A SUPER-SIZED WORD PT1

There’s something special about this generation that is obsessed about hearing “a word” from God as it pertains to our calling. At times, it’s because we are unsure about what to do next and we want to be in His will. Other times, the desire stems from our personal ambitions. Stagnancy and confusion around promotions, dating, and career changes plague our brain like an infestation.  The insatiable saints cry out, “I JUST NEED A WORD!”

When I consider the Bible, I look at droves and droves of testimonies. I read countless stories of men and women who heard from the Lord. Who, in fact, relied on the “bread” that He gave them- words that shaped and impacted the trajectory of their lives and ours as believers. You know what else? I also notice that a lot of our faves (Abraham, Noah, Ruth, Peter, etc) had to feast on one word for years at a time. 

Let's look at Abraham- who was given instructions from God. Because we read God's instructions within a few chapters, we trick ourselves into believing that He spoke to Abraham every day about His plans. On the contrary, there were years and years that Abraham had to wait on the Lord. God would tell him about his future lineage, then that was it. There were times that He told Abraham to inhabit a land, and then that was it. There were years that Abraham could only rely on the last instruction that He was given. How have we tricked ourselves into thinking that God will placate our desperation? Our constant need for comfort with an “on time word”?

Look, nothing is wrong with desiring God’s direction in our lives. We've been given a gift that the old testament believers did not have- that is the Holy Spirit. This opens up the realm of communication and discernment for those who surrender fully to God. But this constant demand for “a fresh word” is a slippery slope for a multitude of reasons:

1. Using God as a simple career or life coach, still lessens who He is to us. When we only approach him for direction, we miss out on the opportunity to simply revere Him. He desires to live a life in fellowship with us- which requires pruning, loving, and being refined for His glory. 

2. A lot of us want God to repeat himself. I can’t recall how many times I’ve prayed for “a word” from God when He’s already given me instruction in the Bible. We’re asking for a word about the type of friends we should have and the man we’re dating… meanwhile the Bible lays it plain. Luke 6:46 says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" How often do we badger God for OUR word versus His precepts?

3. This leads me to my last caution: familiarity breeds contempt. We have to be so careful NOT to treat God’s word as ordinary. The scriptures are Holy and a gift. When God decides to give us a miraculous word, we ought to chew on that word and savor it. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, ”So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, .., that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.“ We shouldn’t take His word so lightly. 

God loves us and has plans for us, but that isn't the main thing. We’ve simply lost sight of a very hard truth: our lives are not about us.We are made to glorify the King of Kings- who in His goodness- uses that glory to save our souls. What bigger blessing is that? 

Question: When was the last time you sought after God’s word more than God’s heart? Have you taken the time to spend time with Him and confess your heart’s burdens?