I Would Be More Secure If...

Ask yourself this question:   I would be more secure if…

Answer it. What would cause you to be more self secure...if you had this person, place or thing?

• More money, in better shape, you had this relationship, more successful…

One of my many answers to this question is money. For me, if money wasn’t an issue, I would feel way more secure.

Next question:   Where did this insecurity come from?

When I was growing up, we had plenty of money and “all was well.” I was never in want, until the shtuff hit the fan in my world. The summer before my freshman year of high school, my folks separated, and my pops lost his job. All to say, we went from riches to rags, and quickly. That whole experience shaped my heart in so many ways, and one of them was definitely regarding money and the crippling feeling of scarcity.  This is not a question that enables us to jump into the victim role, but one that reveals the shaping of our hearts. And remember that Jesus basically said that we live, breathe, act and speak out of the overflow of our hearts...that is why this is so important!

Next question:   What does this say about how you see yourself and then how you see God?

For me, if I have enough money, then I am successful, secure and comfortable, but if/when I don’t, I am not-successful, insecure and not-comfortable. What about you?

When I live out of this insecurity, I believe that God is not enough for me and that He won’t provide for my needs and wants. What does your insecurity say about what you believe about God?

Luke 14:33 “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”

I don’t see this as a statement of Salvation (heaven or hell), but an invitation into a secure life. In other words, what happens to us when these things that we put our security in go away? We pout, feel betrayed by God, stop trusting Him, doubt His goodness and even more so, His very existence. Then usually, we run to put our trust and security in something else just to be let down again and again.

Remember a few weeks ago, I talked about my profound learning regarding the commandment, “There shall be no other gods before me?” The reason He gave us this charge was simply because NONE OF THE OTHER gods WORK other than Him!

Next Question:   What is dearest to you that is hardest to let go? What would happen if you surrendered your expectations, hopes, fears, and securities to Jesus this week?

Think through these! Share them with a friend and talk through them at lunch.

10000MINUTES PRACTICE:

Which one of these “Identity in Jesus” statements http://bit.ly/2nEjUTY do you need to hold onto and live into this week?

Text “10k” to “55678” if you want weekly text reminders to your phone. We’ll be sending out a few encouragements a week to help you practice Jesus all week long!