In today’s podcast I share with you how God instructed me to be still and listen this summer, so I did. It wasn’t easy. I’m a worker bee by nature. Maybe you can relate?
God revealed to me during this season of stillness, how I’ve entered a season of striving to earn His favor, a favor that is already mine through grace. He reminded me of four things in His Word and creation that I’d like to expand on in this post. You can hear my story and more on the podcast: Are You Striving or Thriving?
Four Lessons Learned in Stillness:
- God doesn’t need us. Instead, He wants us. We serve a God who desired to walk through the garden with us. We serve a God who wanted man to join Him in the act of creation by naming the animals. We know sin entered the world, and perfect communion with the Father broke. Restoring that relationship required a blood sacrifice, the perfect Lamb. Jesus was a bridge between man and God through His death and resurrection. We now have direct access to the Father, through the Son, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When you begin believing, “God needs me to do this and that” … Remember, He doesn’t need you, instead, He wants you. He wants to partner with you. Ponder on this…
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden. But the Lord called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” Genesis 3:8-9 (ESV)
We need to ask ourselves, “Where am I? Am I partnering with God, by doing what He’s guiding me to do? Or am I hidden in a forest of laborious intentions to seek His favor?”
- God’s abundance is not found in my aspirations or earthly treasures, but in the peace of being centered in His will. When we’re centered in God’s will, our lives will naturally bring Him glory. Have you wandered away from God’s will for your life? Have you become distracted by the expert’s guidance instead of listening to the Father? Sometimes God sends those experts to speak into our lives, but if you’ve found yourself thrown off course by them, go back to the Father. Allow Him to realign your steps. I think many times, we jump on the bandwagons of self-promotion and burn out, forgetting we serve a powerful God. Just do what He tells you to do. Do you trust Him?
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” II. Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
- Community is important. We all need a community of believers to collaborate, to keep us in line, and to help us grow. If you don’t have a community of believers, find one. If you’re a writer, find your writers group. If you’re a painter, find other Christian painters. If your gift is hospitality, open your home for a Bible study and feed people. Remember we are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ and how we treat them is a direct reflection of our hearts. If you struggle in this area, I encourage you to spend time in I John 3 and 4.
“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” I John 4:20-21 (ESV)
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)
- The condition of our heart is more important, than the work we do for the Lord. God creates beauty in the secret places. Go to your secret place with the Lord. Spend time allowing Him to pour into you.
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:18-19 (ESV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
How is the condition of your heart? Is it filled with joy, peace, love, longsuffering, patience, goodness, faith, and hope? Allow God the opportunity to do His adjustments, by spending time in His presence.
Remember these four things as you seek God’s purpose for your life: God doesn’t need you, He wants you; God’s abundance is found at the center of His will; you need a community of believers; and your heart is more important than your work. I pray my story and the four lessons I learned in stillness resonates with someone. I want to close by mentioning a verse in Psalms where David is crying out to the Lord.
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me for you are the God of my salvation for you I wait all the day long.”
Psalms 25 4-5.
If there’s a scripture to pray—this one’s it.
On the podcast, I promised a checklist inspired by the sermon series presented at our church, Family Church, called Thriving in a Chaotic World. I’m sharing this printable pdf checklist in the hopes it helps anyone who creates social media content—writers, teachers of the Word, etc. I have this pinned to my bulletin board above my desk as a reminder to stop striving and thrive. Enjoy!
Please note: This season on The Hallelujah House podcast, our theme is Thriving in God’s Abundance. We will examine aspects of Thriving through God’s Word. We will be on a bi-weekly schedule. Each episode will offer a coordinating blog post. Thank you for joining me in The Living Room today!
Tammy Carter Adams is the host of The Hallelujah House podcast. She resides in Central Florida with her four kids and husband, Jay. When she’s not creating content, she writes, paints, and enjoys spending time at their farmhouse on a working farm in the sticks of Georgia.
