Belief...the Non-Negotiable

Yes, thats right! Today. Is. The. Day. The rest is over, its time to get up.

A call, a dream, a desire, your destiny. If your like me, you hear it whispering your name, calling you close, begging you to just come and sit and stay. I hear the beckoning, the sweet sounds of its call, but, guilty as charged, I've let busy get in the way of blessing. I've let comfort replace the call of could be.

I think like many I long to pursue, long to chase down and tackle all that I've been created to be, but instead I often find myself stopped dead in my tracks, letting other things fight for my attention. Pulling me this way and stretching me that way. Maybe it's because I don't know what to do, or worse, don't feel like I can do it. Then suddenly, it's as if the call stops, the sweet whispers fade away. It feels as if my dreams, pushed aside, quieted, ignored have somehow, just stopped calling, the've quieted, they've died.

Oh friend, if your heart begins to pound at the thought of your dreams, your call being silenced and gone for good, I have got some good news for you.

Yesterday, I was reading through Mark 6:1-31 with my kids. I've read that story more times than I can count. But yesterday was different. It's the story of Jarius coming to Jesus, adamant and desperate that Jesus come and see his daughter, for she was near death. Jesus agrees, but makes an important stop on the way. (There was someone else that needed the touch of Jesus that day too!) As impatient as Jaruis must have been, he never questioned Jesus. He just trusted. As they continued toward the sick daughter, a servant of Jarius came to him and said "Jarius, why bother the teacher any longer, your daughter is dead."

Immediately Jesus said to Jarius, "Do not fear, but believe."

They continued to the home of Jarius, were Jesus only allowed a few select to join him. He walked in to the young girls room and said, your daughter is not dead, she's just sleeping. He grabbed her hand and she arose.

As we read through this yesterday, my eyes began to swell with tears. I wasn't sure why, this story is so familiar to me. But today the Holy Spirit showed me what He was doing through that beautiful verse yesterday.

In reality, so many of us are like Jarius. We come to Jesus, we trust Him, we know who He is and what He's capable of. We seek Him out, we ask for help, and we expect His greatness. But often we don't see the fruit of our faith 'till humanly, it seems to late.

We probably all have those like Jarius did, saying "Why even bother Jesus, its too late" Yes, the naysayers, those who lack belief. Can I remind you what Jesus did with those? He left them out of the miraculous scene. He only allowed those who believed to enter the daughters room with Him.

Check out what burden my heart today in such a beautiful way.  Listen to this...Our dreams are like Jarius' daughter. They aren't dead, they've just been sleeping. But today, today it's time for them to be touched by the mighty hand of Christ. Today is the day, they will arise.

Now, get this...after the miracle Jesus said, "Now, get her something to eat." This precious child needed nourishment. She needed to be fed to regain her strength.

Our dreams are no different. They too can become weak, starved, malnourished. We need to feed them once they have been awakened within us. They need to be strengthened just like Jarius' daughter. Pour life, power, and vitality into your calling by speaking the word of God over every dream He's placed in your heart. Feed them daily with the word of God. Pay attention to them, be disciplined in progressing them, and focused on achieving them. 

We have to be intentional. 

You and I my friends are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our Creator God, has given us everything that we need to become all that He has created us to be. Need wisdom - just ask.  Direction - read his word, creativity - look around. He's the Master of all, He's the author of creativity.

He knows the plans he has for you and they are good.

So no more. No more mediocrity, no more too busy, no more comfort, no more could be's. Together lets make today the day. Let's make today the day that we pray and pursue, get up and go. Today lets decide, lets move, lets push all the what if's, doubt, fear, discouragement, and unworthiness to the side. Lets go to Jesus confidently, expectantly, just like Jarius. And understand that even though our dreams may look dead, they may feel dead, know that they've simply fallen asleep and with the touch of Jesus...today is the day, they arise.