permission to rediscover god’s character

Hey lady,

What’s the last word, phrase, or thought you used to describe God? Maybe it wasn’t even a specific phrase but more a way you referenced Him (or ignored Him?!)

God’s character. I’ll tell ya what -- the way we think about God is the way we’re going to treat God. I mean, that’s not a shocker, right?! It’s the same with people. If we think they’re mean, we’re going to head the other way. If we think they’re compassionate and loving, we head straight for them to pour our hearts out.

That makes sense.

And it’s the same with God, but with much greater impact! How you view God and the character traits you ascribe to Him are going to lay the foundation of your relationship with Him. And that’s why it’s so important to get. it. right. 

The good news is, that it’s not that difficult. I mean, it is and it isn’t. Who God is mysterious in and of itself, but He is not a mystery. He isn’t hiding from you. He isn’t trying to make this an unknowable guessing game. 

He talks to you through the Bible. The BIBLE! His word. And it’s alive, by the way (because He’s alive….it’s a whole cool thing.) So what I want you to do as you’re reading this is to name some attributes of God that you know to be true. Some that you have heard are true but have yet to experience, and some that you know are not true, but have believed or are believing.

Then, take that list to God. (Here’s what I mean when I say that. Say, “hey God. Here’s my list. Can you tell me more about these? Can you show me these? Can you help me get rid of the ones that aren’t true?”)

In this Deeply-Rooted podcast and blog series, we are being intentional about becoming more deeply-rooted in the streams of living water that will never run dry. In this particular episode, we chat about this:

"God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to God!" Romans 15:4-6 MSG 

What would happen if we spent the next hour...day….week...year allowing the combination of God’s steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. I mean, what changes would you see in your life? Within yourself?

Just take the next few moments to read and reread those lines. As a prayer. For me, it kind of turns into a desperate plea. Yes. That’s what I want. 

What’s your next step to make that a reality in your life?

(Maybe it’s listening to the podcast….but there’s probably a next step after that, too!)

Cheering for you, friend! You’re doing great!

Lisa