"Is There More?"

This is a question that we probably don't ask out loud, but in private, when we are praying or meditating, it's asked often.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I've constantly gone through life thinking...Is this as good as it gets? Can my marriage ever get better? Am I just not meant to make very much money? Is anyone ever going to notice me? 

These questions fuel the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that often clouds our judgments and handcuffs us from taking action.

In my life, I have had big ups, big downs, and a lot in between. And I think it's qualified me (I use that word loosely, ha) to answer this question.

Is there more? YES! Heck yes, there is! If you have been going through life unsatisfied, you found this blog at the right time. 

Maybe your finances have been the same for years. Maybe your marriage has been at 5 out of 10 for years. Maybe you've been passed over for that promotion for years. Or maybe, your teenager is so not where you want them to be, you're ready to throw in the towel.

No matter where you are, God's not done with you yet. I want to tell you the beginning of David's story, it starts in 1 Samuel in the Old Testament.

Samuel is a prophet and he's come to anoint a new king. He comes to Jesse's house. Jesse brings all of David's brothers in to meet him. He just knows it's one of them. As Jesse parades each one in front of Samuel, he says he is not the one. Finally, he asks Jesse if he has any other sons. Jesse replies..."There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

Do you see what he did there? He didn't even call David by his name, he called him by what he was doing?

Have you ever had your past held over your head? Have you ever been the one who never achieved or the one that made that big mistake? If we aren't careful, we will carry wounds and scars and allow people to treat them like billboards over our lives.

But guess what?! Today is our lucky day! Because God has a different way to measure...he doesn't measure with our past, he measures with our future. Check out what the Bible says...

The Lord looks at the inside!

What you did yesterday doesn't disqualify you from what God has for you today!

The story finishes with David coming in from the fields and Samuel says, "he's the one." He's anointed with oil and told he will be the next king of Israel. 

But guess what? He doesn't get cleaned up and head to the palace...no...he goes back out to the fields to be with the animals and do his job. Isn't that interesting?

To get more out of this life...I've discovered three things that God is looking for...

#1 - Our willingness to surrender.

Here's what I mean by this...When I was a pastor, I was still single and all my friends were married. I hated it. I wanted to be married so bad. So much so that I was trying to force the issue and I stopped enjoying where I was. So one night, I can't really explain it other than to say that God showed me that he wants my surrender. That night, I told God that if he wants me to, I'll be single my whole life. I prayed about it and woke up with complete peace. Then, a week later, Lana (my wife) came into my life.

See, God wants to know that he has our whole heart. He wants to know that we'll stop going our way and come back his way immediately. Living in complete surrender to God's will for our lives is the first way to find more out of the life we're living.

#2 - Are we taking advantage of where we are?

Most people go through life looking for their next stepping stone. We are rarely satisfied and are always striving for more. Look at David, he was anointed as king, but then spent a chunk of his life doing the same ol' thing until that anointing came calling.

Let me ask you a few questions. Do you find yourself constantly unsatisfied? Do you find yourself measuring your life to others? Do you ever think that you were more qualified for the life that someone else is living?

It's time to stop. The Bible says that those God can trust with a little, he can trust with a lot. What are you doing with what you have? Make the most of it. Find contentment in your life. Be a leader where you are. Don't just talk about how great of a leader you'll be when you get somewhere else. 

When this happens, God knows he can elevate you. Because you're showing that you aren't just willing to work harder because you moved up the ladder.

We aren't working towards the day that we get to accomplish God's calling on our lives, we get that chance every single day. Let's make the most of it!

#3 - Are you spending time with Him?

For a lot of us, we have this secret agreement with God which states that I'll spend more time with you if you "grant my wishes."

If I'm not careful, I'll treat God like a genie in a bottle. Like he's got these wishes he is going to grant me if I do the right thing. What a terrible way to treat God.

God is no different than the relationship you have with your spouse or best friend. The more time you spend together, the better that relationship is.

Do you know why I think the Bible calls David, "a man after God's own heart?" Because David spent a lot of time with God! The only way for me to be like God is to know God. 

I cannot imitate what I don't know.

We spend time with those we love. It's hard to claim that we love someone that we spend very little time with.

Let me wrap up with this...

You are being set up for your next breakthrough! Commit to improving these three things in your life and watch what God does! Your best days are ahead of you! I believe it for you, you need to believe it about yourself!

If this blog blessed you, please share and comment. It's an honor to do life with you!