Leeland

"And I'm lost in Your love and Your mercy. Lord Your beauty is so overwhelming. I'm thankful for Your truth. I'm so in love with You, my Jesus."

Recently, I had one of those spiritual epiphanies and everything became clear in one moment. I was praying and suddenly my eyes were opened to something. I realized that I had complicated things. I'd turned my relationship with God into process...a formula. I knew God loved me, but for some reason I couldn't get free from the bondage of "productivity". I don't think I'm the only one who has struggled with this.

Don't get me wrong - we're supposed to be responsible and get things done in life, but that's not what I'm talking about. We've brought this "productivity" thing into our relationship with God and we've completely missed the point of the Gospel.

We were created for one simple purpose, and that's to be intimate with God. To know Him and walk alongside Him with love is the highest calling, the ONLY calling. Everything else flows from this. Do you want to win this world to Jesus? Do you want to see your family situation turn around? How about those bills that are stacking up? The solution to the world's problems and the answer to our needs will only come if you're intimate with God. Show me someone that's giving everything in pursuit of the face of God, and I'll show you a world-changer. Show me someone that's consumed with just "getting things done" for God, and I'll show you a frustrated & unfulfilled person.

This song is an invitation to make things simple again and, to make your greatest goal in life to simply fall more in love with Jesus. Really get lost in Him. Here's a project for you. Take some time today (and every day for the rest of your life) to just sit and let God love you. Then let that love fill every moment of your day, even the ordinary places. It will change your life. If we get this, we'll be in the perfect position to change the world around us!

"I lay down my life, and pick up my cross. What a joy it is to give my life away to you. All that I need, all that I seek, is you here with me. Holy Spirit have your way in me."

This is one of the most transformational prayers you'll ever pray.  Simply giving your life away to God. What does that mean practically?

First, we have to realize that God cares about our dreams and aspirations, because He's the one who gave them to us. The most content people in the world are those who've given everything they have to God with no questions asked. Total surrender. These people end up seeing their dreams come true because they've stopped trying to please people, and they live to please God. Can you imagine living that way? Well, you can!

Secondly, think about the fact that Jesus gave His life on the cross and then rose again three days later. Why? So we could go to heaven? Yes, but that's not all. He rose again, so we could be sure that we don't serve a dead God. He's living inside of you if you've made Him your Lord. That means that He's given you the ability to surrender just like he did! (Lk 22:42) We can do the things Jesus did, and more. (Jn 14:12-13)

What are your dreams? What are your ambitions? I can assure you, the second you just sacrifice them and give them back to God you'll see them come true in due time. Stop striving, and surrender just like Jesus did. His plan is the best and His timing is impeccable. (Pr. 19:21)

Holy Spirit have YOUR way!

Leeland and Jack recently contributed to a new interactive audio devotional for teens called Devo2Go. Leeland and Jack are the guides during Week 4, but you can try the first week of the series for free at Devo2Go.com.

"On the Via Dolorosa, all my sins were carried away. And the power of hell was broken, as He gave his life away."

I try my best to imagine the day that Jesus died on the cross. So many things happened. Political systems were shaken, devote followers of Christ were disheartened, a mother lost a son, and God the Father experienced sorrow beyond comprehension. But right in the middle of confusion and fear, Jesus saved the world.

But, what was Jesus thinking, especially when He was walking down that road on His way to save the world? This was our inspiration for the song Via Dolorosa, which is the Latin name for the road He walked. It translates: "way of grief" or "way of suffering". 

We know one thing - Jesus did suffer. He went through more pain that day than one human could bear, and the weight of the sins of the world bore down on His heart.

As believers I think it's good for us to sit every once in a while, and ponder the work of the cross. I mean, REALLY think about what happened. A king from a distant and powerful kingdom came as a humble and awe inspiring man. This man lived his life and poured out more love than any one man could possibly give. All of this built up to that moment when the sins of the world rested on His shoulders.

What was Jesus thinking when he walked the Via Dolorosa? I know that He saw our faces and felt the hope of our future, and the glory of his redeemed people. He saw through the ages and knew that this one act would tip the scales of power. He had won the war. He knew it. That's why He was able to endure the pain and heartache.

Can you say the same for yourself? Life can beat us up, but can you look through the crowds of hateful people, casting off the weight of this world, and give your life away like Jesus did? This is the Gospel. His grace empowers us to give everything we have for His kingdom!

Over the next several weeks, I will be posting short devotionals based on songs from Love Is On The Move. This first one is based on "Follow You," which is also the name of the tour we're on right now. Please leave a comment if you'd like to respond! -Jack

FOLLOW YOU 

"God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them." -Bono

We all know that God is omnipresent. It's a very real fact. He's everywhere. He has the ability to reach into situations unknown to us. Right now, there are billions of problems throughout the globe; a child soldier in Africa is forced to kill, a street sweeper in Bangladesh has no hope, a teen age girl in Romania is suffering from deep shame after aborting her child. There are problems across the street too. Your neighbor lost their job or their marriage is on the rocks. God knows everyone's story, and He cares so much!

He's there, right beside every person in the world. Now's the time for us to get up and follow in God's footsteps. It's really that simple. Find out where God is, and run to meet him there! We know that God's heart aches for the poor and the needy. They are His children too. As we reach out to people that are hurting, our problems begin to shrink, and we draw closer to God's heart in the process!

This is what the song "Follow You" is all about. If the church doesn't respond to the world's brokeness, it would be the greatest tragedy in all of history. We have what it takes! We have the very love of God in our hearts. We have faith to see the impossible come to pass, and we have a God that's waiting to back us up in this mission.

Ask God to open your eyes today. Ask Him to reveal His footsteps, so you can follow them. They will lead you to some amazing places.