How to Live and Move With God in 2021

Are you ready to live and move with God?

2020 was a rough year as we endured hardships and loss. But as God’s people, we trust Him with the new year. And this means we live and move with Him.

So whatever comes our way in 2021, I pray we remember:

In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28b (ESV, emphasis added)

(1.)  Live in God.

In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul visits Athens. Teaching in the synagogue, he describes the city as full of idol worship. He “found an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’” (Verse 23, ESV)

Next, Paul proclaims the known God in verses 24-25.

• God made the world, heavens, and everything in it.
• He does not dwell in temples made by man.
• The Lord is not served by human hands as needing what we have to offer Him.
• God gives life, breath, and everything.

Live means to reside in, have one’s home in, set up residence, be settled in; be housed in, lodge in; inhabit, occupy.

Reflections on Living: 

1. Are we letting those in the community where we live see our faith in a known God? How our life resides in the living God who gives us everything?
2. Do we show others how we inhabit a spiritual life in the promise of heaven? Do we live in such a way others see the known God in us, see us as His temple and God’s altar?

(2.)  Move with God.

21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021

Finally, we’re here, embarking on a brand new year. But where and how do God’s people steer our focus after making it through 2020 by His grace?

Because “brand-new” conjures up all kinds of hopes and dreams. 

And Merriam Webster defines it: conspicuously new and unused, also: recently introduced. Synonyms: fresh, mint, pristine, span-new.

While we might have wished for 2020 to end early, most of us welcomed it with a cheery, “Hello, New Year” twelve months ago. 

Instead of the ability to go back and undo our warm welcome to 2020, we only possess the gift to look ahead—focus forward.

Yet, any new year never promises care-free days.

So here are 21 areas of focus for believers.

Focus on Brand-new

(1.) Beginnings. “The point in time or space at which something starts.”(Google) The world, life, time and space all started with God. Give Him the new year and your new beginnings.

(2.) Forge new paths. Whether careers, direction, vision, mission, or ministry, remember who makes new paths. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

(3.) Dreams. Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. 

(4.) Do-overs. Sometimes we get to do something over, other times it’s impossible. But every new year, month, week, and day presents opportunities to change our actions, reactions, perspective, words, and outlook.

(5.) Second chances. Everyone hopes for a second chance after forgetting something, messing up, or hurting someone. Not only expecting them from others, but also giving them to others. Because we serve a God of second chances and countless chances. 

(6.) Wholeness. We were made for wholeness, but we learned brokenness. Jesus makes us whole. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)

Opening Our Heart to the King of Glory

Welcome to our final week of revealing the King of glory.

So far, we discovered in Psalm 24 how…

(1.) creation

(2.) holiness

(3.) and seeking God’s face, all point to Christ and His glory. 

Now, we learn how (4.) salvation and opening our heart to Christ also reveals His glory.

The last four verses beautifully and powerfully describe Him. 

“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah”

Psalm 24:7-10 (ESV)

Salvation Reveals the King of Glory

Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes the repetitions of phrases in these verses like those in a song.

“The doors and gates are to be thrown open, thrown wide open, to give him admission, for behold he stands at the door and knocks, ready to come in.”

Henry further notes the Lord desires to be “welcomed by us.” 

The King of glory knocks at the door of our heart. If we open the door, He comes in (Revelation 3:20). Jesus came that first Christmas night in Bethlehem for all who are willing to welcome His glory into their heart and life.

God’s Glory With Us

Perhaps Mary’s thoughts went something like this.

He took His first breath.

Wrapped in swaddling cloths, though adorned with royal titles. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Holy King. Immanuel. The Ancient of Days.

The Lamb of God created the star placed in the heavens to announce His arrival. The light of the world.

Seeking the Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Seeking the King of glory.

Welcome back to our series on revealing the King of glory.

Revealing Him this Christmas and all year. 

So far, the first four verses of Psalm 24 uncovered how both creation (verses 1-2) and holiness (verses 3-4) reveal the glorious kingship of Jesus Christ.

Only those with clean hands and a pure heart stand in the Lord’s holy place as He makes us holy.

Now, let’s look at the next two verses. 

“He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” Psalm 24:5-6 (ESV emphasis added)

Not only do we receive blessing and righteousness in our salvation, but we also continue to seek the face of our Lord.

Seeking the King 

When we relentlessly seek King Jesus, it radically transforms us. And the enemy knows it. So he uses the world’s distractions to keep us from seeking after Jesus.

Because we struggle with how living in this world clashes with not being of this world. Or, we experience the ongoing battle between our flesh and spirit. 

Throughout the history of the world, the history of God’s people, and the history of the Bible, the choice always stood in place. Either seek after God or seek something else. 

Why Holiness Reveals the King of Glory: Week 2

Who is this King of glory? 

We already discovered how creation reveals the King of glory in Psalm 24:1-2.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.” (ESV)

And how this particular Psalm is the only place in the Bible that mentions the phrase, The King of glory. 

Yet, not only does creation reveal the Lord’s glory, but also holiness as in our next two verses.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4 (ESV, emphasis added)

The King of Glory Came for Our Holiness

Jesus Christ came as the King of glory, arrayed in holiness. But He also came to make a people holy and whole.

The “hill of the Lord’ and “his holy place” reveal the Lord’s holiness and why the King of glory came for our holiness, too.

Revealing the King of Glory: Week 1

Who is this King of glory?

In three weeks, we celebrate Christmas and the King of Glory.

While I find it unbelievable, more troubling is the unbelief I see behind the holiday—Holy-day. 

But, the birth of Jesus was revealing the Savior to the world.

The One promised to rescue us from sin, other gods, the enemy and even ourselves.

And as always, the heavenly Father kept His promise. 

God’s Son came to bring the light of heaven to earth. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, born to die.

Denied earthly glory and fame, Jesus bears a name above every name. He is the King of glory.

The King of Glory

Yet the phrase, “The King of glory” is only found once in the Bible, in Psalm 24. It’s one of my favorite passages. 

So, over the coming weeks until Christmas, the ten verses of Psalm 24 will guide us in revealing the King of Glory.

And we are not only revealing Christ in a more meaningful way in our own heart, but also to those around us and to the world.

A Great Recipe for a Thankful Heart

Who loves a great recipe? My hand’s raised.

Whether it’s our favorite foods or trying something new, recipes assist in the desired result. Even online dish-and-recipe photos pull us in with the promise of achieving success as the cook.

Every Thanksgiving, I follow a special recipe to make my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie. Yum! It’s my favorite dessert of all time!

Then, as soon as I post pie photos on social media, family and friends, far and wide, ask for the recipe. 

Recipe Measures

Recipes always call for measurements—a cup of this or a tablespoon of that. Likewise, we often make other measures in life. 

Sadly, with Covid-19 numbers rising, some cities and states are limiting Thanksgiving gatherings to no more than ten.

Since it’s one of my favorite holidays, I intend to put several measures in place to ensure a wonderful holiday. 

For instance, I still plan to make mouth-watering dishes for a smaller group of loved ones. And if the day proves beautiful and warm, we’re eating outdoors.

Stirring up a Thankful Heart

But where do we find the recipe for a thankful heart? What ingredients work together to make a heart full of thanksgiving? 

A real thankful heart never comes easy, much less during the difficult year experienced around the world—including my world and perhaps yours.

Because we don’t have to look far to see devastation, need, loss, hurt, lack and hopelessness. 

You see, these factors only affect our heart if we allow it. We decide whether our hearts turn hard toward God or thankful. 

Our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart.

So here are eight ingredients to stir up a T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L heart.

Look Up When the World Distracts You

I know you’ll enjoy this guest post on how and why to look up by my blogger and author friend, Kelly Balarie. And read to the end to see how to enter a giveway for her latest book.

By Kelly Balarie

I had no idea what was above me.

Because I was focused on the stop sign to the right of me, or the people crossing the street, or changing the radio station in the car that day…I was not caught up in what was above me.

But, suddenly—and I can’t say why—I looked up.

Look Up

There I saw a brilliant display of nature. The sky was gorgeous. It was radiant, blue, red and purple hues strewn all over the sky.

It seemed to convey the brilliance, the majesty and the beauty of God all at once.

Yet, I would have missed it if I had kept my eyes on the million little things happening in front of me. And I would have missed it if distraction had a greater hold on me than my desire to look up.

I would have missed it if I wasn’t aware that there is usually more than meets the eye.

Yet, I looked up. Scripture tells us to look up.

Earthly Focused

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

Lately, my focus looks earthly focused. I see politics. I see news articles. And I see what is not happening in my world. Also, I see issues with people. I see problems.

Yet, essentially, God tells me—Kelly, do not set your mind on all that—look up!

Who God is Equals What God Does: Part 2

Chaos. Uncertainty. Fear. There’s not a better time to really know who God is and what God does than right now in our nation and world.

Because no matter what happens, God wants us to trust that He IS God. 

In part 1, we covered how God is a multi-faceted God and who He is and what He does are one and the same: God is good, kind, loving and merciful.

Although present-day culture zeroes in on these four characteristics of the Lord and ignores others, this limited perspective’s also found among Christians.

But we do ourselves a disservice when we fail to understand the other important aspects of the heavenly Father.

Because a god who’s not equally holy and just, doesn’t meet the requirements for a higher power.

Instead, this god falls on the same level with false gods and mere humans.

So let’s look at four additional attributes.

God is light.

Perhaps you’ve stumbled in the darkness in the middle of the night. This is how I broke my little toe in high school. And there’s the time I ran into the corner of a wall in a hotel room. I sustained a cut right below my eyebrow and still bear the scar. 

Who God is and What He Does

God is….

During college, I worked at a jewelry store in a local mall. So I learned the cuts and fascinating facets of diamonds and other gems. The multi-faceted parts of these stones make each one brilliant and stunning.

“Facets, those ‘geometrically arranged, flat surfaces’ that cover faceted gemstones, all play specific roles in a gem’s optical performance. When expertly cut, facets not only create beautiful patterns on the gem, they also help it shine. Sometimes, literally. Different types of gemstone facets have specific names, too.” (International Gem Society)

In the same way, God bears various characteristics as God. But we often only focus on the feel-good parts of God’s character. Like how God is good and loving, but not how He is also holy and just.

Yet, all the attributes of God working together are what make Him God. Each fascinating facet of the Almighty makes His glory brilliant and stunning.

Because when we separate His goodness from His holiness or His love from His justice, we lose the full nature God. 

In essence, we detach who He is from what He does. But the two are one and the same. 

Good and loving and merciful and just are not only who the Lord is, but also what He does! 

So in this two-part series, we take a look at eight characteristics of God, four this week and four next week. Still, my list’s non-exhaustive—God’s character bears a multitude of wondrous facets.

Believers really celebrate these first four attributes by marking them with a neon highlighter.

God is good. 

Since the beginning of time, God’s goodness is weaved throughout the chapters of His-story. It started with creation when He saw everything He made was good. 

Goodness is seen when God rescued His people. It’s revealed in Bethlehem’s stable and narrated in Jesus’ ministry. It’s told at the foot of a bloody cross and reported as a victor in an empty tomb.