Seventh Key to Thriving Be the One Family,
I can’t believe we are ending our seventh key! My prayer is that it has encouraged and challenged your heart. BTO family, we love you and are believing for wonderful blessings for you as we kick off 2021. Let's look at our verse one more time. Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
We have unpacked so many thoughts from this one verse. I can’t wait to share this last thought with you. Our seventh key to thriving in a hard season is yield rather than rebel.
Look at the highlighted part of this verse. It brings to our attention a word and a phrase we would rather dismiss. That word is… SUBMITTING. The phrase is “IN THE FEAR OF GOD.”
The Bible tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. When we are going through a hard season, it is easy to disengage because we feel misunderstood. The common temptation for us when we go through a hard season is to shut God, His word, our family, authority and friendship out.
House family, while God always gives us a choice, if we want to thrive we have to submit to His process. That word submitting isn’t talking about unhealthy dominance. It talks about yielding your heart, ways, and outlook to Him. When we talk about fearing God, that isn’t us being scared of Him, it's about us being in awe of Him. It's respect and reverence.
Submitting to one another helps us navigate hard seasons as well. This is talking about the leaders and friendships in your life. We all have to yield to relationships in our life. If not, pride and arrogance will cause us to move into isolation. We all have known both good and bad leaders. The Kingdom of God operates off of submission to authority. Jesus submitted to Father God, the disciples submitted to Jesus. Husbands, wives, children, employees, employers, pastors, church members, and friends all have to yield in order to stay in a relationship. The Kingdom of God operates off of submission to authority. The appropriate amount of yielding keeps relationships moving forward. In a hard season yield rather than rebel. Resist the urge to be a part of the Cancel Culture. Lay down arguments that keep you held in your past. God wants you to thrive.
This season has been difficult for everyone to manage. I’m so proud of you. Keep trusting in His goodness. Go over these seven keys again and again. If you do, I believe people will marvel and God will get the glory.
Love you all,
Pastor Steven