A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

“The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him
 from going down to the grave.” Proverbs 15:24

Life is a journey with many twists and turns; some days you feel like you have life wired and other days are just bad dreams. After a recent bout of the “what am I doing flu”, I asked God what was wrong with the direction of our life. It seemed like every day my wife and I were running into brick walls. The doors we expected to open for our ministry were nailed shut, but other doors appeared to be cracking open with glimmers of light beckoning us to take a peek inside. That evening as I was sharing the event with my wife, God answered my prayer with her words of wisdom that brought everything in our life to a “whole new level”. She had been struggling with the same issue, but was waiting to see if God would reveal it to me without her trying to influence the situation. What a woman! What a God! He was already working on the answer to my prayer even before I took my struggle to Him. Today I want you to consider the concept of a whole new “LEVEL” in your life. Perhaps you are struggling with an issue like I did, where you are frustrated and confused about some direction in your life. Take your concerns to God in prayer and be willing to “LEVEL” with Him.
 
Let go of the past - “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14. Sometimes we hold on to the past out of our fear of the future. We concoct in our mind of how we want things “to be” instead of asking God for His input on how things “should be”. It’s not easy to let go of dreams, especially if we have held them for a long time. We get very comfortable and set in our ways. Ask God what you need to let go of to take your life to a “whole new level”.   
 
Entertain new ideas - “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12. Paul had done all the “right” things in his life to have a relationship with God, but he discovered that He couldn’t earn God’s approval. We are saved by grace and not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Since he had “let go of his works” he now wanted to “take hold of” God’s plan for his life. Even though “new” can be frightening; “new” is only new until we walk down the path. What “new idea” has God been challenging you with in your life?
 
Verify your thoughts - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6. Recently I heard the phrase, “Trust and verify”. When you believe God is showing you something you need to “verify” your thoughts. I discussed what God was showing me with my wife and she “verified” it with her experience. Seek godly counsel, take a few steps in the new direction and see if God begins to confirm your thoughts and feelings. If God is truly leading you, doors will begin to open and you will “know” that he has made your paths straight. Think about who you would seek godly counsel from if you felt God was leading you in a new direction. If you are unsure of who that would be start asking God to bring those people into your life.
 
Expect opposition - “But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared.” Numbers 16:42. When God had given Moses and Aaron a task to do not everyone was pleased. The opposition was ready to take them out, but God protected them. When you step out in faith in a new direction where God is taking your life to a “whole new level” there will be opposition. Expect it, but trust that God will protect you just as he has done for believers throughout history. What opposition would you expect to rise up against you if you took your walk with God to a “whole new level”?  
 
Lock on - “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39. When the opposition comes we need to “lock on” to God’s promises. This promise creates an impressive list of what “cannot” separate us from the love of God. Just as a fighter pilot “locks on” to his target during battle, we need to “lock on” to the purpose in life that God has called us to accomplish. When times get tough, when your knees get weak, or when everyone around you seems to walk away, “lock on” to God. He will never leave you or forsake you, period! What promise do you need to “lock on” to today?  
  
Change is tough, but refusing to change can be even worse. Check your “pulse” this week and see if God is challenging you to take your faith to a “whole new level”. If He is, I know that you will enjoy the view.