We Have Ignition!!

On the 17th of July, 2015 I was honored to be a part of the Ignite Conference at my church. God revived my spirit. Tasked with the responsibility of bringing a monologue to serve as the opening act, this is what was presented:

MONOLOGUE 

How's life? Oh, same old, same old, can't complain. 

Isn't it sad that that's my honest response to that question. Same. Old. Same. Old. No change. No progress. 

How am I here? When did life hit the pause button? It just seems like nothing is worth waking up to any more.  

I remember back when I got saved. To this day I still feel chills run down my spine when I think of it. It felt like I'd won a war I was sure to lose. I walked from darkness into light. Marvelous light. To know that God has my back...that everything would work out for my good...that there was a purpose attached to my life was the best thing ever. 

But if you're like me, you may have realized that being a Christian is not the most popular identity you can bear. Be funny. Cool. Be a sinner. Better. Be a Christian? Can't hang with us. It seemed like after salvation life got harder. Even the people I was cool with started changing on me. And it seemed like all I now was was a Christian. They called me Pastor in the hallways at work. My friends didn't have too much free time any more. It got kinda lonely...but I had God, right?

I've never seen myself as a people pleaser. But I thought it wise to maybe not bring Jesus up everywhere. My salvation is real either way...and so is Jesus. Also, in an attempt to win over a few, perhaps I should let a few of those nasty jokes and stories slide. I forgot that all the strength I had is not my own. It belongs to the one who lives in me.

Ever since those decisions, I started on a downward spiral. What once was a struggle against sin is now a fight to excuse sin cycles in my life. I forgot about the great cloud of witnesses and they've all turned to blasphemy and I still don't think I'm to blame. Meanwhile I go through the motions giving zombie-service...seeming alive by outward appearances but knowing I'm dead within. 

But no more. I want to live out the abundant life that I received  I'm sick of trying to work things out on my own. I've fallen and I can't get up!! I refuse to die in this wilderness of my own making, knowing that I have a God and Father who longs to be gracious to me. There are also too many people waiting to be impacted by my abundantly-lived life. I know I cannot elicit the change on my own...believe me, I've tried. But after all the failure, I know what to do:

Lord, teach me to trust in You, to live in rooted submission. To know that one cannot live abundantly except within Your will. I give up every yoke I've submitted to...I've tried them all and they are brutal. But Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light. Your commands are not burdensome either. I ask that You would ignite the flame in me all for the glory of Your Name. Amen.