We don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. In fact, sitting in the unknown is what keeps us intrigued and engaged. It places our curiosity on high alert and keeps us digging for more clues. We enjoy stumbling through the vast expanse of the unknown because that’s where we are introduced to an Intelligence that outpaces our own.
We pray for a fresh word and feel certain there is always one on its way. We make peace with our unanswered questions. We know they will serve as the driving force that keeps us captivated with the vast expanse of this great eternal mystery.
As we level up, we begin to realize how unproductive it is to spend time analyzing controversial topics or arguing over the meaning of obscure scriptures. We avoid the debaters and instigators. We steer clear of the loud, sweaty preachers yelling about sin and eternal damnation.
We choose rather to participate in worship services, recovery groups, and Bible studies that are surging with positivity and hope. Our fellowship gatherings serve as a recharging station where we plug into the power and become energized for the work ahead.
We focus on encouraging the gifts and talents of fellow believers.
We remain open to new opportunities, even though we feel awkward outside of our comfort zones. We understand that fear of the unknown is an obstacle everyone encounters, but it need not hold us back.
We stay open to change and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice, in response to the Spirit’s directives.
In the original language of the New Testament, the phrase “It is finished,” was translated from the Greek word Tetelestai. I was introduced to this word one day when I was well into my fourth year of permanent healing from addiction. I didn’t realize at the time that I was entering the phase of my recovery that would prove to be permanent.
It was through this word that I started to delve deeper into the power of the last words of Christ “It is finished.” I discovered the power of Tetelestai, during a year-long court battle which had been a residual consequence from my old life. The day I appeared in court to hear the verdict and receive my sentence, I claimed this scripture and the word Tetelestai over my case. I was relieved by the peace it held and became willing to accept whatever God had in store for me, even if it meant a year in prison.
I prayed this scripture and acknowledged the fact that God had already redeemed me. He had made me a new creation by healing me from addiction. As I was praying that morning, God was working on the judge. He gave the judge an insight into something that no one else had seen. To everyone’s surprise, he dismissed my case, and I walked out of there a free man.
We all knew that Jesus, my advocate, was at work in that courtroom. I also know that He delivered the insight into my judge’s mind around the same time my wife and I were praying that morning. When the verdict was given, it seemed as if Jesus said, “’It is finished! Let my servant, Marc get back to handling the work I’ve given him to do.”
“The water continued to go down. By the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains could be seen.”
(Genesis 8:5)
You are a grateful person who sees logic and organization in the way God sets precise timing for each moment of life.
You do not spend your days lamenting the past, or worrying about the future. Instead, you choose to live in the moment and wait for God’s signal to tell you when the time is right to move forward.
You can see in nature that seasons change according to God’s plan and perfect timing. Seasons of dormancy usher in new growth and seasons of harvest give way to times of rest.
By waiting for God’s guidance, you can rest assured that your progress will be sure and steady. There will be times of waiting. There will be times of forward movement. Each step is scheduled for a specific season in your life which has been prearranged by God.
You do not squander your life away by overwhelming your days with busyness. You enjoy each and every season, knowing that change is constant, and timing is everything.
You observe the stress and pressure on those who view time as an opponent to be overpowered, rather than a friend on which to lean.
You rely heavily on God and His timing to give you guidance and structure. You are relieved that there are times of waiting and preparation because this insures you do not have to take on everything at once.
You realize that some of the seasons of life are like the bitter winds of winter. These days are difficult and hard to endure. Sometimes the waiting is unbearable, but when the time is right, a warm gentle breeze breaks the icy chill and ushers in the colorful array of new growth.
Therefore, you practice gratitude. You know that is what will get you through the difficult seasons when days are dark and minutes pass like hours.
Even though the waiting may seem endless and harsh, you know that if you wait for God to move first, you will always be in the right place at the right time.
“But they who join themselves to the Lord become spiritually one with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Your physical body is aging, but your spirit is timeless and eternal.
Because of your connection to Jesus and the power of His resurrection, you have become one with Him. The Spirit of Christ lives in you and lifts you to new levels of enlightenment.
Springing up with Living Water, your spirit rushes like a river, creating the current which propels your physical form to each new assignment from God.
In union with the Spirit of Christ, you are able to generate supernatural energy.
This effect infuses the atmosphere surrounding you with a positive charge. This is why you are known as one who lights up the room wherever you go.
In this way, you are living inside-out, using the power produced by the Spirit to transform your human experience into an eternal, supernatural adventure.
Then Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.”
From this birthday verse, you are reminded that all seeds are planted, anchored, and supported in dark, rich, soil which is filled with nutrients and hydration. Lush green leaves, hearty vegetables, fragrant blooms, and delicious fruits are sustained by a crucial process which occurs just below the surface, out of view. What looks like ordinary dirt, becomes a food and flower factory, once the tiny seeds split open and take root.
Functioning in the image of your Creator, you spend your time planting seeds of hope and promise into the world around you.
Many of the seeds you sow are done in secret and remain hidden. You are not boastful or arrogant about your charitable contributions or personal sacrifices. You attend to the needs of your family and community without recognition or fanfare.
Sometimes you may feel as if your efforts are unappreciated or even unwanted. There are times you are tempted to believe that you are wasting time and energy because you can’t see the fruits of your labor.
Thankfully, you have the Word of God and His wonderful creation to remind you that a seed hidden in the darkness is a harvest waiting to happen.
As trees mature and produce seeds, their tiny promises of life are dropped into the surrounding soil where they remain unseen during the germination phase. In the dark, a seed breaks open and new life is begun. There is a waiting time before the shoot appears. There is another waiting time before the harvest comes.
In the same way, your good works and loving efforts may often be hidden in the dark for a time, but this doesn’t mean they will remain unfruitful.
When the time is right, God will bring your results into the light, much like the tiny plant which emerges from the dark soil. Your random acts of kindness and quiet loving gestures will not remain hidden in the darkness. The results will become visible, and each tiny sprout will deliver the promise of a bountiful harvest.
You may not always receive human recognition or praise for the contributions you make. Sometimes your good intentions may even be misunderstood. God knows what is in your heart and He promises that someday you will enjoy a beautiful harvest which far exceeds your expectations.
“Keep your eyes focused on what is right. Keep looking straight ahead to what is good.”
You do not consider your life to be your own. You know that your life is set on a specific course designed by God. Your existence holds significant implications for future generations and you do not take this responsibility lightly.
This knowledge doesn’t indicate an attitude of presumption or arrogance, but rather, a position of humility. You know that your role is one of duty, rather than that of comfort and self-indulgence.
You know that without God’s gift of guidance, you would be wandering through life unsure of your purpose. Without knowing your purpose, you would be subject to life on the proverbial hamster wheel, struggling to find meaning for your existence.
You are grateful for the destiny you have been given and you know that there is nothing you lack in order to fulfill it.
Contentment comes easy to you, because God has enabled you to see through the deception of greed and envy to find the true meaning of life.
God has provided you with clarity of mind and purpose. Your work is an expression of your gifts and talents. You do not compete for other positions or titles.
You are content with what you have and enjoy working toward something greater than personal happiness.
Your deepest satisfaction comes when you confer with God in creative collaboration. You function best when you are working to improve the world you live in. You find that this is what generates your passion and creative expression.
Your willingness to follow God’s plan and timing is evident in the paths you take, and those you don’t.
God has given you a creative mind which empowers you with enthusiasm and fervor. You dedicate your days of human existence working for the greater good.
“You were taught to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God – made to be truly good and holy.”
The word holy has often been misinterpreted as someone who is grim, dutiful, and devout; one who maintains a high standard of pious behavior and has little patience for those who don’t.
However, in many scriptural passages, the word holy is defined as that which is uncommon or extraordinary.
You have been declared holy by the Creator of the Universe. God has proclaimed that your existence is extraordinary, and your life is far from common.
There is significance in everything that you do. There is nothing ordinary or common about you.
You are holy. You are wisdom. You are free to talk openly with your Creator. Your life in Christ is a spring of living water, making ripple effects on the world around you.
Every place your feet touch becomes sacred ground, because you carry the Creator of Life within you. The significant impact you make during your years on earth will pale in comparison to the lasting effect imprinted on the planet because you once walked here.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4
As it turns out, these times when we feel spiritually depleted or disinterested are not red flags for us to fret over. They are simply tests. These temporary times when we lack inspiration or get caught up in life’s drama have no bearing on our position in Christ or our commitment to His work.
We have come to understand that the testing of our faith can never happen during good times when inspiration flows freely, we are highly motivated, and praise songs play on a loop in our heads. Times of high spiritual energy and passion are thrilling, but they can’t do the work of generating patience. Only the testing of our faith can do that…
Waiting on God and being certain of His blessings is not pie-in-the-sky or wishful thinking. This faith choice is not presumptuous or improper. Blessings are the divine energy of God empowering us to succeed because we choose to believe in His goodness. He has equipped us with a divine destiny. He wants to see us succeed as much as we do.
And so, we wait for what God has promised, in the same way we might wait at a bus stop, in eager anticipation. We aren’t sitting at some random corner, hoping a bus might drive by. We are positioned at the right place at the right time, waiting for what we know is on its way. We aren’t waiting to see if a hopeful future will appear. We are waiting with confidence, certain of it.
Obviously, it would be silly to wait on a country road, expecting the city bus to magically appear. In the same way, we do not wait for God, based on our own whims and wishes. We examine His words when we are waiting for our miracles, just like we would examine a bus schedule to be sure of our direction.
We don’t hop on the bus headed east, when we are trying to go west. In the same manner, we don’t claim a scripture about healing when we are trying to find a job. Specific promises deliver specific results, so we search our Sacred Text to find the words we need…
Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!" 