Digging Deeper LIVE with Andi and Brian Hale

There Is A Race Marked Out For You

Don’t quit. Whatever it is for you today, you have the power and the strength to carry on, even if it doesn’t look like dance parties and celebrations. It might look like you showing up in your pajama pants or with tears in your eyes, but you can do it. You can keep going. You can keep showing up – to the blank page, to the piano, to your prayer closet, to your marriage, for your kids, at your job, you fill in the blank.

It’s easy to think that the things we do don’t matter all that much, that our consistency doesn't make a difference, or that it’s okay to give up and sit down. The truth is that you’re here on purpose. You are not just one of many doing whatever feels right, you are the one that a specific race has been marked out for. Psalm 139 paints a beautiful picture of how God created you so specifically, so particularly, and had all your days marked down before even one of them came to be. You’re not just someone, you’re you – on purpose and for purpose!

What you’re doing matters. We don’t often get to see how or what will come of it while we’re still in the middle, but Galatians 6:9 tells us that we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. It doesn’t say maybe or that there is a good chance it’ll work out. It’s confirmed: it will come to pass. But take heart, friend. You’re not alone. Philippians 1:6 says that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. This not only confirms, again, what’s to come but clarifies that He will carry it on.

The power and the strength you have to endure comes from Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2–3 instructs us to look to Jesus, fix our eyes on Him, and consider Him as we run this race. That is how we don’t grow weary. That is how we don’t give up. We turn, again, to the source of our faith.

Consider the area where you feel weary or where you feel like giving up. What if you are uniquely designed and equipped to do exactly that thing, and you are able to do it in a way that no one else can? How might that change the way you approach it each day?

Poetry of the Indescribable

As a teenager relegated to the back forty with the sheep, David probably had no idea that people would be reading his poetry thousands of years later. The future David envisioned for himself while hanging around sheep 24/7 was probably not that grandiose—certainly not a picture of the “you can be whatever you put your mind to” messages youth hear today.

David’s father did not see much value in him; he did not even include David in the sibling lineup for Samuel the prophet. In the end, his earthly father’s rejection did not matter because his heavenly Father had already marked him for future greatness. No one but God knew the training camp for this future psalmist king took place alone in the field with his sheep.

With no distractions except an occasional lost sheep to save, David’s senses could focus on the wonder around him day and night. He experienced the splendor of every sunrise, the fragrance of wildflowers, the feel of raindrops washing his face, the harvest moon bathing the sheep in light, and meteor showers displayed on the backdrop of the black dome of heaven. And even while David slept, his Creator visited him and shared His thoughts, sometimes in song. Those nighttime revelations might have become the lyrics to the songs David wrote. He lived as a prisoner of God’s creative exuberance. What a magnificent confinement.

David’s every waking moment would be a living synonym of awe. He had to release the wonderment even though his words could never describe such indescribable glory. The heavens did a better job than he ever could, but that did not stop him. He was willing to collaborate and allow the wonder to guide his pen.

Perhaps you have found your voice and started giving expression through writing, music or art. But if you are feeling stuck and wondering if you will ever get unstuck, the answer is yes. Or maybe you have not been able to start expressing yourself. The antidote to both situations is to overdose on beauty. Get so filled up by going for a walk in the woods or watching a sunset that you will burst if you do not express your feelings.

Questions to Ponder: What type of creative expression have you always wanted to pursue? How do you think you would find the awe of God in doing that?

Surprised by God

For Moses this was another ordinary, lonely day in the wilderness tending his sheep. But for God it was a historic day, marked by an ambush through angelic visitation and a burning bush. The scene was Sinai—God’s holy mountain. Did Moses know where he was? Was he trespassing on holy ground?

It was too late to check. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, igniting a bush. There was nothing unusual about the bush itself, but when God shows up, the smallest plant becomes significant—but not to everyone. God was watching Moses. Would this flaming bush get his attention enough to draw him closer?

God is always wooing us closer to Himself, whether with angelic visitation, a burning bush or a still, small voice. Moses noticed this was no ordinary burning bush because it continued burning. Amazing! And to his astonishment, a voice from within the bush called his name. Scary? Yes, and more so when the voice identified Himself as God. At that point Moses covered his face.

God had a greater purpose with the pyrotechnic display than to wow Moses out of boredom. He does not use His glory to entertain. His purpose is twofold: first, to get our attention; and second, to transform our thinking about ourselves to fulfill our destiny. Sometimes it is easier for God to lead a bush than a human being. The bush obeyed, bursting into flames. Moses hesitated to follow God’s command because he did not see himself as God did. It is through bush-burning encounters that we get a better perspective of ourselves in relation to God. When we obey, He brings the firepower to ignite us in the call.

You do not need a burning bush to have a conversation with God. Jesus said He was never alone because the Father was always with Him. And He is with you right now. Ask Him why He has confidence in you. His answer may change your view of yourself as well as of Him.

Questions to Ponder: What purpose or ability had God helped you fulfill in your life? How did this change your view about yourself?

Pregnant with Promise

We first meet Sarah and learn of her barrenness in Genesis 11. The conception of her son, Isaac, does not come until Genesis 21. The chapters in between represent 39 years of waiting. Today, a woman’s “success” is not measured by the fruitfulness of her womb, although infertility is painful for any couple longing for children. In Abraham’s day, an empty cradle was shameful. And then Sarah’s hopeful expectation became the silent cynical laugh heard by God. God hears the pain no one else does, including yours.

Because of famine in Canaan, Abraham fled to pagan Egypt. As a stranger in a land that did not honor God’s laws, his fear was understandable. He recognized that Sarah’s beauty would attract unwanted attention from the locals. His concern was not so much about her safety but more about his as her husband. If an Egyptian wanted her for his harem, he would have no problem killing Abraham. Posing as her brother made Abraham less of a threat.

Since Abraham had not had the benefit of marriage counseling that instructed him to love his wife as Christ loved the Church, even to the point of laying his life down, lying seemed logical. And over the years, the helpmeet wife of the Garden had become more of a slave wife, required to do as the master commanded. Many people today, men and women, would have a few unrepeatable words for Abraham.

Abraham devalued Sarah to save himself. But it would be hard for Sarah not to have thought less of herself anyway, living with the label of barren. Society’s expectation for her was fruitfulness. She had failed. After years of trying to get pregnant, what humiliation to offer her maid’s womb to Abraham. Only God could know the depth of her dissatisfaction, anger, rejection, loneliness and hopelessness.

And then Sarah was pregnant. She knew, Abraham knew and everyone knew that it was impossible for her to bear a child at her age. And yet it became evident as her abdomen protruded more and more. And then her mourning turned to joyful laughter as she cradled baby Isaac—her own sign and wonder, the promise of God.

Questions to Ponder: What longtime request has God granted in your life? What emotions did you experience when hoped-for became reality?

Breath of Wonder

What did that first breath feel like? Did Adam’s body shake and rattle like the bones coming together in the valley of dry bones? Did he cough and cry like a baby at birth? Was the oxygen so rich that he experienced a euphoric high? Did his eyes squint at the blinding glory of God’s presence face-to-face with him? Oh, so many questions.

No birth since then has been the same, and yet every breath we take comes from the same source—God. Polluted air may envelop us nowadays, but the breath inside that makes us a living soul is pure and holy. Our first breath is a gift of life from God Himself.

Adam not only had the wonder within but also lived in a garden of wonder. In the first seconds of his life, all five senses were on overload—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling the amazing, overwhelming aspects of paradise. Perhaps it was so beautiful that it was almost too much for him to take in at once.

“So what went wrong?” we may wonder. “How could two people forfeit wonderland for a snack?” We should learn from their mistake instead of judging them for it.

Paul’s teaching in Romans 1 helps us understand the tragedy of Adam and Eve. He wrote of how they knew God but wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. Instead they thought up foolish ideas of what God was like, and so their minds became dark and confused. At some point Adam and Eve must have taken God for granted. Otherwise they would not have believed the foolish ideas presented to them by the serpent. Our worship and gratitude for the God of wonders greatly influences our thinking.

There is good news! You do not have to wait for reconciliation as Adam did. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His death, burial and resurrection reopened the gates of paradise for you. He—the Wonder-worker—is your way back to paradise.

Questions to Ponder: What do you need to confess to God today to find reconciliation? How does your worship and gratitude for God affect how you think?

Ask for Wisdom

Throughout this Plan we’ve learned that wisdom ultimately comes from knowing Jesus Christ and following His ways. When He alone is our foundation, we can walk in freedom, victory, and hope.

But, maybe you don’t feel like you have wisdom. You see other people who appear to be so wise; people seem to hang on their every word. They’re the people that everyone wants a little bit of their time, and whose words are quotable. Whoever came to your mind, go through the list of what godly wisdom looks like from Day 1. Are they honorable, humble, selfless, pure, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, impartial, and sincere? They don’t have to possess every trait, but chances are, they possess many. Consider asking them what they did to get where they are today. There’s a strong chance that they not only sought God, but also learned from others along the way.

Maybe you're in a place where you truly don’t feel like you possess godly wisdom, and you have no idea what you’d do in any given situation that you face. So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do?

Ask God.

James 1:5 says, “But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.” Isn’t that amazing? If we need wisdom, we can literally just ask God. And you know what? He’ll give it—no questions asked. In fact, He’ll give His wisdom so generously to us and won’t even judge us for our past actions. He’s just pleased that we’re seeking Him and aiming to live wise lives filled with His truth.

Allow this Bible Plan to be a starting point for you on your journey to becoming a more wise person. Never stop learning and growing in this area. God always wants us to keep a posture of learning. And people with godly wisdom know this. So, seek God, walk in obedience, and ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him to bring you wisdom beyond your imagination.

The Right Foundation

In Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus is teaching about the foundation we build our lives on. He said that whoever listens to His teaching and follows it is wise. They’ve built their foundation on solid rock, that won’t shift or move when storms come. But whoever hears his teaching and doesn’t follow it is foolish. Their foundation is placed on sand, which is easily disturbed when winds and rain come.

Every single one of us has built our lives on a foundation. The question is, what type?

Is our life built on the hopes and dreams of others? If we seek to please people in our lives—even if it means that we don’t stay true to our beliefs—then our foundation is on them. This is dangerous, because people change, and when they do, our foundation crumbles.

Are we placing our confidence in things that are fleeting and pass away? If our hope is in material pleasures and physical appearance, then we will most assuredly be disappointed and our lives disrupted. On any given day, our money and our appearances can change.

Do we find our security and strength in the ways of the world? If we place our trust in what the world offers us, then our foundation will always be shifting. The belief system that many in our society hold fast to changes depending on people’s desires.

Or have we planted ourselves firmly in Jesus Christ? If our foundation isn’t steady and firm, our “house” won’t have a place to stand on. If our foundation is on the temporary, then it will fail the moment the “temporary” changes. But, if we are grounded in God’s truth and seek to make Jesus our entire life, then when hardship and heartbreak come, we have a foundation that won’t move. Sure, our lives or “house” may need some repairs and even break apart in places, but because our foundation is secure in Jesus, we can rebuild our lives on the hope we have in Him.

Spend some time analyzing where your foundation is built. One way to know is to ask yourself the following questions:

When someone I love fails or loses their dream, does my world crumble?
When my body changes because of aging, do I get depressed or upset?
When my retirement account isn’t flourishing, do I still feel secure?

If you’ve discovered that your foundation is built on anything other than Jesus Christ, it’s not too late to rebuild. As long as there is breath in our lungs, there’s always an opportunity to change our lives and live fully for His glory.

Wisdom from Proverbs

The Old Testament book of Proverbs has many writers, but the principal author was most likely King Solomon. While there are dozens of verses that mention wisdom in this book, we’ll focus on some and glean as much truth as we can about wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 NLT
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

Listening to others brings wisdom. Sometimes we are too close to a situation or have already decided what to do, but we’re wise to listen to the thoughts, insights, and suggestions of godly people in our lives. Even if the advice is unsolicited, wisdom will consider it anyway and decide if it’s worth heeding.

Proverbs 13:10 NCV
Pride only leads to arguments; but those who take advice are wise.

Too often people think they truly have all the answers, but even the people we consider to be wise receive advice. That’s how they grew to be so wise! We all have room to grow, so let’s put aside a prideful mindset in order to become wise.

Proverbs 16:16 ESV
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!

Nothing this world has to offer can compare with the wisdom we can receive from God and others. We may enjoy temporary pleasures, including possessions and money, but employing wisdom in our decisions will bring a greater return. There’s no price tag we can put on God’s peace manifesting itself on a truly wise person.

Proverbs 19:20 NIV
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

The essence of this verse is that we should never stop seeking to grow in the area of gaining wisdom. We can never get to the place where we think, “Yep, I’ve got all the wisdom I need!” Life will continue to change, and we’ll have to learn to maneuver in new ways. The way we do this successfully is to never stop learning and growing in the area of becoming wise.

Proverbs 4:5-6 NASB
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you.

One of the most vital aspects of walking in wisdom is that it actually protects and guards us. What an amazing thought! It’s not that our lives will be 100% problem free, but when we do seek to walk in wisdom, our wise choices will actually prevent a lot of unnecessary hardship.

Throughout our lives, seeking godly wisdom should be a top priority for us. Possessing it will help us navigate every aspect of our lives. Spend some time searching God’s Word for more insight on gaining wisdom and the importance of it.

The Wisest Man

One of the kings of Israel was a man named Solomon. He was the son of David, who is well known in the Bible. When King David died, 1 Kings 2:12 tells us, “Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.”

King Solomon has quite a reputation—some of it good, and some of it not so good. The good is that he really did love God and worship Him. The not-so-good is that he still worshiped false gods and ended up having 700 wives and concubines. But, despite the imperfections of this king, he did something so memorable that it earned him the title of the wisest man.

In 1 Kings 3, there’s a story about King Solomon and a dream he had. In this dream, the LORD appeared to Him and asked, “What do you want? Ask, I will give it to you!” (1 Kings 3:5 NLT)

The God of the universe asked Solomon what he wanted, and clearly, he could’ve responded in many ways. But his response was anything but typical. He began by praising God and showing Him honor. After that, he made a surprising request in 1 Kings 3:7-9:

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong...”

Solomon’s heart was truly postured to lead the country, but he knew he needed wisdom from God to do it effectively. God was pleased with Solomon’s response because he could’ve requested a variety of things like power, money, and fame. But, he didn’t. Because of that, not only did God grant him wisdom beyond what anyone had ever had before, God also granted him riches and fame. Can you even imagine?

This story is a great example of how valuable and necessary wisdom is. A king who ruled an entire nation could have asked God for anything, and the one thing he chose was wisdom. He saw that wisdom would enrich not only his life, but the lives of the people he led. In a world where good and bad seem to be mixed up, walking in the wisdom of God will help us make decisions that will protect and sustain us.

Think about your life and what you consider important. Is it the treasures of this world, or is it having godly wisdom so that you can live a victorious life here on earth? Just be honest with God, and if you don’t see the value in having wisdom in your life, ask God to reveal His truth to you.