"You're not in the driver's seat—I am." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to live life with Him in charge. Now that is tough because we all like to be in control. We may pretend we don't but we know it is true. Jesus knows it is true. We can't fake it with Him. He knows us down to our core.

So ... He looks us in the eye, pauses and says ...

"You're not in the driver's seat—I am." ~~Jesus (Luke 9:24 The Message)

"The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to focus on the main thing. It isn't about what our next meal will be or what will be on the menu. It is about doing what God wants us to do right now. Doing God's will step by step, every day. All those steps add up to His grand plan for His world (the Kingdom).

Doing what God wants right now is our source of energy.

"The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started." ~~Jesus (John 4:34 The Message)

"Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way." ~~Jesus

God is God. He does things that don't make sense to us. We clearly wouldn't do very much the way He does. He doesn't need our permission or approval. How He does things pleases Himself.

Jesus challenges us to understand God, what He wants to do and accept His way.

"Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way." ~~Jesus (Luke 10)

Will I obey God?

Am I willing to let others experience pain because I am following Jesus?

"If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins." ~~Oswald Chambers http://ow.ly/Vfdi

"Don't say 'God be with you,' and not mean it." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to mean what we say. Religious jargon and trite sayings are useless. It is the power of the risen Lord and Savior that means something. Jesus challenges us to understand what action God wants us to take not say some religious saying. The action Jesus took was always specific. He healed the blind but never exactly the same way.

May I live the life Jesus wants me to every day. May my life speak his power.

"Don't say 'God be with you,' and not mean it." ~~Jesus

A Time to Recalibrate | Men of Integrity

I must take time to check with God before I act, speak, or do anything. Great question: Have I recalibrated to true north? Is God in this activity? How easy it is to just be in the moment, doing what I think is the right thing. What does God think?

Here is a great story from David Cook.

It was during this time, while walking into a hardware store, that a friend called me. I stood just inside the automatic doors for 20 minutes while Jeff told me a story that related to my situation. Jeff, who had been an airline pilot, explained to me one of the procedures that had to take place between the ending of one flight and the beginning of the next. While the Boeing 757 sat at the gate, its navigational computer had to recalibrate for the new course. In order to do that, the plane had to sit completely still for ten minutes while it reestablished true north—otherwise its navigation would be dangerously off.

via A Time to Recalibrate | Men of Integrity.

What are some good year end questions?

Here is a list of some to consider.

• Have I accepted God’s verdict on my missing His goal for me as judged on the Cross of Christ?


• Do I have even the slightest interest in the death of Jesus?


• Do I want to be identified with His death— to be completely dead to all interest in missing His goal for me, worldliness, and self?


• Do I long to be so closely identified with Jesus that I am of no value for anything except Him and His purposes?


• Will I go all out for Jesus to the neglect of my own desires?

God wants some answers. Jesus demands it of us.

How will I answer?