Outside the Little Box

On an album I have, produced by Glory of Zion, some awesome guy with an accent talks about how (I'm paraphrasing) there is no security in what God is doing, only security in who He is. He doesn't call us to the ordinary, he calls us to the impossible. We're not able to do what God has called us to. He is the one who does it. He is strength in our weakness. So you cannot find security in what God is doing. We must trust in Him and the consistency of his goodness to get us through. And though He is consistent, he is completely unpredictable. You always know what he's going to be like, but you never know what he's going to do next. And when we embrace the fullness of who he is as an all powerful, sovereign, loving God, we cannot be happier.

Now, I've been learning a lot in the last year about taking the limits off of God. Taking off the limits is just another way to understand how to trust him. We limit God in our need for security. We try to figure him out, subconsciously creating formulas about how he works, still holding on to the control of certain aspects of our future, and not trusting in the fullness of his power. I personally don't like the unknown! So in the attempt to find security, we place limits on Him. The truth is, when we're trying to find security in what God does rather than who he is, we're actually trying to find security in our purpose. It's about us rather than Him. It's so easy to define our worth by what we do and how successful we are rather than simply living in the grace, mercy, and love of the Father.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" - 2 Corinthians 12:9

We are nothing without Him.
Let that sink in.
We are nothing without Him.

So if you look at what people can do in their own power - the success, the hard work - it's pretty amazing! Now... imagine letting go of all of the things we are capable of doing, and allowing God to step in and perform the impossible!

I used to think I could manipulate the system. It wasn't a conscious thing. I didn't think, "Hmm... how can I manipulate this situation so that I can have security?" but in retrospect that's how I acted. I tried to use my knowledge and understanding to figure everything out. I treated life like a puzzle I could put together and predict what God would do. I used symbolism, dreams, reading people, coincidence...  It acted as a security blanket, allowing me to be more in control. But the minute something didn't happen the way I thought it was suppose to happen, when I thought it was suppose to happen, I got angry at God. It reminds me of that saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." You cannot depend on knowledge or your own understanding. And though there may have been truth in the things I "figured out", it doesn't mean it was God. Leaning on your own understanding is an open door for the enemy to come in and confuse you and lie to you about who God is. If you're in fear, you've put God inside that metaphorical box that everyone talks about. The one where you can take him out now and then and pat him on the head affectionately when he does what you want him to, but get angry and ignore him when he doesn't...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Every time I start feeling afraid I remind myself of who God is and who he's always been, and who he always will be: Good. Who am I to be afraid? The fear of God should wipe out all fear of man, or poverty. I remind myself that there is no pressure. If there is pressure it isn't God. I am nothing and it's OK for me to be nothing. He does the work, not me. The problem is, I want to do it. I want the credit, the satisfaction, and the glory. But it must all go to him. And there is freedom in being nothing because of the fact that there is no pressure! I am free to be a nobody and not live up to what the world tells me I need to live up to. I've been bailed out of that situation because Jesus took my place.

So I try to wake up every morning and acknowledge God. I want to begin my day by praising him for it and reminding myself of who he is. I try to remember to take the limits off of him, remind myself that he is Yahweh, the creator. He is great, good, and loving. If I remember these things, I am able to open my heart to him and receive the things he has for me in that day. Generally, those days end better than others. Not because they're "good" days or "bad" days, but because I have received his grace to either enjoy it or endure it. That's another thing I learned from Fresh Oil New Wine, the Glory of Zion album. (You should check it out)

Take the limits off. Life is so much richer when you allow the Father to lead. It's a little scary, yes, but you experience God's power again and again. It wouldn't be a good story if there wasn't any conflict. What does your story look like? Do you dream big? Take the limits off and the experiences you'll have will surpass your wildest dreams.