Trust The Process

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/3Cvo2l63OtI?si=jyexbMc-UHQPDoRU

“Trust The Process”

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

 

This past Saturday, I ran a 5K with a friend of mine from church.  We were both really excited to run in the same race again.  Before the race started, we were talking about setting pace and I mentioned how I wanted to get below a certain time.  My friend offered to pace me and get my time lower.  However, he told me to just listen to him, keep up and don’t look at my race watch.  I agreed with the pace he told me and I ran along with him. 

 

Throughout the race, we chatted a lot together and he commented on my breathing as well as asking me how I was feeling.  He also encouraged me to keep up when he went faster and explained when he was going to go faster.  The last mile, I was hurting and I had to mentally push myself to finish.  I was exhausted, but at the end, I sprinted as well as I could.  We crossed the line together and I took a few minutes to catch my breath. 

 

When I looked at my final time, I almost fell down!  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!  He took me faster than I thought he would.  He was sneaky and pushed me harder than the pace time he had originally said.  Why??  Because he knew I was capable and could do it.  Hearing that blew me away!  I had an idea in mind and he took me beyond that!  I trusted him to take me through the race and coach me to get a better time.  And….he did! 

 

I spent the rest of the day and weekend just blown away at what I had just done.  But, I could NOT have done it if I ran on my own.  He had a strategy in mind and knew what he was doing.  I did not.  I just trusted the process and gave it my all. 

 

Friends, so often in our lives, we have our own ways and try to do so many things on our own.  We want to improve, but we don’t know exactly how aside from what we think might work.  My friend had actually recommended me to set a pace and keep that the entire race, so that was the first 5K race I had done that.  It worked and it was amazing!

 

If we trust God in life and let go of what we think are good ideas and trust His process and timing, amazing things happen!  All weekend, I just kept thanking God for this opportunity and for what my friend had pushed me and encouraged me to do.  I just couldn’t believe I had done that well and didn’t think I was capable of it quite yet. 

 

We have to trust His process.  We have to trust and let Him guide, even when it hurts and we don’t think we can finish.  If I had run the race on my own, this would not have happened.  I am grateful for my friend’s encouragement and I am grateful that God gave me the endurance to finish this well. 

 

When life gets tough, trust in Him and His process.

All That Matters

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/Dw0UDPCE2co?si=BEXHAejqz0sg41b9

“All That Matters”

Revelation 4:8 NIV

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’who was, and is, and is to come.”

 

In church this past Sunday morning, we sang one of my favorite worship songs, “Holy Forever”.  As we were singing, I felt a strong reminder by God saying, “Zach, all that matters in life is that you worship Me and focus on Who I Am.”  As we continued to sing the song, I felt chills from the reminder that God is absolutely beyond amazing. 

 

The past couple of months I’ve been struggling with so many things on my mind and not completely focusing on positive things.  I’ve shared that in the past months, I struggled with some depression and how worship music brought me out of that.  Well, the struggle is off and on and I realize that I have to really be intentional big time all the time to make sure I am focusing on God.  No matter what is going on in my life, nothing changes how amazing and awesome God is. 

 

While singing this song on Sunday, I was reminded that all that ever matters in life is how amazing and wonderful God is.  Nothing in my life compares to that!  Does that mean that my struggles and things that are very concerning are not important?  No, absolutely not!  God certainly cares about all of the things going on.  However, when I get so focused on certain things going on in my life and NOT on God, that’s my problem!  God has reminded me of that.  I need to let go and trust Him 100%.  I haven’t been doing that.

 

All that matters in life is that we focus and worship God.  That is where our total focus needs to be, no matter what is going on.  Today I am reminded that nothing in all of life is more important than God and me worshipping Him daily.  Everything else falls under that, period.  Nothing that I am doing means anything if I am not fully focused on serving Him.  I need to be locked in and focused every day. 

 

These words from the song captured my attention today:

Your Name is the highest
Your Name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your Name stands above them all

 

This is ALL that matters, period.  There is so much power behind these words and what they mean.  God is above and beyond everything we experience and all we struggle through in life. 

 

If we completely focus on Him, then the rest of life will not overcome us.  God is always with us. 

They Had No Idea What Was Coming

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/u2K8v_zFCTc?si=H54eYRKzyZOqeRfL

“They Had No Idea What Was Coming”

Matthew 26:31-35 NIV

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”  “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

 

Recently my wife and I have been watching the beginning of Season 5 of “The Chosen”.  The scene of the Last Supper really sticks out in my mind.  Jesus is trying to verbally prepare them for what is to come.  Peter speaks out and so do the others that they would never deny Christ.  They all have a look of shock on their faces when Jesus says this.  Peter especially does and says that even if he would have to die because of Jesus, he would not deny.

 

All these men literally have no idea what is about to happen.  Jesus is trying so hard to prepare them and give them the tools they need to move forward, but they just look at Him and are confused.  They just don’t get it.  No matter how much He tries to explain and prepare them, they are just left in confusion.  It’s been really neat watching this unfold on the screen as I am a very visual learner. 

 

They were all for sure nothing would stand in the way of following Jesus, no matter what.  But again, they had no idea what was coming.  So often in life, we also have no idea what is coming to us.  We are for sure that we will be faithful and stand strong for Jesus no matter the situation.  We “hope” we would be strong enough, but would we really?  Just something for us to consider in situations we find ourselves going through where the tension is high and our reputation is on the line.  Will we be brave enough to stand up and be strong in what we believe?

 

This devotional is an opportunity for us all to take this in and meditate.  Consider your life and opportunities that have come up and may come up.  Whatever situations may arise, will you and I be brave enough to stand up for what we believe in?  Chances are, most of us will never have the experience of our lives being ended because of our faith, but if it does come to that, what will we do?  Will we be faithful in our devotion no matter what?