Going Beyond: A Road Trip with Jesus

I have a friend who decides on a word or some words that is going to characterize how she is hoping to grow in the Lord that year.  Last year she chose the words "Go Beyond." Now, I can't say I'll never do this, but things like this typically set me up for feeling like an unfaithful failure--so I avoid them, but that is not my point.  My point is that her words stuck in my head and heart.  We shared some things that God was really stretching us both to do, and do well.  We talked about these often, and had wonderful conversations about following Jesus down paths that we certainly would have avoided without Him.  Recently those words have surfaced in my own heart again, and I've been pondering where Jesus wants me to Go Beyond for Him.  This got me thinking....

I realized quickly how many areas in life that he wanted me to also go beyond--right now.... we all have them, but we avoid them naturally.  It takes some intentionality to go where we otherwise wouldn't.... for the good or the bad.  A lot of people have asked me questions like:  "How do you have the time and patience to be able to mentor the lost... or work with girls struggling with self-destruction.... or do marriage counseling..... or parent 24/7.... or be a stay-at-home mom.... or homeschool.... or all of the other things that my day often consists of.  My answers is simple:  "I don't."  I don't have the time to do any of those things, none of us do.  I don't have the time to go beyond... things like this are done when we MAKE the time to do them.  We all have the same amount of time each day to manage, and we all have plenty competing for our time.  Going beyond means that you are going to follow Jesus down a road He wants to travel, and He's invited you on a road trip... and you get to be the navigator.  Everyday there is a road trip with Jesus that we can CHOOSE to take, or we can cozy up with our friend the internet in our snuggies and hot cocoa and pay bills all night.  = )  There is somewhere in every single day where we can MAKE the time to Go Beyond.

I wonder today how God is asking you to go beyond, just. for. today.  Not thinking any farther than that. I know today He will give you the opportunity to go beyond... in fact, He probably already has.  Some of the ways I have been challenged to Go Beyond this week are simple (but hard).... such as not having the last word when I feel right, sacrificing sleep or entertainment to serve another, putting my shopping cart back at -15 degrees, loving the ignored, encouraging the discouraged, making points of touch that are long overdue, apologizing..... if your a wife or a mom, you probably have at least a dozen ways to Go Beyond before your feet have even hit the floor most mornings.
 

I know you are thinking...... good. for. YOU...... or boy, I'm glad that works for YOU.  Well, the truth is this is not just for those who have reached a certain "level"... or have a certain amount of free time.... we all have 100% free time, and the terrible freedom to fill it however we desire.  We know that there is a time for all things... and if you follow Jesus, He wants to be the Lord of your time.... all of it-not just some of it.  You see, you either follow Jesus, or you don't..... it's not something that "some" of us are called to do with "some" of our free time.  We are all called to Go Beyond--every.single.day.-- if we follow Him.

I often see walls that are put up, or fears that are in the way, or insecurities that prevail over the work that God has to do in peoples lives.  This happened in my own life this week as I worked really hard to recognize a couple of areas where I knew walls, fears, and insecurity, past hurt, and  were preventing me from Going Beyond.... and I'm working on those in my life step by step.  But I've also learned this week, that as I follow Jesus and go beyond the walls, the insecurity, the fear......... that I have absolutely nothing to hide nothing or to fear because perfet love casts out fear..... it always protects, always preservers, holds no record of wrongs... it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  If the One who is capable of all of that is inviting me on a road trip each day to God Beyond with Him.... why on earth would I ever fear or hide?  Yet we naturally do.  So let's pray.... for the courage and selflessness to GO BEYOND today. 

And thanks friend... for two simple words that are forever woven into the fabric of my life.



Heavenly Father,

I love you Lord.  I thank you for the incredible privilege to GO BEYOND with you. Lord, the truth is we all are scared.... scared of the letting go that is needed to follow you.... scared of the unknowns that come with following you..... scared of the hurt and pain that may surface.... scared of walking into the places we've abandoned that never went away even though we've been ignoring them for a very long time.  You are the God of all these places, and you are One who can empower us by Your great strength.  Grant us the courage to follow you, from the first step until the last.  In places of comfort, and places of pain.... with people we love, and those who are less than loving.... in the yesterday, today, and tomorrow.... for You are the God of them all.  Reveal where You want me to GO BEYOND.... and give me ears that hear and a willing heart.

In the name of Jesus, who went beyond....
Amen.