Time to Pull Over

Today I got together with some friends of mine for coffee, and we just shared a couple hours together talking about what God has been doing in our lives, counting our blessings, encouraging each other over our failures, and challenging each other with our convictions. Afterwards, as I got in the car and turned on the radio, I heard this message by James MacDonald. 

Here's what God taught me today.

When we think things need to happen all at once, we get sleepy, worn out, exhausted, irritable, and over-done. Sometimes, we just need to pull over in order to regroup, refocus, and simply be refreshed by God's holiness. If we don't learn to do that, how will we have the strength to keep doing the things God has planned for us to do?

"Tired? Worn down? Do you know that even though God is limitless, He completely understands our limits? And He knows exactly what we need when we reach them. He clearly demonstrates this in Revelation chapter 10, giving John a break from his prophetic visions, providing what he needed, and encouraging and equipping him to carry on."

We must see the Majesty of God.

In Scripture, the people (Noah, Moses, Elijah, Mary, John, Paul, etc) used by God in the greatest ways had their focus on God's glory consistently. They established their purpose before their plan, and they made sure they didn't get distracted by the little stuff. How were they able to maintain focus? They maintained an open relationship with the God who made them, catching glimpses of His greatness. Everything else was then able to fall into place.

In light of eternity, nothing that weighs us down can seem significant. 

~Transcendence: surpassing beyond and above all else in majesty, beauty, excellence, splendor, and attribute; beyond all else; beyond compare

When we pull over, something reminds us of how very small we are, giving a renewed sense of how big our God is. 

Things that distract us from transcendence, draining our sense of the majesty of God:

1. Details: diapers, deadlines, to-do lists

We get so caught up in the details of life that we lose our sense of the eternity that's waiting for us.

2. Detours: off-plan, off-road, off-schedule, off-line 

Setbacks make us feel stuck and held-back, like we are being deprived of growth and progression that we're entitled to.

3. Duty: routine, responsibility

Life is mundane, demanding, and full of obligations.

4. Downers: (circumstances) disappointments, discouragement, depression, despair

The things that make God  seem  small.

5. Drainers: (people) disappointers, discouragers

Those that irritate and frustrate you, the ones that are  so  hard to help.

Things that remind us of transcendence, intensifying our sense of the majesty of God:

Hear the Word of God.
Talk to God when you are feeling discouraged! John 12, Revelation 10
Count your blessings -- how much do we take for granted every day? Psalm 27:13, Job 26:14
Sometimes we aren't exhausted by downers and drainers, but simply by fighting battles in the spiritual realm which we cannot see. When God has been showing us so many things we can't fully understand, it wears on us.


Get a word from God.
From the Bible itself -  John 1:1, Jeremiah 1:12, Hebrews 4:12
From the Word through a person 2 Timothy 3:16
From a word spoken by a wise, Biblical person - Proverbs 20:29, 27:17
From the Holy Spirit (intercession) - John 14:26, Romans 8:14

When my plans are cancelled and God's plans are concealed, I must give thanks, for it is then that He is changing my direction in the order of perfection.

GE (High School Senior)