through the growing process of learning to walk with God in every moment; the mundane, the busy, the seemingly unholy.

Is this it? Is that Jesus at the center of it all?

A group of dreadlock-wearing, clothes-sewing, homeless-loving Christ-followers settled down in an abandoned building in Philly-Camden to pursue radical generosity, selflessness, fellowship and sustainable living; prompting them to pour $10,000 into the streets during their “year of jubilee.”

Is this it? Is this Jesus at the center of it all?

24/7 prayer breaks out across the world as a few wild and unschooled intercessors inadvertently start the epidemic spread of ceaseless prayer amongst youth. A vision of a sea of worshipers is followed by a vow crying out from a generation of nameless, faceless prayer warriors.

Is this what it looks like for Jesus to be at the center of it all?

 
Maybe… Probably… But is there more?

 
What else does God have in store for His people? What if you’re steps away from actualizing a new piece of the Kingdom of God here on earth? God knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a 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.

The Gospel is not limited to your salvation and promise of heaven when you die. The Good News is that the veil was torn between the people and the holy of holies. We have been adopted as sons and daughters who can approach the throne with confidence because of Christ’s offering on Calvary.

No more required sacrifice for our atonement. No more captivity to sin or to fear. His Kingdom is coming and all His enemies are being put under His footstool, including death.

The Great News is that we have full-access to God through the Holy Spirit, our counselor and helper; moreover, this Servant-King has invited us to be His ambassadors and official Kingdom-bringers. He has written his law on our hearts and given us the mind of Christ that we might obediently walk out the unique piece of the Kingdom that he has placed on us as our life’s calling.

Jesus at the center of it all may look like quiet meditation, a prayer movement or radical generosity; but it undoubtedly looks like you living out a God-given vision on your life.

Be still. Call on Him. Walk it out… Jesus at the center of it all.

Filed Under: The Kingdom Centered Mind Tagged With: Jesus At The Center, Kingdom of God, Surrender

Early Morning Fog at Jenny Lake of Grand Tetons

Move Forward Into The Unknown

July 17, 2014 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment


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When faced with a decision, especially one requiring trust and sacrifice — looking forward into the unknown and leaving behind the security and comfort of the familiar — there is one primary concept at work that has been bubbling to the surface lately. That is, “If you’ve heard from the Lord, move forward into the unknown.”

We are such creatures of habit. We love the familiar. We trust the tried, true and tested and fear “new” and “different”. But if we are to believe that, as Christians, we’re not simply biding our time here on earth, awaiting a “chariot to carry us home”, but instead that God has invited us into an adventure of epic and eternal proportions — here, now, forever — then gripping the armchair of comfort is not choosing His best for us.

Do you believe that God wants to pull you out of the mundane? Can you dream with me for a second that “normal” is not God’s design for your few decades of earthly existence?

Stop. Listen closely. Be still. You can almost smell the aroma of heaven, inviting you into a story far greater than your wildest imaginations; a story of redemption, wholeness, victorious trials and intimate relationship with a king, creator and friend.

Your next decision beckons you homeward. Will you choose fear and security, or will you stand at the mountain’s edge and step off into the wild journey of faith? I pray you might move forward into the unknown.

Filed Under: The Kingdom Centered Mind Tagged With: Faith, Kingdom of God, Surrender, Trust

Trial by Jury

Finding a Kingdom-centered vision for jury duty

June 25, 2014 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment


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Yesterday morning, I was mentioning that I had jury duty today. Busy making clever comments about how I could get out of the commitment, I was caught by something that a treasured friend said in response:

“We need more people of integrity on the juror bench.”

That shift in thinking was what it took to humble me and convict me of my attitude toward this civic responsibility. I saw jury duty as a waste of my time and something to be avoided. She saw it as an opportunity to extend righteousness. What I thought was an obligation to be avoided, was actually potential moment for the Kingdom of God to advance on earth. What awful and valuable conviction!

What areas of your life do you consider to be painful obligations, that are actually God-ordained opportunities?

Filed Under: The Kingdom Centered Mind Tagged With: Injustice, Kingdom of God

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