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Separated
I was really having a hard time writing the column this week. I had a different idea altogether about what to write about, but it just wasn’t flowing, so I looked in one of my notebooks and saw this word, “Separated”, that I had put a star by. I’ll do that now and then when something catches my attention and I think it might make a good column someday. You should see the things I have written in my notebook. Mostly just funny stick figure cartoons of gabe, but there’s some good stuff in there too.
We are in this world, but not of it. We are called to be set apart. Sometimes God challenges us to take a step back from what we’re doing and focus more on Him. Many times it’s through a fast or through giving something up. God wants us to let go of those things that are holding us back. I wrote about “Change” last week and this kind of goes with it. In order for us to move to that next level in our Christian walk, we must first let go of those things that are keeping us in that same level we are at right now.
Reading through the Bible, I’ve found that all the great people in there had a time of separation before they started doing great things for Christ. Moses had to leave Egypt for 40 years before God brought Him back to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Joseph was separated from his family and thrown into prison before he became that great leader. David, before he became king, was pursued by King Saul and separated from his country, Israel, that he was called to lead. The Apostle Paul, after his conversion, went to Arabia to separate himself before he started preaching the gospel to the world. And Jesus, before He started His ministry, separated Himself to the wilderness for 40 days.
Being separate isn’t always fun, but until we truly decide to let everything go and give up all we have to Christ, we can’t function 100% in the calling He’s placed in our lives. Sometimes it’s a relationship that we have to let go. Sometimes it’s a habit or an activity we enjoy that we must stop doing.
I’ve had to separate myself plenty of times in my life to get closer to God. The summer after I graduated from High School seemed like a whirlwind. I found myself out of God’s will, messing up doing things I know I shouldn’t have been doing. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life, but I knew that God was calling me back to Him. As I left away to college, at Oral Roberts University, I found myself in the parking lot waving goodbye to my parents, leaving my simple life in Raton, NM behind and starting a new path.
God continues to challenge us to separate ourselves though. It’s not just a one time thing we do. I’ll hear God saying, “geno, now you need to separate yourself from this.” I’ve had to let some friends go because they were influencing my life in the wrong way. I’ve had to let some of my dreams go, because they didn’t line up with the calling that God had for me in my life. I’ve had to leave my family. And though, I do miss my family and friends and some of those things that I wanted to do, I know that where I am now is where God has called me to be. And it’s in that place where we are most fulfilled in life.
I am one of those people that love sports. I listen to sports radio at work, read the sports section everyday in the paper, and subscribe to ESPN the Magazine and Sports Illustrated. I remember when I used to miss church to play basketball or softball or to just watch a game. At one time I wanted to be a sports writer. That thought still creeps in my head sometimes. It would be so much fun writing for the Houston Rockets, traveling with the team to all the games, seeing my name and picture in the paper, but that is not what God has called me to do. He’s called me to write for Him. He’s called me to do music for Him. And truthfully, I wouldn’t trade that in for anything in the world.
Is God dealing with you about separating yourself? Maybe you need to separate yourself away from the computer, the TV, those video games. Maybe you need to separate yourself from those friends that aren’t encouraging you or helping you grow in Christ. Maybe it’s just separating yourself from busyness, making time so you can get alone with God. Maybe God’s called you to go on a missions trip or away to school somewhere.
This week, think about that word. Are you willing to be “Separated” to Him and Him alone? I pray that God continues to bless you and keep you throughout the week.
w/muchluv,
geno
We’re going to be giving away a “CRS – No Holding Back” CD next week. So, make sure to read “geno’s column” next Wednesday so you can register to win!!!!!!!!!
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