30
Mar

Everything and Nothing Less

When I am invested emotionally and physically in something so deep as this project, I am constantly seeking inspiration or affirmation from the Lord. This week as I was knee deep in the character of Moses, I found myself overwhelmed by the monstrous task in front of me. This was largely due in part to the fact that I was exhausted mentally and emotionally from a CRAZY day during one of the most insane weeks of my life. That evening, I decided that I needed to go run. Now, if you know me, you know this is a rare occurrence. I have two boys that get up at the crack of dawn (or before) so the only time I have to work out is after they go to bed, which is when I either work, clean, or collapse from exhaustion myself. Honestly, I wish I was a runner. I wish I was one of ‘those’ people that enjoys feeling like I can’t breathe but looks fantastic while doing it. But alas, I am not. However, in an effort to train my body and refresh my focus after a long day, I have found that if I hit the gym with some worship songs I can forget my physical agony and lack of oxygen if I meditate on the words and ask God to speak straight to my heart. There has not been one instance in which I have asked him to show up in this manner and He has withheld his presence. On almost every occasion I find myself fighting the overwhelming urge to throw my hands in the air and sing. Despite this happening loudly and off key, probably, I feel like it is all that I can do to not proclaim the words of the songs as victory over the Enemy. I get so fired up that the only thing that prevents me from doing so is the fact that I (a) do not want to be kicked out of the gym for scaring the other members and (b), I have tried this before in the privacy of my own home a few years ago and discovered I do not have the coordination to run on a treadmill and close my eyes while lifting my hands in the air. I will spare you the details but I assure you, it did not end gracefully.

Anyways, this particular night I was listening to the new Jesus Culture album (it’s fantastic—turn off your Belieber music, tell sweet Adele GOODBYE for now and go listen to this NOW) and the song Everything and Nothing Less came on. I immediately felt God leaning down and almost whispering in that still voice that only He can speak with to our hearts and He gently reminded me that this is what He asks of me. When I feel like I have absolutely NOTHING left to give, he gently pushes me to give a little more. Because honestly, we can almost always do a little more, if not a great deal more if we really wanted to. When God asks something really big and scary of us, such as a blog like this or even a book or a big dream, it is really easy to let fear or anxiety become such a heavy burden that it disillusions us to believe we can’t possibly lift anything else up as an offering to Him. This is just what the enemy wants for us to believe. The truth is that because we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have absolutely everything to give, and absolutely nothing less. We have an extremely powerful resource that will never run dry.

It was in this moment that I realized God was asking me to give my everything and nothing less, right when I felt I had not a morsel left to offer. This Jesus is really not interested in how tired we are, because He offers to be our rest when we think we can’t go another step. (Matthew 11:28-30; Exodus 33:14) When we use what we think is our last step to serve him, He gives us the power to take another. And another, and another…all the way until His Kingdom comes. He asks this of us because the time we have here is too short and the risk too much for us not to give everything, and nothing less.

Every time I begin to write, edit or design or pray over this project, I am asking that the Holy Spirit puts a fire in my bones that gives me a little MORE. A little more energy, a little more wisdom, a little more inspiration, a little more GRACE. Out of this moment I began to pray from another perspective. I am fully expecting God to take this offering of ours and make it into everything he desires, and nothing LESS. This is incredibly powerful (and a little scary) to meditate on. The God of the universe has nothing but love for us, and his desire is for everyone to KNOW HIM (1 Timothy 2:3-4). The thought that he could take what we are offering (our time, hearts, vulnerability, and words) and make it into something that spreads for the glory of His name is nothing short of amazing. To be able to pray that God uses this to further His Kingdom and let someone out there know that He is ALIVE, He is REAL, and He is GOOD stirs my heart in a way that makes me feel I could run 500 miles and tell every person out there this message myself. Metaphorically, of course. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

All this to say, friends, to the person who feels like they have nothing left to give…if you have a relationship with Christ and the Spirit lives in you (2 Timothy 1:14, Romans 8:11) you have everything to give. And nothing less.

 

What is an area in your life that God might be asking you to really give Him everything you’ve got? I’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comment section as we begin this conversation today!

1 Timothy 2:3-4
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2 Timothy 1:14
“By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

Romans 8:11
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Matthew 28:11-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Exodus 33:14
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Stand firm in the faith,

Rachel

One thought on “Everything and Nothing Less

  1. Pat westmoreland

    I’m so thankful he is our everything and that he gives us strength when we have none left. Great post 🙂

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