Hello Storehouse Fam!
Trust you’re having a blessed week.
“The world judges by milestones, but the Kingdom judges by alignment.”
Whoosh! Did you catch this bombshell on Sunday? This is definitely something worth meditating on. It’s so easy to get caught up in conforming to the thought patterns and ways of the world — to give in to the pressure of its expectations and standards. “30 under 30,” anyone?
“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.”
Romans 12:2
Elsewhere, we are reminded:
“Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].”
1 John 2:15-16
This isn’t always easy. Sometimes it can feel like we are “falling behind” or not doing as well or as much as we could. In this season — when we’ve been speaking a lot about doing the work, maturing, sowing, etc. — the enemy can weaponize that call to come up higher into condemnation. Rather than being buoyed in faith, we battle discouragement and despair; instead of coming boldly, we cower in doubt and fear.
To settle this in our minds, we first need to remember God’s agenda for us:
Romans 8:29
“For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.”
This verse reminds us that everything in our lives can help to shape us into Christ. There is no greater outcome — nothing better that we can achieve. It also means that this is always God’s objective, His agenda. Not our career success, comfort, or financial security.
Tough pill to swallow? Maybe. But there is comfort: all we have to do is align with God and submit in faith. God has no incomplete or failed projects.
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
Philippians 1:6
With the assurance that He can finish what He started, all we need to do is trust and obey:
Hebrews 10:39
“But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.”
“Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.”
Philippians 3:12
So we keep pressing, we keep moving. We keep trusting and relying. We do all this because it aligns with God. He has already made his claim on us. All we need to do is respond in faith, in obedience. When we do, he takes care of the rest.
So, regardless of where you are on the journey, take courage. Press on. Reach out and take that for which he reached out to take you, to take that which is already on offer in Christ Jesus.