Step into the Wonderful World of 3D Christian Living
We are about to enter the world of 3D.
As with every three-dimensional adventure, plan to interact with an immersive environment that creates a sensory experience.
A lifelike scene.
An enhanced encounter.
This is not an illusion, artificial simulation, or virtual reality.
But amazing wonders we get to see, hear, and touch.
3D Up Close and Personal
3D aspects of width, height, and depth bring the spiritual realm up close and personal…
with God himself.
So let’s put on our 3D glasses and look at the story in chapter 3 of Joshua.
After the death of Moses, Joshua’s commissioned as leader. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. Time came to enter the Promised Land.
God’s people set out and arrived at the Jordan river where they lodged for three days. They needed to get to the other side but not take the long way home.
The Lord gave specific instructions. The priests were to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord (His presence) to the brink of the water. The people were commanded to follow at a distance in order to “know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (verse 4 ESV).
Joshua told them to consecrate themselves for the Lord would do wonders among them (verse 5). When the soles of the priests’ feet rested in the waters, the waters (at flood stage) would stop flowing and stand in a heap (verse 13).
3D Christian Living
Dimension (1). Obedience to God’s commands, plan, and way.
Obedience adds width to our spiritual journey. It shows we believe in the power of God’s hand and the power of His Word.
Obedience expands our borders of abundant life and broadens our scope of influence for God’s kingdom. You see…
God wants our obedience, not our help.
Can we really help the God of the universe?
Oh, we often try. In our mind and prayers, we devise plans and ask God to do it our way. But He always has our greatest interest at heart, concerned for our well-being. His way is best.
While I understand the concept of self-help as a popular trend in publishing and business.
Friends, we don’t need self-help. We can’t help ourselves.
Lay down the lie of self-help. We need God-help, Jesus-help, and help from the Holy Spirit. #blog Click To TweetGod’s people needed His help to cross the Jordan. On the other side was a new kind of life.
As God’s people we need His help to cross the Jordan rivers in our lives. We can do it God’s way or our way.
On the other side lies victory and new beginnings. But we have to cross over difficult relationships, new jobs, hardships, ministry, and the seasons in life.
Our way often sweeps us away with flood waters. We drown in despair as life wanderers. And we never enter the promised destination where abundant life awaits.
3D Holy Living
Dimension (2). Consecration to God’s Holy and sacred character.
It adds height to our spiritual journey—takes us up close to God.
The Lord calls His people to holiness, purity, and separation from the world. God delights in a holy people.
“Joshua told the people, Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5 NIV).
Consecration involved cleansing in the water at the bank of the river. A spiritual rite for sanctification to a Holy God.
The literal meaning for consecration is “association with the sacred” (Google).
We have the privilege to associate with the sacred every day. Jesus.
Associating with Jesus today, expecting amazing for tomorrow! (Joshua 3:5) #amazing Click To Tweet3D Amazing Wonders
Dimension (3). Amazing wonders displayed in our lives—the extraordinary.
Obedience and consecration leads to this third dimension. It adds depth (deepness) to our spiritual journey.
The Lord’s works and miracles become a reality we see, hear, and touch. We are involved in the scene and experience the supernatural.
We walk by faith in the promise of God’s power.
Nothing happened at the Jordan until the priests stepped in by faith and obedience. Then, the miraculous happened.
“The priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan” (verse 17, ESV).
Faith is the firm ground where we stand waiting on the Lord to fulfill His promises. #faith Click To Tweet
As we stand on the banks of the Jordan, God’s capable of making a way. He walks before us and keeps our feet on dry ground.
So, let’s put on our spiritual 3D glasses and get ready for amazing wonders! They’re coming!
Post images designed in Adobe Spark.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Lori Schumaker/#momentsofhope, Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2018 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Hi Karen!
Your post is so timely in my life right now. I’ve been struggling with direction, and on which way God wants to me to go, because I felt called by Him. I was thinking that it was this calling that was needed by God. Ha ha ha! Yeah…. right! Like God needs me to help Him? Amen, sister, He has shown me the exact opposite. (Talk about a lesson in humility! Sheesh.) You’d think that after 30 years of walking in “3D” with Jesus, I’d have learned this by now. But I think when I earned that Master’s degree in Apologetics, I thought God needed me to use it. Yes, I will use it. But His will be done regardless of my degree or anybody’s stuff, really! Your post confirms what God has been working in my life: #humble obedience.
Blessings, Lisa Q
Hey Lisa,
I smiled reading your comment. So heartfelt and vulnerable. And honest. It resonates with me. While I don’t hold a degree in Apologetics, a calling to ministry as a pastor’s wife, a writer, a speaker, and so on often brings the same thinking or attitude of how much the Lord needs me. Lol. Obeying God with humble obedience as we yield to how His ways are higher than ours broadens the width of our spiritual journey. Our borders of influence are automatically enlarged and our callings more blessed. And then God receives all the glory.
Appreciate your thoughts so much! Blessings!
This ==> “Lay down the lie of self-help. We need God-help, Jesus-help, and help from the Holy Spirit.” Amen and amen and amen! This whole post was full of amazing truths, but that tweet was my favorite part.
Thank you, Heather. It’s certainly humbling when we realize we can’t really help the God of the universe no matter how many times we try. I pray to believe more and more in the power of His hand and the power of His Word. 🙂
This is an amazing reflection, Karen! Yes, when we obey God and consecrate our lives to Him, he can work mighty wonders in our lives. He will be with us as we pass through the waters (Isaiah 43:2).
Blessings!
Amen, Martha. I love Isaiah 43:2. I want to daily remind myself that associating with Jesus today, brings amazing things tomorrow. “Lord, help us desire holiness, purity, and to separate ourselves from the world. Amen.”
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Blessings!
Dear Karen, your words “God wants our obedience, not our help” popped off the screen to remind me I need to walk in His will and not in my way. Our ideas might seem good, only God’s ideas are 3-D great.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Hey Wendy,
I’m continually trying to learn to walk in obedience to God’s way instead of helping Him with what I think is best. But He always has our greatest interest at heart, concerned for our well-being. His way is best. And they send us up close and personal with God himself.
Hallelujah!
Ok, wow. “God wants our obedience not our help.” That one stings a little because I want to “help God” to do things my way. I find myself so often going down that path and wondering why things are not going well. Then I realize, I have let go of Jesus’ hand and run out into the street, alone, surrounded by dangers. Thanks for these words to remind me to trust and obey, for there is no other way.
I like your wording, Yvonne. “Then I realize, I have let go of Jesus’ hand and run out into the street, alone, surrounded by dangers.”
Obedience expands our borders of abundant life and broadens our scope of influence for God’s kingdom. And there is “no other way.” Appreciate you joining the conversation.
Karen, I appreciated reading your article with its many insights. I particularly appreciated your comment, “Nothing happened at the Jordan until the priests stepped in by faith and obedience. Then, the miraculous happened.” For while God does not need our help for He is omnipotent and mighty, He does call us to action and to participation in His kingdom work. And when we obey and respond, so often the miraculous will happen just as when, “The priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan” (verse 17, ESV).
Thanks for your post!
Yes, Anne! Our obedience to God’s way is key to getting to our own promised land and crossing over the Jordan rivers in our life. Then we’re not just miracle-chasers, but obeying the Lord’s commands and trusting His heart. Our obedient action unlocks God’s amazing acts in our life. Thanks for your thoughts!
“Obedience and consecration leads to this third dimension. It adds depth (deepness) to our spiritual journey.”
So important and sadly not as present today as previously. It’s our duty to make this kind of commitment, not only to shine light, but also to realize the depths and heights of God’s love.
Hi Nancy,
Yes, if we commit to the obeying and consecration part, only then will the Lord’s works and miracles become a reality we see, hear, and touch. And experience the supernatural.
Oh, that will preach! Especially the part about getting off the self-help band wagon. laurensparks.net
Ha ha, Lauren! Yes, we need to get off that band wagon and quit trying to hop back on when it passes by us. 🙂 Appreciate you visiting and joining the conversation!
The 1st dimension reminded me of Kelly Minter’s No Other Gods study when she said it’s so easy to just ask God to wave His hand and make our plans/prayers work the way we want, but it’s so much better when we trust that God’s plan is the best (for us and His kingdom). With our spiritual 3D glasses, there’s no need for 4D! Thanks for this adventure.
Hey Stephen, I did NOGS with Kelly Minter the first edition. Have you done her revised version with the videos? I’d love to do the newest one. That is so on target to how we often think about God doing it our way. Yes, we trust His plans are best. Thanks!
His wonders are endless. His creations are beyond amazing. I am so thankful to be His and to be able to experience His love and blessings.
Amen, Melissa. To really step into this spiritual world of 3D living, we walk by faith in the promise of God’s power. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Karen,
Visiting from Moments of Hope today where we are page buddies. I have learnt in my experience with God that nothing is wasted when we commit it to Him. 3D living becomes the norm!
When I lost my two children…. & then my late husband to brain cancer, He sustained me through those tragedies to point others to the amazing 3D life in Jesus they too can live…
You’re most welcome to drop by for a cup of inspiration,
Jennifer
Hey Jennifer,
I’m so sorry to hear about your great loss. I can’t even imagine how to endure such grief. And I like how you said 3D living becomes the norm. I believe that’s key for true disciples of Christ as we grow in our faith. Then, we do point others to this wonderful world of Christian living.
Thanks for stopping by. Blessings!
Karen, wow! You really hit it out of the park on this one! “God wants our obedience, not our help.” Mic drop moment right there! In my time with the Lord lately, He’s lovingly pointed out my HUGE struggle with obedience! When I am obedient, I have peace (even if I’m not enjoying the process…to be 100% honest), but I’m unsettled when I am NOT obedient. Thank you for your ability to speak truth in love!
Thanks for your kind words, Alynda. And I agree with your honest assessment. 😉 I also often obey, but like Beth Moore says (I went kicking and screaming), at least on the inside. Still, I desire obedience and a heart change to want to obey my heavenly Father. Most of the time my peaceful feelings follow my obedience and not the other way around.
Great post! What would we do without Jesus! We need him so much! I love this: “While I understand the concept of self-help as a popular trend in publishing and business.
Friends, we don’t need self-help. We can’t help ourselves.” We can’t just think positively or become our best selves by our own will. The depth of God’s Word and his grace empowers and enables our growth! Thank you for these good words, Karen!
Melinda, we really can’t become our best by our own power, wills, or positivity. Phrases people say about the power within us to be great. Yes, the Christian has power within alright. But it comes from Jesus and it is making Him great and lifting up His name, not our own renown.
“Lord, help us with the areas where we are weak and in everything we need, for all things come from your strength. Amen.”
Hi Karen. We are just finishing up the new version of NOGS with video. I can’t imagine what it would be like without the video. She speaks, gives background, exposits for some 25-30 minutes. Her waving her hand when she spoke about wanting God to just make our plans work was my biggest take-away from that session. Have a blessed weekend.
Dear Karen!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. After reading I thought about the concept of obedience. As I see it, it’s God’s way of defining what’s good for us. Doing what He wants us to do is not a limiting part of life, rather it’s living life in such a way that we all get the most out of it.
Sure, let’s use those spiritual 3D glasses 🙂
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Hey Edna,
I completely agree, obedience is how God shows us the best path. Because obeying Him is always for our good…always and it brings God glory. It’s a double blessing! I love that you said it’s not limiting in life but living to get the most out of life. Good thoughts!
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Blessings, Karen
I love how you’ve woven this with both creativity and biblical wisdom and insight, Karen! So inspiring and true! I’ve pinned to my Inspiration board, my friend!
Hi Beth! Thanks for pinning and for your kind words. I’m intentionally looking for those 3D aspects to bring God up close and personal in my life! Blessings!
I love your insights, Karen. The part of your post that really stands out to me is where you say, “Obedience adds width to our spiritual journey. It shows we believe in the power of God’s hand and the power of His Word. Obedience expands our borders of abundant life and broadens our scope of influence for God’s kingdom. You see…God wants our obedience, not our help.”
How true this is. Currently, I am focusing a lot on immediate obedience. Your insight widened my perspective even more. Thank you for this!
Marcie, I hadn’t thought about immediate obedience. But that’s a great point since God wants our obedience today, tomorrow, and the next day, and so on. It’s a heart attitude and a pattern in our life of obeying our Father’s commands to cross our Jordan rivers, to make it to our promised land, and to experience the amazing things every day. Thank you!
An experience or encounter with the Living God stretches us beyond our normal dimensions that’s for sure. Always enjoy reading your excellent posts!
Amen, Rob! And thank you. We get so used to the natural, we forget the supernatural is around us through the living God. The Lord’s works and miracles become a reality we see, hear, and touch if we access it. And the best part? God is up close and personal in our lives. He IS the best part of this journey.
Realizing this can definitely humble us, and knock down a little of that pride. 🙂 “God wants our obedience, not our help.” But I’m glad it’s true!
I’m glad it’s true too, Lisa. If I can lay down my own ways, my natural bent to jump in and do the work that’s clearly God’s job, the situation I’m in is so much better in the hands of a powerful God. Thanks for commenting.
Karen, what leaped out at me was this: God wants our obedience not our help. Thank you, sister, for keeping it real as always. Have a blessed Tuesday.
Julie, it is a soul-stirring truth to realize our Father wants us to walk in obedience to His commands and ways instead of trying to help Him out by offering our own way. So thankful He knows what He’s doing. Blessings!
Karen,
I love this, “God wants our obedience, not our help.” I truly believe when we obey God, we are speaking His love language.
Lots of great takeaways in this post.
I like that thought of obeying is speaking God’s love language, Beckie. So true! Obeying is showing the Lord how much we really love Him by trusting our heart and life to His heart. Thanks for commenting! Hugs!
“In our mind and prayers, we devise plans and ask God to do it our way. But He always has our greatest interest at heart, concerned for our well-being. His way is best.” Oh how I have been learning this lately! Of course, the hard way. Thank you so much for your wonderful encouragement and truth! God bless!
Frankie, I almost always learn lessons in God’s classroom the hard way. 🙂 I so often in my thinking or praying, have plan A and plan B tucked into the back of my mind for God to use. Yep, the school of hard knocks. Thanks for commenting. Blessings!
Hi Karen,
What a timely post! So much of my life has come full circle under the theme of obedience – surrender – trust. I am releasing my first book on November 1st which is about my daughter’s adoption. It’s called Surrendered Hearts: An Adoption Story of Love, Loss, and Learning to Trust. God taught me so much about surrender and trust. And honestly, it started with obedience. I had to be obedient to what and where He called. Only then could He really begin to work the miraculous. Fast forward to now – as I sat on the story for years knowing God was telling me to write this book. I came up with other book ideas. I ran down other paths. Yet, the one He called me to was what I feared most. Something so close and personal. Something that represented a place of grief within me. Finally, I obeyed, and can I tell you that since I made that commitment and signed the contract, God has worked so much healing in our daughter? Once again, surrender and obedience yielded the most beautiful of miracles ♥
I’m sharing you and this post with my readers this week as the #MomentsofHope Featured Writer! Thank you so much for coming alongside me to share the hope of Christ. I appreciate you!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Hey Lori,
Your story sounds amazing and I know the Lord will anoint and add favor to your book for your obedience in sharing it. Obedience is always for our good and His glory. Looking forward to reading it.
And thanks so much for sharing my post as a featured writer. So grateful.
Great to be connected as an online hope girl and Jesus girl!
Blessings, Karen
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You are welcome, Karen!