Crave the Crazy...
Let's face it... life is CRAZY.
In a sense, it's on it's way to CRAZY or coming off of CRAZY.
Life happens, right?
But if you know Jesus, you can experience CRAZY in a whole new way that can perhaps... (dare I say) be exciting or hopeful?
I'm using "CRAZY" is a broad term that covers...
Conflict,
Changes,
Heartbreak,
Illness,
Relationships,
Finances,
Basically any hardship or pain.
As Jesus followers,
We're told hardship and suffering is part of life in this world,
But the WAY we get to do it,
Is SOOOO much better because of Jesus.
The WAY we do it,
Is with FAITH in God's promises,
HOPE that this is only a season,
LOVE that casts out all fear,
And that GOD ALWAYS wins!
It may be easier said than done,
But coming out of a CRAZY season myself,
It's a skill you MUST have.
As I went through the CRAZY,
A perspective that comforted, encouraged or even humored me...
Is that when CRAZY is in the house,
GOD is in the house!
When CRAZY is close,
God is even closer,
When CRAZY is strong,
GOD is even STRONGER.
God will OVERCOME the CRAZY,
And not only that,
He will SHOW OFF in front of the crazy,
And turn bad into good.
What I noticed is...
The bigger the CRAZY,
The bigger the MIRACLE.
"All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
When you know that God's got your back,
When you start to recognize the CRAZY that precedes God's miracles,
You can flip the script in your head,
From "Arrgghh, life is SOOO CRAZY right now!",
To "Wow, God is setting up for a REALLY BIG FAT MIRACLE!".
When you can have CONFIDENCE,
That it's darkest before the dawn,
And Jesus is the LIGHT,
Then you can rest in His peace.
"Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
And one of the GREAT things about Jesus is that,
He has a 100% restoration policy.
Take comfort in the fact that from the CRAZY,
No matter what the damage or loss,
"[God] will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten"
Through a combination of hearing other peoples' testimonies,
And PERSONAL experience of coming out of valleys of death and darkness with Jesus,
Your faith will grow,
It will strengthen,
Until one day you will say...
"This smells like CRAZY!
JESUS is cooking in the kitchen.
He's up to something!"
And the CRAZIER it is you can say...
"This is SUPER CRAZY, which means,
Jesus is up to something SUPER GOOOOODD!!!"
When you know that Jesus' miracles shop up in the CRAZY,
You can CRAVE the CRAZY,
Because you CRAVE the Jesus that comes from it.
So if you are in the middle of CRAZY right now,
Or licking your wounds from CRAZY,
Or entering into CRAZY,
Praise Jesus through it,
Thank Jesus through it,
Confide in Him,
Rest in Him,
Take refuge in Him,
And He will prove Himself faithful and true.
Because none of what is happening to you is a surprise to Jesus.
Life did not take Him off guard,
Where he's scratching His head and saying...
"Well gosh darn it, I didn't see that one coming O_o."
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Trust in God,
He's 10,000 steps ahead of you.
He knew before you even asked,
He already set you up for success,
Relax,
Have a seat,
Praise God through it.
Keep your eyes on Him,
Take it S.L.O.
Seek.
Listen.
Obey.
"Dear Heavenly Father,
Open my spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear.
Let me see your fingerprints over everything in my life.
Let me smell you cooking in the kitchen,
Let me feel your presence in the middle of the CRAZY.
Increase my faith and remove my unbelief,
Increase my love and remove my fear,
Increase my obedience and remove my pride,
Help me see the CRAZY around me and be excited that You're right in the middle of it,
Help me see the CRAZY as a setup for You to show up and show off,
Help me see the CRAZY as a precursor to Your VICTORY,
Let me crave the CRAZY in a way that glorifies You.
In Jesus name, Amen."
Cheers to craving the CRAZY!
Cuz CRAZY life also means God is CRAZY close and setting you up for a MIRACLE!
He's got you! Wohoooo!!!!
