(1:30 AM)
From JO’s sermon last night:
it’s easy to think that at least I’m employed, or C’s are good enough; too many people are living with things that are less than God’s best. they’ve lost their passion. at one time, they had a big dream, they were excited about their future, but they hit some bumps along the way, it didn’t happen on their timetable, they got discouraged, thinking that it’s never going to happen, they accepted [it?] as their lot in life. just because you haven’t seen what God promised you come to pass, doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen. don’t make the mistake of settling for good enough. good enough is not your destiny, you are a child of the most high God, you were created to excel, live an abundant life; you may be struggling, it’s been that way a long time, now you’re just coasting, thinking what’s the use, it’s always going to be this way, no, you’ve gotta get your fire back, it’s not over until God says it’s over. you’ve gotta start believing, dreaming again, pursuing what God put on your heart.
on the inside of each one of us, there are 2 people, one says “I’m going to become everything God’s created me to be, I’m surrounded by God’s favor”; the other says “you’ll never do this or that”; one wants to stretch, the other wants to settle. you get to choose which person you’re going to be, too many people make the choice to settle; they believe the lies that you’ve reached your limits, you never get any good breaks, where you are is where you’re always going to be; if you’re going to see the fullness of what God has in store, you have to have the attitude that “I’m not going to let good enough be good enough.” I know I was created for greatness. I was created to overcome obstacles, fulfill my destiny, I am not going to settle, I’m going to stretch, I’m going to let go of what didn’t work out and reach forward to the new things God has in store. some of you have lost your fire, at one time you knew you’d accomplish things, but you’ve gone through disappointments, it didn’t happen the way you thought, now you’ve accepted the fact that it’s probably not going to happen, you’ve gotten comfortable with good enough. God is saying you have dwelt long enough on this mountain
Deuteronomy 1:6 (KJV)
The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount
it’s time to move forward, God has new levels in front of you, new opportunities, you’ve got to stir up what God put on the inside, the dreams, promises, that you pushed down, thought it’s not going to happen, God has it all figured out, if you’ll start believing, dreaming again, pursuing what God put in your heart, God will make a way where you don’t see a way, He’ll open doors that no man can shut, what God promised you He will bring to pass. just because you gave up on a dream doesn’t mean God gave up. you might have changed your mind, but God didn’t change His mind, He still has a victorious plan in front of you. get in agreement with God
have you settled somewhere way beneath what you know God has put in you? have you given up on a dream, let go of a promise, because it didn’t happen the first time, you had a setback, somebody told you no? what are you doing there? when God breathed his life into you he put a part of Himself in you. you were created as the head and not the tail. you are equipped, empowered, fully loaded, lacking nothing. don’t you dare settle for second best. don’t get stuck in a rut, thinking that you’ve reached your limits. draw the line in the sand and say I’ve let good enough be good enough long enough, today is a new day, I’m not going to settle, I’m going to start stretching my faith, looking for opportunities, taking steps to improve, I’m going to become everything God’s created me to be; when you do the natural God will show up and do the supernatural. when you do what you can, God will come and do what you cannot; don’t take the easy way out, stand strong and fight the good fight of faith.
Genesis 11:31 (CEB)
… They left Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan, and arriving at Haran, they settled there.
They didn’t make it to the promised land because they settled. why did Abraham’s father stop at Haran? there were too many difficulties. how many times do we start off right, but along the way we face opposition, adversity arises, too many times we say what’s the use, I’m going to settle here, it’s good enough. you are not weak, defeated, lacking, you have been armed with strength for every battle. that obstacle is no match for you. you have the most powerful force in the universe breathing in your direction. don’t be a weakling, be a warrior. your dreams are worth fighting for. you’ve gotta dig your heels in and say, “I am in it to win it.” I know God didn’t bring me this far to leave me here. I’m not gonna settle halfway, I’m gonna make it all the way in to my promised land.
if you’re going to be victorious you have to have a made up mind, be determined. you’re not going to give up when it gets difficult, you’re not gonna complain because it’s taking a long time, not going to get discouraged because you went through a setback, you know everything God promised you is worth fighting for, so you are in it for the long haul. some of you have gotten comfortable, and decided that your dreams are never going to come to pass. start moving forward. you may have taken a temporary delay, but that didn’t stop your destiny, today can be your new beginning, God is breathing new life into your spirit, He has greater victories in front of you; get a vision for it. every time you dwell on those negative discouraging thoughts you’re digging another stake halfway towards your promised land. first place we lose the battle is in our own thinking. if you don’t think you can accomplish your dreams, you’ll get stuck right where you are. you’ve gotta change your thinking. the Creator of the universe is arranging things in your favor. He said no good thing would He withhold because you walk uprightly:
Psalm 84:11 (ESV)
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
many times we settle for a C not realizing God has an A in our future. you’ve gotta change your thinking. God has an A but you’ll never see it if you keep taking the C’s. the C’s are easier, you don’t have to stretch, you don’t have to get out of your comfort zone, but you’ll never be truly fulfilled if you keep settling for C’s. don’t take the easy way out, the A’s are worth fighting for. I can’t think of much that would be sadder than to come to the end of life and have to wonder “what could I have become if I didn’t settle for good enough?” what could I have been if I didn’t take so many C’s but instead I pressed forward striving to be my very best?” you may have taken C’s in the past, but make a decision from now on you’re only going for the A’s. if you’re married to a C, stick with him and make him into an A. if you’re not seeing in your life what God promised in your spirit, keep moving forward, it’s only temporary. don’t slack off, keep being your best, but see that as only temporary; that’s just a season that you’re passing through. be grateful, keep a good attitude, but see it as only temporary, don’t settle there. even if it’s something good, maybe God has blessed you, you’ve seen his favor, but you know there are greater levels in front of you, it’s easy to think “I’m happy, I have no complaints, God’s been good to me,” but good is the enemy of great; you may be doing good, but deep down you know you have more in you. don’t let good be an excuse to keep you from God’s best. stir up your greatness. stretch into a new level.
you’ve seen God be good to you, God’s blessed you, He’s opened doors that should not have opened, He’s shown you favor, protected you; that was only temporary provision; you have not made it into your promised land; God is taking you somewhere greater than you’ve ever imagined
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him
don’t let your temporary provision become permanent; what God has in your future will supersede what you’ve seen in the past, thank God for His goodness, be grateful for the Red Seas that part, thank Him for the protection, provision, favor, but if it’s not more than you can ask or think, be bold enough to pick up your stakes, and say God, this is all great, you’ve been awesome in my life and I thank you for it, but God I believe this is only temporary provision, where you’re taking me is to a land of abundance, a place like I’ve never experienced before. that’s not being selfish, that’s releasing your faith for the fullness of your destiny.
Joshua 24:13 (NIV)
So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant
Deuteronomy 1:11 (NASB)
May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you!
God has 1000 times more joy, peace, influence, wisdom, ideas, creativity, good breaks, let’s take the limits off of God. God’s plan for our life is much bigger than our own; God doesn’t want us to get stuck at one level, He’s a God of increase. God has houses that you didn’t have to build, vineyards that you didn’t have to plant. you may be blessed today, God’s been good to you, but what’s in your future is exceedingly abundantly above and beyond. don’t you dare settle where you are, God’s promised land for your life is greater than anything that you’ve imagined. don’t be surprised if the 2 voices, the 2 people start talking to you, one wants you to settle, it’ll tell you you’ve reached your limits, the other will tell you this is for you today, make room for God to do something new, something big, something out of the ordinary, why don’t you let that voice take root?
Joshua 3:4 (ESV)
… you have not passed this way before
God is saying the same thing to us, something out of the ordinary is coming your way; new levels of favor, unprecedented opportunities, divine connections, God has A’s in your future, people already lined up to be good to you, what makes them an A is you don’t have to find them, they’ll come find you, when you honor God His blessings will chase you down. you won’t be able to outrun the good things of God. don’t settle where you are in your health, career, relationships, or your walk with the Lord, keep stretching, growing believing, dreaming. don’t let good enough be good enough. be determined to become everything God created you to be; start moving forward; enlarge your vision; make room in your thinking for the new thing God wants to do. don’t let your temporary provision become permanent. if you’ll learn this principle of stretching and not settling, then you will see the fullness of what God has in store, you’ll overcome obstacles, accomplish dreams, you’re going to make it all the way into your promised land.
Bizarrely Blessed 