Today, when I opened my Bible app to read a devotion plan that I’ve been following, the reading was titled, “This Is the Adventure.” Great title, right? Makes you want to read further.
But the reason this title stuck out to me is because my word for this year is “Adventure.” You see, every year, my wife and I each choose our own word for the year. Sort of a lens to see everything through. We’ve had other words such as “Clarity,” or “Freedom.” We try to pick a personal word that will help us focus on what we think God may be leading us to.
Anyway, it made me smile. The devotion went on to describe the “Adventure” as a life that has been surrendered to our Heavenly Father; letting go of things that may hold me back and get in the way of living a life as an adopted son of a Loving Father – the Maker of heaven and earth. There’s obviously more to it than that, but that was the gist.
Later today, I was reading in another book (we are in the midst of the pandemic “quarantine” so I’m getting to read a little bit more than usual). The author was telling the story of a man who really wanted to buy a kayak. He had saved up for it and researched the best one for him. Then he had doubts about the purchase. He though that it may be too frivolous. That God might even be against it. He found it hard to believe that God would want anything good for him. The story went on to reveal the deep hurt the man had received from his earthly father. The story didn’t tell whether or not he finally bought it.
Why is this significant to me? Well, on my birthday – five months ago – my family gave me a gift card to go towards purchasing a kayak of my own. With some other gifts I had saved, I had enough to buy one. But I didn’t. However, I did buy the straps to tie it to my car. And then at Christmas, my family gave me a life vest. But I still have no kayak.
Don’t get me wrong, I fully intend to buy a kayak! I have the gift cards with me pretty much at all times, I’ve done the research to know what kind I want, and I have a few friends who are waiting on me to get one so we can head out on the river.
But the story struck a chord with me. Is God trying to speak to me through these ideas and stories that are so close to my own heart? What is He trying to say? It definitely makes me pause and listen. And pray.
I don’t want to miss the adventure of the life that God has given to me. I pray that He will give me the wisdom to be a man after His heart, making a difference in the lives of those around me for His glory. And I thirst for those times when I know God is speaking to me – even in a single word, or story about a boat!
James 1:5 – Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him.
