The passing of another year brings a new year’s set of resolutions.  

Social media explodes with the discussion of goals, the affirmation that there’s another chance; another opportunity. Everyone, for the moment, seems to look in the same direction–forward.

As a husband, dad, man, dreamer, imperfect person with a past who is also a Christian, I look ahead into “another year” with this sober perspective, believing with my heart that God shares the same:   

I’m convinced that God is committed to calling us higher.  

While we are so often focused on moving forward and getting further, he gently says:

“Wait, first – come up higher.”

What do I mean–higher?  

Each day I understand in greater depth that following Jesus is about seeing things differently.  More and more I see that his intention while on earth, and his design for us now – through his Holy Spirit, is to call us past religion, and into a life of fulfillment.  Christ does this by directing us to see our situation and circumstance differently than through our eyes.

Just as he invaded a Jewish culture preoccupied in their own legalisms, Jesus -present day, continues to introduce us to a Father – who doesn’t need anything –Yet, who knows our need before we speak (Matthew 6:8), and who waits to calm our fears as we trust him with our concerns (Isaiah 30:18).

Trusting this God, alone, takes us higher.  

In trusting him, he asks us to change our mind about our sin, our doubt, our fear – but he doesn’t leave us there in a shameful state or fragmented identity –-Rather, He lifts us above it, forgives us, actually changes our identity to son and heir, and relates to us as if we never lived lower.  He allows us to live confident as we live in trusting relationship with him (Hebrews 4:16).  

Trust in God is so important because it opens us up to supernaturally receive things we couldn’t have obtained on our own:  

security, unconditional acceptance and love, identity, purpose

We all, in our broken condition, live longing for these things, and are finally satisfied when we receive them from the One who knows us perfectly, and provides them perfectly.  

Even faith itself is acquired from God alone.  While religion says to “just have faith” (often through your own white-knuckled willpower), God provides an upgrade by directing us to Jesus for the gift of faith (2 Corinthians 3:16).  As we trust God’s heart and nature through the person of Jesus (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15), he persuades our heart that there is hope, activating our faith.

As you move forward into 2018, how are you thinking?  Are you committed to simply depending on yourself?  Your plans?  Your resources?  Your perspective? 

What if there was a higher way?  What if it was right in front of you?

In your moving, allow Christ to move you forward, away from your past.  But be aware, that in the process of moving you forward, he will lift you higher than you’ve ever been before.  Higher thinking.  Higher receiving.  Higher living.  

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (Colossians 3:1-3)