SuperBowl LI is now history and whether you are waking up to the news or you watched it unfold, people will be talking about it for decades. It had all the essential ingredients: defying the odds, down but not out, a band of hearts coming together on mission, and truly much much more as you collect each and every story that combined for an even Larger Story. Sounds more like a chapter from The Lord of the Rings or Narnia than a football game, and that is my point. We were made for a Large Story, to play a part that matters. It was Nelson Mandella, the prisoner who became president that wrote…
There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
Haven’t you noticed, some days seem to matter more? Actually, it is the collection of little things accomplished or endured over time that come together and make their mark in history. Sometimes they collect to bring about change. Other times they combine to endure or survive. It can operate like this gloriously or awfully… depending on the collection of days and the decisions made by each individual and their bearing on a whole. Oh, there is much more to take into account in any one life, just as there is much more to take in regarding all our lives. We live with an enemy, an opposition to our Larger Life… a darkness that would rather we never come into our value and worth, an evil that is hell bent on us playing small as if that were our only option. Jesus knew this and came to bring a great reckoning, to turn the tables and turn us lose… free. In John 10:10, He said…
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (AMP)
At Zoweh, we teach and continually seek the Larger Story and Larger Life. We have found it requires an orientation in order to be experienced; one that allows Abundant Life to both be enjoyed to the full, and, yet, accept the fact that it must be fought for. It requires eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is engaged so that a man or woman can walk with God and experience Who they are, know Where they are, and can then speak of the Good God is up to in their lives… primarily Healing and Training. This is a Large Life… and too few know it. This is why Zoweh exists. We were made for more, and we love to create environments and share perspectives for God to get this Larger Life through. No doubt He doesn’t need us to do so, but, rather, He invites us.
Your life is Epic, and the Author of our story and life is fully engaged... inviting, healing, training, offering... working all things for the good in this Epic Story. Let us boldly and courageously step up and in. For today might just be one of those days, a collection of little things making for an Epic Day.
Let’s Pray…
Dear God, Holy Trinity, you are the author of this great story. and you are glorious in all your ways. Thank you for writing each and every one of us into your Larger Story and wanting us to play a significant part.
Father, we confess, we have fallen asleep; and worse, been the casualties and victims of an evil force that opposes our Life in you and with you and convinces us to believe we are small and that you are small. The enemy of our hearts is cunning; stealing, killing, and destroying. BUT, you are the great redeemer, you have all of us on a comeback and you are making all things good. Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus into the story, for showing us what it looks like to walk with you in love, mission, and character. We declare, we want to be your men and women, characters in a Larger Story; Kingdom citizens by family right as you have brought us into your family and are entrusting the secrets of your Kingdom Life to each and every one of us… to all who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts engaged.
Jesus, we confess, we need you, we need your work and your way. Fill us with Life (value, worth, and purpose), fill us with Love (affection, intimacy, and belonging). You alone are Life and Love and we take our place in you, we take our place with you in the Larger Story.
Holy Spirit, train us up, but first, heal us up. We confess, we all have been wounded in this great battle for the heart. We have either sided with or been captive to the kingdom of darkness, to the thief who has stolen, killed, and destroyed our hearts, the wholeness required to play our part well. We need to recover, and we need to be made strong. Thank you, Holy Spirit, thank you for being committed to seeing our comeback fulfilled and for walking with us for more. We proclaim your presence and power in our lives and commit again this day, to walking with you for Life and Love.
God, we declare your Kingdom endures forever! We declare that greater are you in us than he that is in the world. We take our position, our Large position, in your Kingdom and we receive all power and authority made possible by and given to us by the Lord, Jesus Christ and all His work and all His Life that we may overcome ALL the forces of evil set against us this day. We pray and look forward to the many Epic days that will lead to the one day, the one day when the battle will be over, the trumpet will sound and we will be with you, forever and ever… to this day we greatly look forward to as we trust you for today and take our place in the mission of Life and Love as you work all things out for the good. We love you, God, and we thank you for Loving us to Life.
Amen and AMEN.