Stop and Go(d)

Republished February 11, 2012

So many times, as Christians, we hear the phrase "let go and let God." But what does that phrase really mean?

It means trusting God enough to rely on His plan and not our own. It means doing what He tells us to do even when it doesn't make sense. It means getting out of the way so that God can step in on our behalf.

As you live your life, remember: God can't move in your life until you stop moving on your own behalf.

God bless,

J.W.

This Is The Way

Republished from February 22, 2010

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" ~ Isaiah 30:21

Often times, as Christians, we fail to fully realize the sovereignty that God has over our lives. We think that God is like us. That He lives in time. That He takes life as it comes. That He worries and complains about life like we do.

But God doesn't live like us. He doesn't live in time. He's eternal and He's sovereign.

So what does that mean for us?

It means that God has already worked things out for us. He's already determined what direction our lives will take. Our job is to do our part and walk in the path that's He's already laid out for us.

When we worry about the future, i.e. what's going to happen and how we're going to make it happen, we essentially say to God, "I don't trust you. I don't believe that you are sovereign, so I'm going to take things into my own hands, and make it happen on my own."

But that is not the way God wants us to live. Rather, He wants us to live freely, with power and purpose.

Walk in the path he's laid out for you today.

God bless,
J.W.

Who Is My Brother?

Republished from February 23, 2009

In 3 of the 4 Gospels of the Bible, the story of Jesus valuing His spiritual family over His biological one is depicted:

"While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” ~ Matthew 12:46-50

Clearly, this was an important message that God wanted to convey to us, His people.

No matter how close our blood bonds are, they are nothing compared with the bond we should have with God.

At the end of the day, there’s nobody who will love you better or stronger.

God bless,
J.W.

Remember Me

Hey family,

Hope all is well.

It's been a minute since I've posted. As many of you know, I'm now living on the west coast and enjoying life with the fam.

While I haven't been able to post in a while, I didn't want to leave you all hanging.

So, what I'm going to do is start posting old JYJ blogs. I started this blog in June 2007, so I've got over 9 years of posts to re-share with you.

I hope you enjoy as we take a trip down memory lane.

Stay tuned!

God bless,
J.W.

Effective Prayer

The problem with most people's prayers (Christians included) is that they mostly involve having a one-sided conversation with God.

But any good, strong relationship is built on mutuality.

Yes, God wants to hear from us. He desires to know our deepest, darkest secrets. 

But I've found that the real magic happens when we are able to gain wise counsel from the One from which all wisdom flows.

God bless,
J.W.

"Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days." ~ Proverbs 19:20

Follow The Leader (Part 8)

"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing... So Abram went, as the Lord had told him." ~ Genesis 12:1-4

Often times, following God's calling requires us to leave that which is familiar or comfortable to us.

In Genesis 12, God told Abram to leave the land, people, and household with which Abram was most familiar and to go to a new, foreign, unfamiliar land.

While that command may have been a tough pill for Abram to swallow, after the command was a promise. God promised that if Abram obeyed, He would bless Abram and make his name great (in fact, he would change Abram's name entirely).

But in order to receive the promise of God, Abraham had to obey the command of God - that is, the command to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar.

So, the question is, how uncomfortable are you willing to be? And if the answer is not very, then are you really ready to follow God's calling on your life? You can't complain about how slow things might be moving if you're not ready, willing, and able to step out on faith when He tells you to.

God bless,
J.W.

Follow The Leader (Part 7)

"But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you." ~ Proverbs 1:24-26

Proverbs 1:24-26 details the consequences of not heeding God's call on your life. 

Oftentimes, we let fear of stepping out on faith stand in our way. 

But... truth be told, the fear of not doing what God says should scare us even more.

God bless,
J.W.