“Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NCV)

Sometimes I have the recipe for a sumptuous dish that I start preparing, only to realize I’m missing a key ingredient. I feel disappointed and limited by what’s in my pantry, and resign myself to a good enough meal.

I recently found myself with a great vision for what I felt called to chase in Christ. But when I looked in my life’s “pantry,” I seemed to be missing key ingredients for the vision. Ingredients that were no longer available to me. Ugly cries abounded as I grieved the vision that was just beyond my reach and tried to be content with a plan B.

Wrestling with my feelings, I messaged a friend and mentor to schedule some time to unpack the deep and complicated layers of my life. Over pancakes, eggs and bacon, I lamented that my circumstances limited me.

She stopped me right in my tracks, saying: “You are not limited. You are the daughter of God. Satan will whisper, ‘Because X is not there, you can’t do Y.’ It’s all lies. No, you are not limited!”

She graciously shook my perspective to help me fix my eyes on Jesus and not on my circumstances. Jesus has stocked my “pantry” with everything I need to live a life that pleases Him.

We see this reminder in today’s key verse:

“Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. With these gifts you can share in God’s nature, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4).

The disciples probably struggled with vision, too.

When their promised Messiah hung on a cross, they likely thought they were missing a key ingredient to the Kingdom of God. They could not see beyond the tomb. They did not understand the power of God or perceive the incredible plan He had to raise Jesus from the dead, crushing the enemy with his lies under Jesus’ heel.

Oh, but on the third day!

I need the power and compassion that flows down from the cross and from the very heart of God to fine-tune my vision. I need to dismiss the lies that tell me my God didn’t make me or my “pantry” good enough, that maybe He’s not for me, or that God simply isn’t big enough.

I have to remember that the vision I have for my life or the way I see the vision unfolding might not be God’s vision. Our human limitations do not constrain God’s vision. He will always produce a masterpiece. I just need my heart to stay fixed on what He can do.

Father, thank You for the testimony of Your faithfulness and goodness that I have in the cross of Christ. Thank You for Your loyal love and compassion that stocks my pantry with everything I need to live a life that pleases and serves You. Forgive me for the ways I have knowingly or unknowingly rebelled against Your truth. Resurrect the grand vision for my life that You have crafted just for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Psalm 103:11-13, “For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.” (NET)

Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (ESV)

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Is God’s plan for our lives better than our own plans? Surrendering to God’s will is hard. When life stops turning out how we planned, it’s easy to stop trusting His plan for us is good. But living in God’s will really is the best place to be. Right now, our Thy Will Be Done six-week devotional is free with a gift of your choice. Click here to get your copy!

 

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