I just want to encourage you tonight. Our God is faithful. Our God is sovereign. Our God is GOOD! I know you have been hearing this from me a lot lately, and to be honest with you, that's actually not what I intend to talk about most of the time, but I can't help but mention His goodness. I was upstairs worshipping just a minute ago, and I couldn't contain the love of God that I felt being poured upon me. I heard so clearly some things that I would like to share with you guys tonight. There is a danger when you are this excited about something that when you type it out and try to express it, that it may not portray what you want it to portray. Many times, I struggle with trying to express my heart in a way that makes sense and ministers to the people reading what I write. I want to adequately express the greatness of God and how much He loves us...I want to share with you God's heart for your life, and I pray that I'll be able to share in such a way that makes you marvel at the goodness and sovereignty of God. :)
As many of you know from reading my blog, I have been going through a lot of things recently that have really made me grow. There have been definite hard days...days of confusion...days of fear...days of anger...days of sadness and days where I just felt so tired that I didn't even know how to feel. It wasn't even all just one situation...but instead a compilation of shifts...Shifts in mindsets, focus, purpose, identity, friendships...among many other things. My mind and spirit has been overwhelmed with the voice of God and His truth. One thing that I have learned over the past week is that the Holy Spirit is the best Comforter and Lover that we could ever have. His voice is gentle but bold...comforting but truthful...loving but direct.
In worship tonight, I just felt the love of God fill my heart and my mind. I felt His truth permeate every area of my existence. I felt Him begin to speak to my heart regarding His love and His faithfulness...You know...so many times we focus on things that are so small. We focus on things in our life as though they are set in stone...as though they could never change...and if they did change our world would fall apart. In the things that I have been going through recently, it has been so easy to focus on every little thing. And...I'm not saying that it's not important or wrong to focus on situations...at all. But...when those things come before our focus on God...on the One from whom everything in our life is poured out...there's a problem.
We can either whine and complain about every situation in our life that we don't understand. We can plead with God, "God, please change this...Please work this out...Please help!!" And...I'm not at all saying that God doesn't care about our hearts...about the times of pain and hurt. In fact, He cares more than I ever knew. But like I said in my last blog, we have to allow that pain, fear, hurt, anger...all of those emotions to push us deeper into the arms of the Lord. We have to allow our hurt to magnify God's love for us. We have to allow our pain to illuminate the comfort that only God can give. We have to allow our broken heart to bring out the fullness of God's heart for us. It's those times when everything is falling apart that we are forced to look at God. We are forced to move our eyes from our present situation...which may be terrible...to Jesus. And...once you realize that He is so much bigger than anything you are going through...that He is so much bigger than any possession...any friendship...any situation...any fear...any doubt...any pain...Once you realize that His love for you never changes...It changes everything inside of you.
Our God is worthy of all praise. Tonight as I was worshipping, I felt God say, "Joe, My name is above every name. My name is above every feeling that is connected with what you are going through. My name is above every confusion, every pain, every disappointment. My name is above the past...My name is above the future...My name is above EVERY NAME named in heaven and in earth...NOW AND WHAT IS TO COME. My name is above it!" And...I don't know why, but I cannot stop repeating that in my head tonight. And it makes me so excited!! Because...it doesn't matter what the circumstances look like. It doesn't matter if everything in your life came crumbling down...It doesn't matter if people hurt you...If everything that you thought you knew was false...If you are confused about the future...It doesn't matter! Our God is greater! Our God is stronger! His name is higher than any other...His name is life...His name is peace...His name is joy. His name is JESUS! And He LOVES you so much! :)
The point that I wanted to get to...and the reason why I wanted to blog was because I felt God speak to me tonight and say..."Joe, you have to trust Me. Trust in my purpose for your life. Trust that no matter what is going on around you, that I will make all things work together for your good. I am sovereign and will pull you closer to me no matter how unfair the circumstance. I am able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could even ask or think. Stop looking to the right and to the left. Stop putting your trust in your present and future and put your trust in Me, who is the One who scripted Your future before the foundation of the world. Trust me..."
I hope that this is ministering to some of you right now who maybe have lost sight of the plan of God for your life. Maybe you've been so blindsided by what is going on around you that it is hard to even see God amidst the storm. Believe me...I've been there. But...I'm not going to stay there, because our God is so much greater than that! Our God loves us so much! He has a plan for you...and that plan is for you to worship Him. Spend time with the Lord getting to know His heart through worship. Get down on your knees in private and let Him speak life and truth into your life. Open up your heart to Him and let Him clear away any distraction of the enemy. The enemy's plan is to take you down by getting you to take your eyes off of God. He wants you to so focus on what is going on around you that you can't even see God or hear His voice speaking to you. Don't let the enemy keep you in a place of bondage. Make a decision to praise God in the storm...When you don't understand, praise Him. When you're hurting, praise Him...When you're angry, worship Him. He is worthy to be praised, and He has a great plan for your life...but He deserves your worship. He delights in the hearts of those who love Him. And...something that God has been really speaking to me is...You don't have to be fake with him. Be honest with the Lord. If you're angry...don't hide it. Give it to Him. If you're hurt ask Him to show you His goodness...He will, and suddenly the hurt is overpowered by His love. :)
We have to get to a point that if everything else in our life fell apart, and only God remained that we would praise Him. With my situation...it's not totally figured out. I don't have total understanding. There is still healing that needs to happen, but I have peace in knowing that my God is bigger than this. My God is bigger than anything the enemy can throw my way. And...even if I lose everything and only have Him...He would be more than enough for me. :) So...in wrapping this up...Chase after God. Run after His heart. Let Him walk with you through trials...because more than likely, He's going to teach you so much through them. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit...and above all...Keep trusting God. Say: "God you are sovereign...You are worthy! God, You are good! No matter what I am going through...I'm going to keep my eyes on You. I'm running after You...Your name is above every name. You have won the victory. Death could not hold You down, and therefore I'm not going to be held down by anything!"
Alright...well, I hope I ministered to some of you guys...I'm praying for you as I'm going through this situation and the many changes that are happening in my life right now. We can get through these things together with God working and living inside of us! There is no lack of supply...His power is greater than everything! :) Until next time...:)
Love you guys,
-Joe
"I lay it all down for You Lord. I lay it all down for You Lord. I lay it at Your feet Jesus. Everything we are...every hope...every dream. Every prayer...every cry of our heart...We lay it all down at Your feet."
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