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Leaning into all that God has for me

October 30, 2017 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

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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.

Think. Pray. Love.

June 30, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

In the current debate over same-sex marriage, legalization of marijuana, immigration reform, SOPA/PIPA, and the list goes on… my advocation to Christians is to think and pray.

You can count on being regarded as a bigot, egocentric, unaccepting, prude and old-fashioned. The same group that casts these labels has demonstrated little interest in becoming acquainted with your thoughts and beliefs, so you will be misunderstood.

But don’t stop thinking deeply, praying fervently and loving wildly.

You will be asked to be quiet, but as of now, free-speech is still a part of our constitution, and I would urge you to exercise that ability.

Yet, while you do, think:

About the people involved on the other side of the debate
About your body, soul and mind becoming more in line with the heart of the Father
Critically; seek truth, not what appeases man
Long and hard before speaking; seek first to understand before being understood

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

All is not lost. We have been here before. Court rulings will be decided, and later overturned. Our responsibility is to think, pray and love.

Pray for wisdom in the decisions that are made; that our government would see past the immediate, to understand the long-term effects of their decisions.

Pray for men and women of faith to step into office, that they might reflect the rule of God in the United States as it is in the heaven.

Pray for hope and peace for young Christian fathers and mothers who are eagerly seeking to raise God-fearing children in an increasingly humanistic society.

Pray for your “enemies”. Pray for those on the other side of the debate. Pray for those who are different than you.

My mom always prayed over us boys: “Bless them as they obey you God, and curse them in their disobedience.” A mother’s loving response desires that our road is difficult if we choose to reject God’s ways; that the difficult road might turn us back to Him.

Don’t lose hope.

Think Deeply. Pray Fervently. Love Fiercely.

Being right doesn’t preclude you from showing love. Landing on the losing side of a vote doesn’t exclude you from showing kindness or giving generously. And though your heart may burn within you to see God’s children run from Him, His desire to ravish them with loving kindness is greater than the fear or angst that you may feel. So love fiercely.

Jesus’ time with the prostitute at the well ended with truth: “go and sin no more.” But it was his love which saw beyond her past that caused her to hurry into the city proclaiming she had found the Messiah.

The people didn’t kill Jesus for his evasive argumentative skills. They killed him because, in a world of darkness, there is no place for the type of radical love that He espoused. Oh that we would love like Jesus!

For you to think, pray and love, you may be stoned or crucified. Yet consider this: our King was. And death did not keep Him down, nor will it have the final word with you. #JesusWins

Simply Resting in God’s Plan Salvation Plan

April 5, 2012 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment

Having some deep, theological thoughts this morning… probably a little too much for so little sleep.

I was just wrestling with why God doesn’t simply change everyone’s hearts to turn towards him. I processed through this at the speed of an old desktop computer, chugging and grinding through the possibilities (again, it was early).

Then God seemed to calm my mind and heart and remind me that “He is in control” and that He desires all to come to know Him freely, not out of robotic, ritualistic, coerced religion. Something about this just clicked and I rested in the thought that God knows our hearts and wants each of us to come to Him. He is so patiently waiting for us.

So this morning, I lift up neighbors in the 10, that their hearts would be yielded to God and that nothing would hold them back. I worship God for His almighty faithfulness and wisdom that is so far beyond my understanding (even at a reasonable hour). The “Jesus Culture” Pandora radio station saturates the background of this post and my heart is re-postured to the Lord in submission and awe of His glorious power, plan and untainted, unending fervor for drawing every heart to Himself. www.wearemission.com/pray

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Leaning into all that God has for me

Think. Pray. Love.

Simply Resting in God’s Plan Salvation Plan