Risking Myself with God

We can only risk ourselves or step out of our comfort zone and into God’s great adventure when we are trusting in His mission for us, His faithfulness to us and His power through us.

Last week we also introduced our mission reflected in Jesus great commandment and that mission is to step out into genuine and loving relationships with God and others.

So, where do we begin?  What is our first way that we can risk in this mission? 

Well, if we desire to step out into these genuine, loving relationships with God and others, then it begins with stepping out first with God.

I would like to share with you a couple of risks we can take when it comes to our relationship with God.  The first risk is:

To know God

In addition to knowing about Him we can actively know Him. We can risk by being fully engaged in knowing Him.  This means we risk by seeking to experience His character.

If God is love, don’t just read about it, but get out there and live in the light of His love with confidence and stability.  If He is forgiveness, walk in it and live in freedom and acceptance

So as we embark on our challenge, we can risk by boldly engaging our everyday lives in knowing God.  Just as David we can commit to see God at work in every aspect of our lives.

So, knowing God is risky, but we are not done yet.  Our relationship with God can get even more risky.  A second huge risk we can take in our relationship with God is:

To be known by God

In Psalm 139, David speaks of knowing God.  He speaks of knowing God’s knowledge of him, presence with him and power through him.  At the end of the Psalm David invites God to know him.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! ²⁴ And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Now David already knew David just as He knows us.  He knows our struggles, our fears, and our joys.  So, why should we invite God to know us? 

We should do this so that we can be ourselves with Him as then we both will know us. 

Risking God to know us lets us passionately be ourselves with Him and get things out.  It will lead to healing, to hope, to confidence and peace, but most of all it will draw us closer to God making it easier for us to come to Him honestly and passionately again.

Maybe you are in a dark place, a place where you don’t feel like anyone is there for you and no one understands – let God know.  Maybe you are doubting that God has a plan for you and that He has forgotten about you – let Him know.  Maybe you are afraid, afraid of what He is calling you to do or afraid of what you see ahead – let Him know. 

When we risk ourselves with God, risk ourselves to know and be known by Him, we free ourselves to step out in healthy relationships with others.  That is our risk next week.