Maneuvers - No. 81
Made for
More
Faithful One, have you ever had that nagging feeling that you were made for more?
Maybe you feel as though you’ve been playing it safe. Or you feel you’ve been holding back in your relationship with Jesus. Or you know the Lord is calling you to step out and serve in ways you never have before. Or you feel a tug toward something that’s just… deeper.
We (Jennifer and Justin) have felt that, too. We understand that aching hunger for more with Jesus. More beauty, more hope, more joy, more freedom, more fearlessness, more abundant life.
And the good news is that it’s not impossible or out of reach. It’s available to you—to all his children. But it starts with us searching our hearts and asking…
Do I want to be more honest with God?
Do I want to see life through his eyes more than my own?
Do I want to love the things he loves and hurt over the things that grieve him?
Do I want to lay down anything that’s standing in the way of knowing him better?
After all, this relationship that God calls us to have with him… it’s not a one-way street. It’s a beautiful back-and-forth built on love, truth, and honesty.
This week’s FLAG Message is a tender invitation to experience that kind of relationship with our heavenly Father. So come, join us as we listen…
01.
The Message
“You are magnificent to me. I am so proud of you. I made you pure and good, a product of my heart. As you search for me, look deep within you. I have written myself in your mind, in your body, in your spirit. My breath is in you. Do not fear, for I give you wisdom. Do not fear, for love covers you. Do not fear, for you can ask me for what you need. I am here, listening. Let’s have a conversation about your ideas, your dreams, your questions—what captivates your heart and mind. And then let me tell you what captivates mine.
“Connection is what I love most. And goodness. And purity—what is filled with love, my kiss upon this world, everything I’ve made. Do you run toward these things? Connection and goodness and purity? Do you desire things that are whole or what is broken? Do you expect goodness to follow you everywhere you go? Do you expect mercy to be right behind where you take your next step? Do you expect me to fuel your ideas as you raise your head this day?
“Do you believe I love you? Do you believe I create beauty for you to see and hear and touch? Do you believe I walk with you, speak to you, guide you, provide sustenance for your heart and body and mind? What do you want now? Do you know what questions you have for me? Let me help you wrestle with your deeper thoughts, the emotions you have tucked down deep. Let them surface now. Let yourself feel what it is you feel. Let me shelter you with my love, be the friend, the father, the most trusted companion and counselor for your days. We are made to be together.
“Be in the world but not of the world. You are made for a different kingdom. See glimpses of it now, child. All around you and within you. Be the one who expects me in the most surprising places. The one who is treasured. The one who is fearless in adversity. The one who is secure and grounded in true identity. The one who belongs and is deeply loved by me.”
02.
Listen
What line or phrase stood out to you most in this week’s message? In one word, what’s your response to that line? Let’s take that response to the Lord in prayer.
03.
Think
“Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home” (Psalm 23:6, TLB).
1. What questions have you been wrestling with lately that you want to bring to God?
2. Where are you struggling right now? Where do you long for more goodness, purity, connection, and fearlessness in your life?
3. In what areas do you tend to be of the world (adopting its mindsets, beliefs, and behaviors)? How is Jesus calling you to realign your perspective with his?
04.
Trust
Let’s take a moment to think about who we were before Jesus. (Or if you’ve known him since you were a young child, think about who you would be right now without him.)
Outside of Jesus, we were sick, directionless, lost, broken, sinful, guilty. The Bible says we couldn’t even please God if we tried (see Romans 8:8). But he loved and rescued us anyway!
Now let’s look at how the Bible describes us because we’re in Christ Jesus:
Holy (Ephesians 1:4)
Delighted in (Psalm 149:4)
Chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
Loved (Colossians 3:12)
A royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)
Part of God’s spiritual family (Ephesians 2:19)
Free (Galatians 5:1)
Healed (1 Peter 2:24)
Blessed (Ephesians 1:3)
In connection with him (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Saints (1 Corinthians 1:2)
How does knowing these things change the way we communicate with God? How does it free us to be honest with him? And how does it strengthen our resolve to get rid of every obstacle in the way of our communion with him?
Let’s take a moment and write down our response to the words on the list above.
Now, let’s invite the Lord into the areas of our hearts where we’re struggling and questioning. (And remember, these areas of struggle don’t make the things God says about us any less true!)
Let’s start by setting a timer for five minutes, closing our eyes, and breathing deeply once… twice… even three times. With each breath, we can let our defenses down and open our hearts.
Now let’s ask the Lord: “In this area of struggle, where am I believing lies about you or about me? What’s the truth? How do you want to speak to these struggles, Jesus?”
If the Lord laid anything on our hearts during this time of quiet reflection, let’s write it down. And now, let’s close in prayer.
05.
Pray
Lord, thank you for the healing work you’re doing in my heart. Thank you for pulling me out of darkness and filling me with your light and truth!
But I also know there’s so much more to discover with you. I want to know you better and experience more of your abundant life.
Show me how to respond to your invitation to go deeper. Help me be honest with you so you can work on my heart. I surrender all I am to you. No matter what it takes, I’m committed to following you as you lead me.
I love you, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
