Posted on January 14, 2024 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
It Is Good To Be You
By Brooke Hodnefield
I have a terrible sense of direction. If I’m in a hotel, I will always guess the wrong direction to turn off the elevator to my room. If you say ‘south of the this or that,’ I will look at you blankly. I moved to KC during my junior year of high school, and there was a write-up in my senior yearbook about my lack of direction. I had earned a reputation that quickly. It’s a legit deficiency. I KNOW my need for a map. If only I recognized my neediness for Jesus as I do the need for Apple Maps!
So then, to become more prayerful, we have to be humble. To be humble, we need to be honest. Each morning, tell the truth. The truth being you are needy even when it doesn’t feel like it. Then, turn toward God and pray.
Jackie Hill Perry, Upon Waking
At work, we have a term for people we encounter that we consider needy or challenging…they are ‘EGR’ = extra grace required. As I think of our gracious and generous God and how he looks upon his children, we are just that – EGR’s, each of us! Paraphrasing Matthew 5:3-6, we are often:
(vs 3) Trusting of our self-sufficiency, not poor in spirit
(vs 4) In experiencing pain, filling our emptiness with everything but Jesus
(vs 5) Prideful and self-promoting, not meek
(vs 6) Considering our relationship with Jesus as an afterthought, not with an insatiable hunger and thirst for righteousness
The Beatitudes are an invitation to find our King and his Kingdom, and not to rely on our own kingdoms that we build. How much relief does that bring to know that the ordinary and the unlikely can access a King, not by doing, but by being in a relationship with him? He sits not on an untouchable throne but joins you in your tears, takes your hand and leads you forward when you can’t take that next step, and continually quietly pursues you even when he is but a secondary consideration. We only need to acknowledge our neediness and lack and walk right in. It is good to be you, to be me, approaching our heavenly King.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
This passage may or may not mean poor in finances…we are each poor in some way. Where is your greatest need, and where do you seek God’s kingdom where there is lack, need or absence? He declares his presence in those wanting places!
The ache that comes with that pain often creates a turn to something or someone. Have you tried turning to other people or solutions? What pain or suffering can you take to God? Do you trust him to comfort you?
Power, status & influence are highly valued in our world. God is counter-cultural. Take stock of your own life & consider where you have built your own altar.
God instills unique passions in each one of us to care for his creation and his world. What causes your heart to break? How can you take a small step in exploring your contribution further?
As you reflect on the entire passage from this week, what sticks out and most resonates? Where do you need God’s wisdom or guidance? Find a word or phrase and speak it out loud or write it down several times. What does God have for you or want you to see in this reflection?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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