By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3)

Read: Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18

Relate: I resisted getting a smart phone for years. Why bother? The phone I have can talk, it can text, it even has some internet functionality. Why would I need all that other stuff? Do people really waste time watching things like Netflix and Youtube on their phone? Isn’t that what a laptop for. The first three iterations of the IPhone went by and I was never even tempted. Four was already a dinosaur and 5 had added an “s” before I finally caved in and bought myself an IPhone 4 (no letters added). The very first day I had it I went to visit my cousin. He had two kids at the time and as soon as I saw them and the obligatory hugs and kisses were done I handed my phone to my three year old niece. I told her she needed to teach me how to use this.

She showed introduced me to the play store so I could start downloading apps. With a little help from her dad she showed me what ones were worth getting. It took some convincing before she understood that I didn’t want or need some Barbie fashion type app. This three year old knew that phone like a pro. Me… it has been a good half dozen years since that point. I switched to a Galaxy 4 a couple years later and recently just upgraded to a Galaxy J7 Core. I go through withdrawal symptoms the Saturdays when I intentionally leave it home so I can have a day unplugged. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without it. Even still, I am certain I am only using it to probably ten, maybe fifteen percent of its technological potential. Every now and then someone will show me something and I will be like, “Seriously? You can do that? That’s awesome.” Sometimes I catch them looking at me as if thinking, “How did he not already know this?”

React: When I read scriptures like 2 Peter 1:3 I start to feel about my Christian walk like I sometimes do about my phone. There is just so much more there. I know how I am living, and I know what God has promised. The discrepancy tells me that there is definitely a disconnect. He has given us everything we need, but we are not utilizing everything he has given us. Unlike my phone, however, I usually fully know and completely understand exactly why I am not using everything I need. It isn’t a knowledge gap. It is an obedience gap. That thing we have been struggling with, we know the scriptures enough to get free, but that means confessing one to another and we are too proud to let others know our faults. We know what discipleship requires and we understand the adventure it offers, but denying ourselves? Not a chance. At least not fully. I’ll deny this but not that.

I just said it was not a knowledge gap, but maybe to a degree it is. I mean, if I really understood exactly how much God is for me, if I really knew all the blessings He has ready if only I would let go of this, or get rid of that… would it even be a choice? How awesome, how freaking amazing would my life be if I totally surrendered myself to His plan? How free would I feel if I really took hold of everything He has given me? The reason our lives are boring, monotonous, apathetic, and mediocre is not God’s fault. That isn’t what He has called us to. It isn’t what He has given us, but do we dare have the courage to step into and take hold of what He has?

Respond:

Dear God,
You have given me everything I need for the life You have called me to live. I know this, but help that knowledge be turned into the action it should. You have fully equipped me for the life You have ordained for me to live. Help me to take up and use that gear the way I should. I am so tired of living at only ten percent of my potential. I am so tired of mediocrity. You have called me to change this world. Help me to change myself. The world is waiting for You through me.
Amen