Left Behind For a Purpose

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

Life Here on Earth

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”  Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” – John 13:36

You have been left behind on purpose, for a purpose, to live with purpose.

It’s difficult to understand why it’s so hard for us to dig deep, we roam about this earth accepting the norm, moving within our natural talents and only stretching just enough to feel satisfied within our own selves that we’re doing our “due diligence”; we work hard, we attend church, volunteer at the local food shelf, care for our children and pay our tithe on Sundays – which are all great things- but then we brush our hands together and sigh relief.

Is that all there is?  Is that the extent of the power that was handed over to us at the cross?  Why are we so hesitant to abandon all ideals and expectations to find a deeper call of living?  What is in that place that the enemy does not want us to see and experience?  Could it be that we are just too afraid of what that process may do to our perfect realities?  This is the journey I am on and the questions that burden my heart today…. where are the warriors of the faith?  Where are the men and women of God that have reckless abandon to see miracles and experience what it means to truly LIVE?  Do they exist anymore?  I know they do because I’ve had the blessing of befriending a few, but what keeps the majority of us from this level of living?

John 14:5 – Thomas said to Him, “Lord we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Even the closest few who knew Jesus were nervous about being left behind here, they worried saying, “how do we know the way?” and be it just like Jesus to give an answer that doesn’t come with some profound poetic process just simply understanding that there isn’t a “way” naturally speaking, there is no amount of good deeds to be done, or some scientific formula that will manifest a “way” to the deep places of living, He IS the way.  Seeking Him out, and what God wants for you and your life, IS the way, it is the only way.  You can do all of these great natural things that I spoke of in the last paragraph but if you rely on them to fulfill your spirit you will be left feeling empty and discouraged.

If you are truly pursuing God you will find yourself in a place of disillusionment and challenge.  It is a vital part of the process to question who God is, if He is real, and to be frustrated with the point of life, it means you are honestly pursuing truth and depth.  Without question and frustration, there is no depth, you are merely swimming in a shallow pool of comfort.

His Kingdom has come, His will is being done

“…For behold the kingdom of God is in your midst.” – Luke 17:21(b)

Look no further!  God IS doing magnificent things right within your midst.  Open your eyes and your soul to perceive what is happening in and around you, do not be dismayed by the destruction that this world is going through but search deeper and find the fulfilling of His plan in action so that you may be a light in this dark place.  Thank Him in your prayer time for His will being done on earth, and in earth (in you, for you are the salt of the earth) as it is in Heaven!  Do not question whether or not He’s forgotten about you or turned a blind eye to the darkness appearing in the natural but understand that this battle is being fought on much deeper ground than we naturally see, so therefore you must seek it out on a much deeper level to find the rewards of your purpose.  If you seek the kingdom here on earth, you will only be disappointed; pastors will disappoint you, churches will disappoint you and religiosity will disappoint you, because His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) it is of another world and must be sought with wild abandon and deep intention.

God is With us

We are to be the workers in the field, bringing in the harvest.  We were created to be the warriors fighting for the victory in the battle, God has equipped us by sending the Holy Spirit to help us “finish the job”…

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:6,7

I urge you to not be distracted with the frivolities of worry, anxiety, concern and control, the firmer you hang onto such things the more you will experience unnecessary grief.  There is a purpose for you here on earth, and you’ve been equipped to fulfill this purpose and that purpose will come with power if you surrender yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I’m not talking about the Spirit as He enters us upon salvation, I am talking about an intentional filling and following of the power of the Spirit, there is a difference and that’s a whole other topic of discussion.  God is with you, He walks beside you and goes before you, He has given you the tools to live a powerful life that will speak to others through intangible evidence. Take heart and search Him out!!!

…there is a season for everything under Heaven

Not long ago in dealing with a family issue the Lord spoke to me and gave me the word “tumulous” I had never heard the word and did not know what it meant so when I got home I looked it up and the word tumulous is an adjective and means “full of mounds [a natural or unnatural elevation of earth, as for defense; barriers]”  I had an illumination of the fact that the journey before me was not going to be without resistance and required a certain tenacity if I wanted to truly purpose to do all that God had for me to do here on earth.  This means seasons of abundance as well as seasons of discomfort.

The seasons of abundance seem to be easy to handle, exciting, fruitful and naturally enjoyable.  However when the season of challenge comes to move on to new levels, and for God to clean out the shrapnel in my soul; to disturb my “red-tape” ideals, that’s when I find it hard to resist the temptation to be troubled, dark, stressed, lonely, anxious and heavy.  I believe this is why God’s word refers to these conditions so often in warning us not to succumb to them and giving us a way to deal with the temptation of falling trap to them, because he knew we’d be entering un-charted waters where the only vision we have is trusting in what He says and where He’s leading us (Phil 4:6).

If we’re being honest with ourselves these seasons can be the most difficult even for the strongest of spiritual warriors, Jesus didn’t come and tell us we’d never have issues if we followed Him, no, on the contrary he said “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But take heart!  I’ve conquered the world.” – John 16:33 (MSG).  So yes, seasons will be sure to bring obstacles but God has given you a way to fight against them and work through them while enjoying the journey with Him.  It seems counterintuitive but if it wasn’t so, He wouldn’t have said it!

We Need to Renew our Mind and Have Victory!

“Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it, then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8

Woo Glory!  Thank you Jesus that there is a way to renew and refresh, there is a way to have victory in this dark world!! We may have been left behind for a purpose, but we are NOT forgotten or forsaken!  God of angel armies cares about your victory, His best for you is ready for you to receive.  You do not have to live at the level that this world says you do,  you no longer have to watch TV shows to have adventure or romance, you don’t have to get drunk to experience relaxation or fun, and you don’t have to be on 50 medications to experience health and wholeness.  The Holy Spirit wants to fulfill every need you have, He’s just waiting for you to receive it.  God’s favor is waiting to cover you, Learn to Receive it!

The purpose of God’s word is for your sake, God gave you instructions and insight because He knew you’d need it, especially in the time we live we need nourishment for our soul and spirit, food to mature us, to push us forward and to challenge us to continue to become.  If you ever think you’ve arrived and have God figured out, I will warn you to look out!  So meditate on it, read it, breathe it in, let it refresh you, renew you and bring you through to victory so that you can be a living testimony to those around you.

In closing I want to challenge you to find a discomfort with this life, a disillusionment with the process and a hunger for deeper things of God, for it is in this vulnerable state that you will find the filling of the Spirit and new levels of living beyond your wildest imagination!  There is adventure to be had, lives to change, miracles to see and refining to experience! “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!” – Joshua 1:9

Blessings on your journey to the deep!!!

Rheanna