Rely & Rest

Romans 12:² “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (emphasis added).

How do you gain traction and make progress with your life? You need to get a G.R.I.P. ‘G’ stands for Gain Momentum by Disrupting Your Patterns. Disrupt your patterns. Luke 12:⁵¹ “Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront!” (MSG). If you travel to the U.K. for instance, instead of taking the bus or the train, rent a car. Drive on the left side of the road and challenge your mind. If you like reading business books, drop them and begin to read fictional books. Gain Momentum by Disrupting Your Patterns.

The second is ‘R’ – Rely on God’s Strength, Not Your Own. The end of your own strength can truly be the beginning and the turning point of your destiny. When you are out of your own strength, then you can discover God’s might. Philippians 4:¹³ “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” 2 Corinthians 12:¹⁰ “…For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Rely on God’s strength. Sometimes, God will allow you to deplete your own strength, and when your own strength runs out, then God begins. The truth is, we experience the best of God when we enter the rest of God. And we enter the rest of God, not in our strength, but by exchanging our strength (whatever you think is strength) with His strength.

The mystery of God’s power is it does not come from us. Most times we want to struggle to make it happen, it flows through us. So, we need to relax and enter into God’s rest. And that is the difference between religion and the gospel of Jesus. Someone I follow put up a post that is so true, and it blessed me. The post read, all religion says is summed up in one word, “Do”. But the gospel can be summed up in one word and that word is “Done”. It is finished! It is done! Religion says “Do”, the Gospel says “Done”. This is super huge! Perry Noble says, “I used to believe God used me because I was good – now I know it has always been because He is Good”. Until you realize this truth, you will continue to struggle.

Rely on God’s strength. Most times we serve God, and we do things for God, and we subconsciously think we are diligent or good and that is why God is using us. But you will eventually realize that is not because you are good, but because He is good. It is not because you are kind, but it is because He is kind. It is not because you are merciful, it is because He is merciful. It is not because you are faithful, it is because He is faithful.

Prayer (song): Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Jehovah Nissi, Lord, You reign in victory. Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace. And I worship You because of who You are. Amen!