How to Get Perspective When He Reshapes Your Priorities
2020: The Year of Firsts
Recently I came across a note in my phone from January. It started with this: “A Verse for 2020.” I’ve never been one to pick a theme or verse for the year, but apparently, I did this year.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love or the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
(1 John 2:15-17 NLT)
Many of us were off to a fantastic start to the year. Economy swelling, business growing, clients signing on and great campaigns bringing purpose and exciting products to the planet.
Then, a global pandemic.
IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS
Some days it feels like everything in our world is being shaken. And did you know God promises to shake everything that can be shaken?
Say what?
“This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.”
(Hebrews 12:27)
Check it out… it’s for our good! The Word says the unshakable things will remain.
What if this pandemic, and all that has been shaken, has taken place so we can recalibrate and build our lives on a better foundation? What if God is shifting our paradigm?
Look closely with me at the “2020 Verse:”
“The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure”
Don’t miss this point: the world is fading away and only offers a craving for physical pleasure, not eternal pleasure.
Hear me out on this…
God is the author and inventor of physical pleasure. He isn’t saying you can’t have physical pleasure.
This verse is saying there is more than just lusting and craving for the next escape.
(A good friend of mine, Ben Bennett, speaks about this. You should check his podcast out!)
PRIDE IN OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND POSSESSIONS
We see it. We want it. We get it.
It seems to be the way of the world. But, has ‘keeping up’ ever been completely fulfilling?
Our lives have to become set apart for more than just collecting stuff. This world craves after everything it sees and doesn’t have.
Think about how many ads tell us we deserve a particular product. We buy the newest iPhone, Apple Watch, and whatever else is shiny. And it doesn’t take long before something newer and cooler comes along. Our ‘stuff’ is no longer the object of our desire.
The cool factor wears off and leaves us empty. There’s a better way.
Practicing gratitude and generosity actually frees us from this pattern in our lives and positions us to be truly great stewards of all we are blessed to possess.
Again, the Bible doesn’t teach us to not achieve or possess things. The emphasis is on pride—and avoiding it!
Where do you derive your identity? Is it in your achievements and possessions? If so, you will never have enough, and all you do have will fade away. God is offering something better: an identity based on who He is and who He made you to be.
You will achieve success, but it won’t just be for you. It will be to God’s glory. And the benefit won’t just be for you—it will be for all those who know you!
ANYONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER
Come on! Let’s live life on a new paradigm. Let’s allow this crazy season to serve as a spiritual catalyst to thrust us into true success.
I’ve written before about what I hoped to take out of quarantine. I’m sharing it again because, hey, we all need reminders.
Here are some of the intangible takeaways:
1. I don’t want to go back to “normal” if normal means hurry and chaos.
The pace I’ve found in this season is building in me a better disposition, and I don’t want to go back.
“Then one day I decided hurry and stress will no longer be a part of my life.”
– Brendon Burchard
2. I can say no.
Traveling somewhere for business always sounds good in the moment, but the night before I leave, it feels a lot like work! I’m not saying I won’t travel for business again, I’m just realizing I have the power to say “no” more often than I thought.
3. Time really does fly.
My kids aren’t getting smaller. In fact, my wife and I have a limited number of summers left with them at home. I want to make the most of these days and opportunities. I hope they never understand the lyrics to “Cat’s in the Cradle.”
“When are you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when.” “But we’ll get together then, you know we’ll have a good time then.”
4. Living the dream together really is better.
It’s so easy to get caught in the hustle of life and miss the opportunities we have to thrive. God places our family, friends, and most importantly our spouses, in our lives to dream with. What is your spouse dreaming about? What can you do to make it happen?
WHAT IS SUCCESS FOR YOU?
What if God wants you to succeed on an entirely new level?
Let’s not make it about what we are craving, what we don’t have, what we achieve, or the things we possess. Let’s make it about things that truly matter, things that last.
WHEN GOD GIVES YOU A WORD, THERE’S ALWAYS GREAT REWARD
Has God ever given you a Word? Are you ready to see that promise through? Drop us a comment. I’d love to talk about what He’s doing in your life!