Packing For The Journey

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.
(1 Peter 1:18 MSG)

Peter Scazzero has said, "The image of the Christian life as a journey captures our experience of following Christ like few others. Journeys involve movement, action, stops and starts, detours, delays, and trips into the unknown."

As we journey, we can have flat tires, road blocks, detours, bad bumps, dead ends, fender binders, run out of gas, and multiple other things that would hinder our travels,cause delays, or even a change of plans. These are the types of things that can discourage us along the way and even cause us to want to cancel the trip.

If we were just talking about a road trip, that would not be too bad.  But we are not talking about a trip in a car, we are talking about our journey with God.

Hebrews 10:35-36 tells us, "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

As my wife and I discussed this image of our Christian life as a journey with a couple of friends, we suggested that these verses from 1 Peter 1 and Hebrews 10 give us a couple of solid tips about what to pack for the journey.

First, from 1 Peter 1:18 -  We need to travel with a deep consciousness of God. The question we pursued was How can we begin to purposely develop a God-consciousness, a conscious awareness of the presence of God? We began a discussion that included the Word of God, prayer, singing, music, and, I'll add also - not just, but also - hanging around with people who are on the same journey we are on.

And secondly, from Hebrews 10:35 -  We need to travel with a confident trust in God. The question, of course, was how can we begin to purposely develop a confident trust in God. Our discussion included hanging out with God, getting into His word and learning His ways, recalling and verbalizing the things he has already done for us and in us, developing and expressing a grateful attitude for them, deliberately choosing to believe His word over our circumstances, declaring His word over our lives and situations, keeping the truth of the Word of God before us, building faith by hearing and doing The word of God, and asking others for help when we become discouraged.

What things have helped you to develop a deep consciousness of and confident trust in God?

Are there a couple more things you would like to pack for the journey?

Reality Check

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Ps 23:1) Not because there is nothing I want. Not because of how I feel. Not because of what I see around me. Not because of who or who not is in my life. Not because of my home, my job, or my friends. Not because of what I am or am not involved in. Not because of my heritage. Not because of where I live, Not because of how much or how little I have in my life. Not because of education or lack there of. Not because of full bank accounts. Not because of family. Not because of what I have or don't have. Not because or health, wealth, or power. Not because of anything I have or don't have of what this world has to offer.  It is because of a higher truth than what I see and experience in the natural realm. I lack nothing because the Lord God Almighty is my Shepherd and none is as capable as Him. So, if I am feeling or sensing a lack, I remind myself of my true reality - The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Peace And Effectiveness

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Col 3:15) We are one body and different members of a body cannot war with one another and still function effectively. We are called to and must be at peace with each other in order to interact with each other and in this world in a godly, effective, and fruitful manner. The peace of God is to be the rule in our hearts. We are to pursue and follow peace, but this has nothing to do with letting things slide, not rocking the boat, nor not addressing things that need to be addressed. That is pseudo peace and will not last or produce righteousness.