Stop prioritizing your purpose over God's presence.
“I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless...When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!"
- John 15:5 & 8 (The Passion Translation)
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I've spent a considerable amount of time these past several weeks trying to rediscover my calling; primarily to make sure that everything I'm planning for 2021 and beyond is in alignment with God's will for my life (especially in the light of some of my recent business blunders). In the process—and I do mean process, cuz I've been reading Called to Create, going back through old journals and plans, fasting, praying, you name it!—I absolutely rediscovered my calling and feel like God completely recalibrated EVERYTHING I was doing. But also in the process, I found something even sweeter:
Deeper intimacy with God.
I feel like I've unearthed a deeper level of intimacy than I had with Him over 10 years ago when I was still newly re-dedicated to Him. I thought I'd never get that level of fire back but I'm a witness though now that you can! Your relationship with God can always be renewed! Believe that!
I share all this because I know you may be praying for alignment with God's will for your life right now (maybe even stressing about it a little bit like I was). If so, I wanted you to catch the same revelation that I've now caught:
Finding & executing God's will for my life is nowhere near as important as just finding Him.
I went into this season of calling rediscovery with one goal in mind but God had other plans; plans to help me connect with Him like never before. I feel like this whole process He's led me through has just been one big ruse to get me in closer union with Him. And I ain't mad about it at all! Because in that deeper fellowship, I've found a new sense of freedom & liberation to just go and do and be all that I am. Whatever that looks like. Whatever ideas I have. Because all that I am and all that I create, by default, is a symphony to the world of all that He is. That's what life is like when you stay connected to the vine.
By all means, follow whatever process God has you in right now. But be encouraged that, at the end of the day, you don't have to worry about whether you're doing the right thing or in alignment if you make God's presence your first priority. Trust me, if you get in His presence on a regular basis in 2021, you'll organically do whatever He wants you to do without even realizing it. You won't be able to help but produce the fruit He put you here to produce because "He'll be working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
So, if you don't remember anything else this year, remember that "only ONE thing is needed." (Luke 10:42) Choose the one thing!