STARTING OVER...

(I wrote this two years ago, after much failure, disappointment and sorrow in my life. Since that time my oldest son died of an accidental overdose in April of 2009. I have personally struggled with the feelings that my life has been a perpetual trail of sadness and disappointment. I have not only failed in life, but with God. But as I read this today, I realized that starting over is something that believers are given the opportunity to do again and again. Forgiveness is never withheld, and though we may fall over and over, through His love and mercy we can get up and begin again. So I thought I would post this for you to read and hopefully be inspired and find hope. If God can do it for me who has failed, sinned, and hurt the Lover of my soul; He will do it for you.)

When I think about starting over, I think it begins by having a right perspective as to why we are doing what we are doing, and for Whom we are doing it. This helps keep us in check. There are many ways, many concepts, and many possibilities that appear to be ‘right’ or ‘successful’, but God has His way… an Ancient Path that was left long ago for a way that “seemed right”.  

I am convinced that so much is done out of a deep subconscious need for the approval of men.  So then… bigger is better! The more you can show off, the more successful you appear to be.  And the more successful you appear to be; it is a sure sign that you have the approval of God Himself.  Right? Wrong! If we are to truly be people that reflect the nature and character of Y’shua Himself, then it should not be about the need for approval or self-exaltation, which can come in the most insidiously deceptive ways that look humble… but it must be selfless… and without guile.  It should reflect only the desire to collectively be a people with one heart and one mind, in one accord… continually seeking; aggressively listening, all the while, patiently waiting. 

All things should be birthed in prayer… fasting if need be. But with the idea that God is more than able to speak to us, comes the idea that He has made us more than capable of hearing Him… if we will listen!  So then it is imperative that we, as a group, press into Him on all matters; asking, seeking, and knocking… and NOT MOVING until the answer comes… confident the answer WILL come when it’s time, and that answer, no matter what it is, is right! 

What then shall we look like? What shall we reflect? Hasn’t it all been done before? The question gets asked, “But what about the way we have done it in the past?  What about the things that have seemed to work so well?  After all, everyone else is doing it!” I can hear the voice of my father saying, “And if everybody jumps off the bridge, are you going to jump too?”

I believe that we are to reflect, without sounding too religious or pat, His image, which is His character, His love and His truth!  But this can only happen through a deep awareness that we are ALREADY transformed in the here and now, and that the Kingdom of God is not just something we are waiting to enter into at death; but that it’s HERE, and NOW… and WHEREVER WE GO, THERE IT IS! It requires a change in our perspective. This means putting to death the things we thought to be right and entering into the WORDS OF LIFE themselves! To ENGAGE! What do I mean? It takes intimacy most of all to inspire and continually re-inspire our relationship with God, as well as our mental transformation to occur in order to grow. This is a daily willingness, moment by moment, to ENGAGE God every step of the way! I took the word ENGAGE and made it into an acronym and wrote this sentence with it:  “My continual EFFORT to stay NEAR promotes intimacy with Him, helping me to GROW, which keeps my heart and mind ALIGNED with GOD, which ENERGIZES every fiber of my being... every single moment, of every single day.”

I am reminded of God’s word to Isaiah over and over lately where He says, “Your ears will hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Is. 30:21. If we are to be a people that walk on the edge with the Lord; who are radical for His kingdom and aggressive for His will to be done, hungering to see Him do what He has promised and see His power and His presence… then we need to press in and in and in!  We need to not settle! God is capable of showing us His agenda and will for any given moment, in any situation, and for every single need. Nothing is impossible for Him! Nothing!

I am also reminded of God’s word in Isaiah when He says in chapter 42, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” And again in chapter 43, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” There is the implication here that as it manifests itself right before your eyes, we could possibly miss it!  Is it because we could be so caught up in what has been that we can’t even see that God has a new and better way, and that His creative mind and energy are spontaneously combustive and limitless? Yet somehow, mysteriously, it can appear wrong to our way of thinking! Like God’s word to Israel through Jeremiah, “This is what the LORD says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'” Jeremiah 6:16



If I may paraphrase, “If you stay close to Me and sharpen your hearing so that you HEAR/SHEMA when I speak, then you will HEAR/SHEMA Me tell you what I want you to do, what would be best moment by moment; so that when I AM about to do something, you will know it. The way will be clear, your eyes will see and your heart will know that you are in the center of My will.”  Make sense? So maybe it’s time we ask for the Ancient Paths and the Good Way… and with expectant hearts, settle for nothing less.

What would this look like? It would be individuals; families; congregations; ministries and outreaches (verses in-reaches) moment-by-moment doing the will of God! Where the Kingdom of God manifests itself continually, and the Presence of God is not something just spoken about, but experienced? Where Living Water flows! Where healing takes place! Where souls are saved and transformed. Where the poor, the widows and orphans are truly cared for… and not just because the Bible says we’re supposed to, but because the heart of God is beating so strongly in us that we act out of our love for Him because we see ourselves as Beulah – MARRIED to Him! In this place there will never be lack or want. Hanging onto Him, looking into His eyes as our ears press against His chest listening to His heart beat for us!  This is what I feel. This is what has been stirring in my heart and mind ever since I tried and failed so miserably at building a “church”. 

It is never about us, or a man. It’s not even about a great plan for that matter. It’s about God, and His agenda. It’s not for any of us to hold on to… but keeping our hearts and hands continually open, we give away what He gives to us… knowing that all we will ever need is ours in abundance!  If He builds His house… our labor won’t be in vain!

Today, let’s light the torch in the dark and find our way back to the Ancient Path.

© 2008 Steven Bliss
If you like this article, please spread it around! Hit the share buttons below! Your comments are always welcome; please feel free. Thanks!