It’s been said that most people come to faith in God in one of two ways. One way is that they reach out to God in a time of great need or crisis. The other is that they simply recognize the awesomeness of God and respond to that.

For one, God reveals himself as provider or healer or deliverer. For the other, God reveals himself through his creation, the miracle of birth, or some other awe-filled experience. For both, God is actively revealing himself. And for both, a revelation of God begins a journey of getting to know the depth of the nature and character of God.

My question is; do we value one story over another? Here’s a little test. Which story do you find most compelling?

1. Doris grew up in a Christian home. Her parents taught her from a young age that God created the world, but when she saw the Grand Canyon at age 19, the majesty of God just blew her away. She committed her life to Jesus based on God’s creative power and majesty.
2. Dick grew up in a dysfunctional home with a series of step-fathers and mother’s boyfriends. After years of alcohol abuse, he hit bottom. Desperate, he went to a 12-step program in a church where he met a believer who led him to Jesus, and was miraculously delivered from addiction.

Of course, it’s a trick question. You already have figured out that it’s my contention that we (meaning most of us) think that the rescue from addiction is the greater story. It seems more interesting, more dramatic, and well, gripping. But we would be wrong.

Both stories are about depraved, broken, sinful human beings starting a journey on the pathway to faith in God through Jesus and being changed by his grace. Both stories deserve a hearing. Both stories need to be celebrated.

How did your faith journey begin? Need or awe? If you haven’t yet started a faith journey, begin where you are. Let God reveal himself to you as you awake to his awesomeness or as he meets your need.

What’s your story?

My second thought, after getting over the creepiness, was what I would like to tell that 19 year-old me.

If I could do a little time travel, I would like to tell that 19 year old that:

• Life will deal you some blows. You will have trials and adversity. But do not despair. In the end, God will use every event of your life for your good and His glory. Really. (Ephesians 1:11)
• You will also experience some great adventures. Savor life. Enjoy the ride. Treasure people along the way.
• Develop an eternal perspective. Your relationships with people are the only things you’ll take with you when you leave this earth. Cultivate those.
• You are capable of more than you know. Dispense with self-doubt. Banish fear. Be bold. Act on faith. Take courage.
• God has a plan for you, bigger than you can see today. Pursue His purpose.
• Save a little of every paycheck.

Now, I’m wondering what the 79 year-old me (20 years into the future) might like to say to the “now” me? Perhaps it wouldn’t be so much different.

Of course, we must take our cues from Jesus in all matters, including prayer.

Jesus made it clear that we are to approach the Kingdom of God as children. Children find no shame in asking their parents for what they want. Every parent knows the tenacity of the child who asks for something and upon getting a “no,” turns around and simply keeps asking. Repeated requests and repeated denials. Sometimes the parent will give in, and sometimes not, depending on what the parent deems is best for the child. As least that’s what a good parent will do. Jesus makes it clear that he invites that kind of tenacity into the Kingdom. But that is not the complete picture.

Jesus also says, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) This is a bold claim. However, please read on (v. 15): “If you love me obey my commandments.” How many of us want our prayers answered without the demand of obedience, even in the simplest things?

So the second thing (beside childlike boldness) is that we come to God fully aware of our disobedience and willing to be fully submissive to his will. In this way, we come expecting an answer to our prayers, but satisfied when the answer we receive is not the one we want.

Again, Jesus is our example. In the garden, just before his crucifixion, Jesus made a bold demand of his Father, full of raw honesty: “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Note the audaciousness with which he asks to be spared the suffering of the cross. However, in the next breath, we learn the secret to praying powerful prayers. Jesus says, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” He is on one hand, asking boldly and on the other, serenely accepting the Father’s will.

In his book, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby talks about praying and then watching for what happens next. What happens next is likely the answer to your prayer. We often don’t recognize answer to prayer because we’re looking for OUR answer.

The secret to avoiding cynicism? Asking boldly, accepting gracefully and looking for God’s answer, not your own.

Yes, you. Me too. We are all born to worship. It’s in our DNA. From the time we are born we worship something. But what is worship?

Some think of worship as what they do on Sunday mornings. Go to church, sing some songs, listen to some preaching, pray. There. I’ve worshiped. Well, perhaps you have. But if that is your entire definition of worship, you’re missing something bigger.

I like the definition of worship that simply says that worship is a response. That’s it. Worship is how you respond to something. Under this definition, we find worshipers everywhere. There are worshipers at sports stadiums, worshipers at malls and worshipers in sports clubs. They are worshiping the god of the winning goal, the god of materialism or the god of physique. Are those things wrong? Of course not. But they can become idols.

How do we know when something has become an idol? Easy. When it takes the place of the living God.

If worship is simply a response, then our worship of God is simply comprised of the ways in which we respond to God. If God is central to everything else in my life, my entire life can be lived in response to Him. This means when I go to a sporting event, I go not to worship the team, the game or the sport, but I go thankful to God for recreation. When I go to the mall, I go not to worship materialism, the latest gadgets, and to get more, but I go mindful of how I use my God-given resources, ready to give to others who have less than I. When I think about taking care of my body, it is not with the idea that I worship being thin and fit, but that I am training my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Everything I do, my work, my time with family, my recreation, my vacation and vocation, all–belong to God and become forms of worship to Him. Living my life becomes an act of worship as I respond to Him and His love toward me.

Worship then, is woven into our lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Everything we do becomes an act of worship. Worship then is not reserved for an hour and a half on Sunday morning, it is deeply ingrained into the fabric of our every day.

Now I’m going to post this blog as an act of worship. It’s my response to God today for his grace and compassion. And it’s my confession that I don’t always worship in the way I’ve described.

Now, what will be your act of worship today?

It sounds entirely too simplistic as I write it, but true, nonetheless: We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we react. Our circumstances do not have to dictate our response to them. As I see it, there are two options: allow fate to overwhelm us or exercise faith. The difference is this: when you allow fate to control you, you become a victim. Putting your faith in God means there is nothing that you and God together cannot do.

You will survive the divorce. You will make peace with your friend. The season of joblessness will pass. Your body will heal. The sun will shine again. Don’t believe me? Try to grasp this truth: If you are facing adversity, it simply means your story is not over. God has a wonderful ending he’s already written. Fate will blind you to it; but the eyes of faith will reveal it.

Fate or faith?

Your choice.

If you could ask God for One Thing, what would it be?

Before you answer, understand that I’m not suggesting that God is a genie in a bottle granting us but one wish. God is too big for trivialities and granting wishes like a new BMW, or all your bills paid forever. I’m asking a more serious question. Solomon asked for wisdom, which I think was a wise request, if you ask me. Congratulations if your answer to my question was wisdom. But there are other good answers.

David, the Psalmist, asked of God his One Thing in Psalm 27, verse 4. Here it is:

The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Surprised? Me too.

What David was asking for was a lifetime in the presence of God. David had his priorities aligned and in proper order. The thing he sought most was not another possession. He didn’t ask for relief from worry. He didn’t ask for physical comfort or good health. Unlike Solomon, he didn’t even ask for wisdom. He asked for a relationship built on proximity. David knew that if he spent time in the house of the Lord, nothing else mattered, and all his other needs and desires would be met.

Okay, in all practicality, you can’t hang out at church 7 days a week to have a relationship with God. Good news is that you don’t have to. But if you have a desire, like David, to “delight in the Lord’s perfections,” you can start by spending some time with God right now. Start by reading a Psalm. Listen to some worship music. Write a prayer in your journal. Meditate (think!) about who God is. And wonder. Be in awe.

Now, go ahead. Ask God for One Thing. But, like David, make it count.

To be in relationship with another person means you are a leader. Whether you are an employer or a grandpa, someone is following you. Stay-at-home moms and working dads, bosses and coaches, teachers, clerks and neighbors; someone is looking to you for leadership. Even husbands and wives take turns, as if in a dance—sometimes following, and sometimes leading.

That’s why we must become good followers.

Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

So, to be an excellent leader, we must also become a good follower. Paul was confident in asking people to follow him because he knew whom he was following. His relationship with Jesus was so strong that he knew he would not lead others astray. Are you living your life in such a way as to confidently say to your son or daughter, “Follow me?” Or do you find yourself thinking, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say?”

Remember playing follow-the-leader as a child? When it came your turn to be the leader, did you feel the pressure, the weight and responsibility of leading the line of kids behind you to do something creative and fun? Someone is looking to you for their next cue. Someone is keeping watch on your lifestyle and making decisions about their own life based on how you live yours. Scary, isn’t it? Leadership comes with responsibility, a kind of duty we all must accept, whether we like it or not.

Every relationship you have creates a leadership opportunity. Make the most of it by answering a few key questions: “How can I become a better leader? Who is following me? How do I know? How do I become a better follower? Who do I follow? Am I following Jesus?”

Tell me your leadership/followership story. How are you navigating this leadership thing?

I’m preparing for a class I am facilitating on “Followership,” the idea that we are all either following or being followed. Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” As I ruminate on these thoughts, please share with me (and I’ll in turn share with others) your experiences in following and being followed. After all, it is the nature of discipleship. Being a follower and a leader is at the heart of a balanced Jesus life, so we must get it right.

Who are you following? Who is following you? How do you know? What difference does it make in your life? Do you feel the weight of it?

Please share.