When we read God’s Word, we discover what being a follower of Jesus Christ looks like, but somewhere along the line, we have crossed over from following Jesus to following others or following others the way they are following Him.
We have complicated the simplicity of what following Jesus looks like—not developing a sensitivity to the prompting of the Holy Spirit that should be activated in our lives daily.
The Word of God tells us to be connected to the “Vine” (Jesus) at all times, and from there, we will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5).
All too often, I see a huge disconnect from that lifestyle, and much of the body of Christ looks more like they are connecting to one another and relying on the select few that they are “following” to be connected at the source. I call that feeding off the crumbs of someone else’s feast with Jesus.
This is not God’s heart or His design. It’s creating confusion and developing a community of codependency with an inability to truly follow Jesus and hear His lead for their lives. We, the believers, should be the ones displaying, in the most genuine form, what following Jesus looks like.
We should be painting a clear picture of what it means to live for Him and follow His lead in the most freeing and meaningful way. More often than not, life becomes a list of obligations to everyone around us, leaving out the most important component of fully living, which is found first in our closeness and intimacy with Jesus in the secret place where we spend time with Him, fully connected to the source . . . the “Vine.” That posture releases His peace, His love, and His joy into our lives, and what comes out of us becomes an overflow, and a reflection of our time spent with Him.
It’s effortless and rich.
It’s where we discover what He has in mind for us in each season of our lives, and we walk daily in that direction in a focused and confident manner.
When we wear the garments of living for the crowd, we start to look more like the Pharisees rather than the disciples, who couldn’t care less what others thought of them. They were not living for the praises of man or for themselves. When the love of their Heavenly Father touched their lives through Jesus, they were instantly fulfilled, and out of that fullness grew a heart to walk in His footsteps, wearing garments of love and serving those around them.
It was a genuine and natural overflow.
One morning, as I was praying for someone in particular, I was asking the Lord to reveal to me the core of what was going on so that I could help lead in the right direction. I heard “codependent.” I am familiar with this term. I’m sure you’ve heard it too, but let’s take a closer look . . . It is a commonly used word by therapists to describe an unhealthy, out-of-balance relationship.
Typically, one person is constantly doing things for the other person that the other person should be doing for themselves. This dysfunctional relationship prevents them from maintaining healthy boundaries and limits their potential individual growth, keeping them locked in a cycle of dependence. Neither is living freely and are in a cycle that will lead them to destruction.
As I heard this word repeatedly in my mind, I decided to study it a bit further. I asked the Holy Spirit to lead my search and reveal what God was showing me, and oh my goodness HE DID! What the Holy Spirit highlighted to me over and over again was describing pretty much every single person on the planet. Now, before you think I am going to toss around this description so that we can all have a “diagnosis,” you’re going to have to just trust me on this one for a minute or twelve.
First—this is not a label I am trying to paint over us. This is a way to simply identify the lifelong battle we all seem to face.
Second— I honestly did not want to write about this because it felt too big for me. But as I took steps of faith and came alongside people individually, approaching their struggle from this angle through my coaching ministry, the chains that were causing them to feel “heavy-laden” fell off, and they said they literally felt lighter and free. Each area that was their personal struggle no longer carried power over them.
God was showing me that many of His children are subconsciously desiring fulfillment through people — whether it be accolades, comfort, affirmation, love, or fill-in-the-blank with something your heart may be yearning for. These secret unmet needs, or the little we receive through flawed humans, are leaving many secretly insecure, burdened, and in need of more, not recognizing those inner needs cannot be met outside of God’s presence.
As this revelation began to sink deeper and deeper into my spirit, and His word became more alive than ever, I heard God whisper . . .
He said, “I made you this way. I made you too long for connection. To be hungry to hear ‘well done.’ To need an internal fulfillment and radiate a glory for display. I made you want to live in love, praise, and adoration. For all these things to be the driving force in your life. I made you this way so that I could fill you with more of Me. Too long for connection with Me. To live for glory, out of glory, and to radiate my glory. I made you to desire it all in Me.”
It’s by divine design that we hunger to be affirmed, and in order to fulfill that need, we must connect with the One true source.
Do you have a hunger in your heart that needs affirmation? Have you been striving to receive your worth and value through people, only to find that your inner needs are not met?
You will find that burning hunger fully satisfied when you discover that longing and need can only be met when you are living connected to Him.
I’m challenging you today to pull away with Jesus. Turn off the podcasts. Put down your phone. Don’t call a friend, call upon Him…He wants to meet you, minister to you, guide you, comfort you, and fill you with unshakable confidence that comes when you’re filling your inner needs with the One who gave you life. From there, you will discover a natural heart to love and serve those around you. It won’t feel like an added burden or pressure to perform to feel accepted and loved — you will be living loved, and fully satisfied by Him.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. -Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)
Today’s devotional was adapted from my book, Life is Muddy: How to Conquer the Hard, Heavy, and Hurtful Parts of Life with God. I pray these words met you.
Much love, J
