I Wanna Go to a Whole 'Notha Level!

5-4-3-2-1: SPRINT! I hear the spin instructor scream over the music. OK, no biggie, just time to make my legs feel like they are going to fall off over the next thirty seconds. Great. This is exactly what I wanted to do at 6:30 this morning. Oh yeah, here's the clincher, we get to do this three more times. Ouch.

Did you know that in order for your muscles to grow they need to be broken down? So to get stronger physically, you must first be broken. Interesting. I think the same is true spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and mentally.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28, MSG

I want to go to a whole 'notha level. I don't want to be ordinary. As strange as it may sound, I want to live counter-culturally. I want Christ to invade my thoughts and take me captive. I want my heart to literally break at the things that break His heart. I want to live passionately, intentionally, and completely sold-out to the Man who loved me enough to die for me.

"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective." Colossians 3:1-2, MSG

You know what's so mind-boggling about Christ? He doesn't want my perfection. He simply wants me. Meredith Andrews sings, "You don't want my perfection. All You ask of me is that I show up broken at Your feet. You don't want my religion. You are looking for devotion that is more than just routine." God wants me. All of me. He isn't looking for a 50-50 relationship. He wants me to go to that whole 'notha level too. But that will require some stretching....and lots of growing pains. I don't know about you, but I would so much rather go through the pain of growing right now than the pain of regret looking back on my life knowing that I didn't live to the fullest. Ouch. Seem a little harsh? Yeah, but true. Wanna grow?

Psalm 46:5 says, "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." When we allow God to literally infuse us with His strength, we can do anything. I firmly believe that. John 5:30 says, "I can of Myself do nothing. . .I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who sent Me." You might be trying to conquer something that seems seemingly small, but you just can't grasp it. With Christ's help, you can do anything. Maybe you are looking at something that seems too big to grasp. With Christ's help, you can do anything.

Wanna go to a whole 'notha level? Let's walk this journey together and see where God takes us. One thing is sure though: if you come to Christ broken and with a willing heart, He will stretch and grow you like you have never been grown before. Be ready for some growing pains! If you ask Him to take you to a whole 'notha level, He definitely will.

Ready, set, let's go!

Last month we focused on Love. This month (And possibly even longer! We'll see where God takes us!) we will delve into this new series, WHOLE 'NOTHA LEVEL. Stay tuned for practical ways to grow, learn how I'm growing, and daily encouragement. Looking forward to walking down this dusty trail called life with you! Questions? Ideas? Comments? Email me at emilybc91@yahoo.com.