How often are we settling for a lesser gift, when God is offering a far more brilliant one? And why do we do that?
Jesus encountered that thinking with the woman at the well in John 4. She thought He was offering to save her from her daily chores. But He replied,
“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
She didn’t recognize the gift of God initially, though she would receive it eventually. It’s true for a great many of us as well. We look back and experience a retrospective revelation of what God was really orchestrating in our lives.
So what are the primary obstacles in recognizing the gift of God on offer? And how can we partner with Jesus in seeing them more clearly and quickly?
Above all else… rejoice.
We’re not rejoicing in our difficulties. We’re rejoicing in the God who is with us in them, and in who God wants to be for us now that He couldn’t be at any other time. It’s not just recognizing the gift on offer, but WHO it is that is offering it.
Rejoicing stills the voice of panic that shouts, “What are you going to do?”
When people used to press me for answers, I would too often respond before I had a clear answer. That resulted in having to go back and needlessly undo what I had said because I thought an answer would relieve the tension. I no longer allow myself to come under that pressure.
When I don’t know what to do, I am content to wait on the Lord in a place of rejoicing until I do.
Waiting isn’t passive, it’s active. I’m going to rejoice that His presence is here. His provision is here. If He isn’t in a hurry, then neither am I.
I’m not going to accept a lesser gift of God simply to arrive at a solution.
If we’re coming to the Lord in panic, worry or fear, we won’t hear. We’ll settle for problem solving our situations. We’ll ask for something lesser and miss asking for the real gift of God that will transform us more into His likeness, not just rescue us from our dilemmas.
When you’re in a place of real rejoicing, your ears pop open and you start hearing. There’s a confidence that rises in knowing that if God isn’t speaking initially, He will always speak eventually… and I’m going to position myself through rejoicing to hear Him.
We’re happy to wait with Him because we’re expanded by the mystery and wonder of who He is in the waiting.
It’s a great place to come before the Lord and access His incredibly extravagant and generous Spirit. Our hearts expand through rejoicing and our capacity grows to receive the fullness of the gifts that He is delighted to give.
What are some of the best gifts you’ve discovered from a place of rejoicing in who God is for you? We’d love to hear.
PS) If you are interested in exploring more of the gifts God has for you, such as optimism, persistence, passion, and majesty, Brilliant Book House is offering The Compendium Collection, featuring twenty of my favorite teachings and messages. Plus for the whole month of December orders shipped to anywhere in the US will automatically receive FREE SHIPPING if they spend $100 or more. You can purchase it here for yourself or as a gift.
PPS) Also, Brilliant TV memberships are available as gifts this Christmas season! Learn more here.
