It: Where Did It Go

I recently completed reading a book by Craig Groeschel entitled “IT” that was recommended to me by a friend. I must admit as I read his book I found myself intrigued. I found that I along with many others lose the IT in our lives. Though Craig never actually defines IT, we all, who have spent time in ministry, know when we have IT. For me I recognized, after reading this book, I was well on my way to losing IT in every area of ministry, knowing for sure I had already lost IT in many. It seems to me that the biggest cause of losing IT in my life has been being consumed with the business of ministry rather than walking in the call to ministry. As a result every area of “ministry” has been impacted. Here are the immediate thoughts that came to my mind as I prayed after completing this book.

I've lost - IT
I must find - IT
The business of ministry consumed - IT
As such I ignored - IT
Because of hurt and disappointment in my life my heart is hardened to - IT
Others are being affected or better yet infected because I lost - IT
Passion will not last without - IT
Vision will not be fulfilled without - IT
Satisfaction in ministry will only be realized with - IT
Maximum potential will only be reached by walking in - IT

What is IT?

 It's the passion from your first love and doing what He says as He says IT. The gift of God in you and surrender by faith to follow Him releases you to walk in IT.

Being continually filled (Ple’roo) with His Spirit is essential, so that I can be filled (Ple’tho). Without that, the things I accomplish will be limited at best and no one will see the great things that can be accomplished for God by having IT.

Where do I begin to restore it?

Admit I need it because I've lost - IT
Repent (Change Directions drastically) to begin the journey toward - IT
Shifting priorities are essential to re-establishing - IT
Set all my affection and determination on regaining - IT
Seek forgiveness from those affected or infected by my losing - IT
Praise Him every day because He's not going to withhold - IT
Make sure to pass it on to faithful men and women when I've regained - IT

I trust these open evaluations I’ve made regarding my own ministry helps you as you seek to follow God’s plan for your life. I encourage anyone who is seeking to do great things for God to make sure you walk with the IT every day in your life. Thank you Craig for such a timely book in my life.

"Fully Committed"

Commitment in today’s world for the most part is dirty word. Commitment carries with it a requirement that my cause us to do something for the “right reason” rather than the “right feeling”, which goes against most everything taught today. Whatever you do it should be because it feels good to me. It doesn’t matter what it is, we are indoctrinated in today’s culture to do things, even if it’s something like giving to others, because it makes us “feel good”. There’s no question we tell ourselves we are committed to this or that and it is true we are. At least it’s true until something no longer fulfills a felt need, is convenient, or requires more work than we are willing to invest. We are afraid to make lifetime commitments. Look at the divorce rate in the world or worse in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also apparent in the rapid movement from church to church looking for what feels good to me.

I declare it’s time for a change. This world needs to see true commitment lived out. Jesus, all God made a decision and committed to become all man as well that we might be restored to right relationship with God our Creator. He was so committed to this process that He paid the price for our rebellion and lack of commitment to His walk in His ways. His commitment caused Him to leave heaven, lay down His rights as God, be beaten and put to death so that you and I could have everlasting life through right relationship with God.

Look at this call to commitment by Jesus in Luke 14, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 NLT

He’s not saying we should hate. To the contrary everything He does is bathed in forgiveness. If you’re walking in His forgiveness and practicing forgiving others then it’s impossible to hate. No this is what He is saying. Your love for God, your commitment to God should be so strong that your commitment to anything else, including your family would seem like hate. Now that’s a pretty strong statement about His desire for and our need to be fully committed.

Too much of the church today sees this walk with Christ as something good to do and a “get out of jail free card,” or fire insurance for the future.

It’s a whole lot like many marriages today. Many of them are strictly for convenience sake: Cohabitation. God is not interested in cohabitation. He’s interested in full commitment and genuine intimacy.

I challenge you to look at your commitments today. Are they true commitments or only commitments until the feeling wears off? This world needs people to live totally sold out for the long haul and not worried so much about the short term gains.

If you and I will commit to Loving God and Loving People with His type love, a love marked by giving and not getting, we can influence and change our world.