Before I met Jesus, I had completely disintegrated my mind and identity down to only “energy” and “nothing.”
Literally, I ceased to perceive or experience objects or people or a world-out-there at all. Everything was just a field of pure beingness with various structures of energy moving through it.
“I” didn’t exist, and without a “me,” there was no way to know which choices to make, where to go, what to do, or any such thing because… well… what would I base those decisions on if there was no “me” to have those desires or motivations?
I discovered I could navigate my life effectively by recognizing what I was clearly “against,” and then simply moving in whatever direction remained open after having ruled out all other options.
For example:
“I don’t want to be here any longer. I don’t want to go that way on the street. I’m a ‘no’ to going home right now. Looks like I’m going to turn left and go this way now. Okay. Now what am I a ‘no’ to?…”
It worked really well and seemed like a legitimately true way to navigate life — except for the fact I was training and reinforcing rejection into my will.
Rejection was the measure I was using to measure reality, and according to Jesus “…with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:2)
Guess what I’ve experienced a ton of in return?…
Yep.
It turns out that saying “Yes and Amen” to Jesus Himself is the ultimate “No” to the world, the devil, darkness, sin, and death.
If I say yes to Him, I am crucified to the world and the world to me, as Paul says: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
Instead of constantly tracking for what I’m against—and trying to enforce it—I can look purely to Jesus and follow Him and what He is for. This puts me in agreement with what He has done, which is: “…made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6-7)
Orienting from a state of acceptance produces His acceptance in me for others, because His acceptance is the measure with which I am measuring and is that which flows out of my heart rather than rejection.
Again: “…with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:2)
His acceptance is true and already available for every single person, situation, and the entirety of creation regardless of their acceptance of His acceptance.1
One doesn’t gather together or reconcile things that are truly rejected. The precondition to gathering together and reconciling them with oneself is that those things are accepted by the One doing the gathering and reconciling.
I do not believe that God orients Himself from a reality of rejection, otherwise He Himself would be producing rejection in and from Himself and that is not what He has produced and accomplished through Christ at the Cross.2
What He has accomplished through Jesus Christ and the Cross is a radical acceptance of any and all persons who would come to Him and receive it.3
What has been rejected by God is sin and lies and darkness — none of which He is—nor I am at a level of True identity because of what Christ has accomplished.4
For God to accept sin and lies and darkness is for Him to deny Himself (because He Himself is Eternal Reality and Eternal Truth but He Himself as that Eternal Reality and Eternal Truth is not sin or lies or darkness). And as the scripture says: “…yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
So here’s secret that "boundary-setters" might not know.
By orienting from “No” towards others or yourself or your circumstances, you are orienting toward life from a reality of rejection. And you are setting yourself up to receive rejection.
Instead, one can orient from “Yes and Amen” toward Jesus Himself and He will orient you from a place of His acceptance toward all reality, and, He will establish the structural bounds of relationships and circumstances—a fortitude of “No” that no one (not even the devil) can cross.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore… seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
—Matthew 6:24-33
Ask the Lord about these
Here are a couple things that may be a blessing to you or your family. Ask the Lord about them, and if He says “Yes,” you know what to do. If He says “No,” you also know what to do.
Unburdened Motherhood — A six-week group program led by my wife for moms who are struggling to experience motherhood as a blessing. Whether you are a seasoned mom of many or an expecting-mom for the first time, this program is specifically designed for you to receive the fullness of God's heart for you in motherhood. Starts this Sunday September 21st. Enrollment closes today at 5:30pm EST.
Prepare the Way — A workshop for men of faith (especially those in business) to navigate the often-unnerving journey of waiting to personally hear from the Lord. Includes access to the previously recorded workshop and scripturally-sound framework of reference for relationship with the Holy Spirit.
1:1 Faith Coaching — I work with men of faith to resolve seemingly unresolvable problems & patterns in their personal, family, and business lives. The Lord leads the way and gives the growth as we pray together and bring things into agreement with the scriptures and the Living Word.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
“that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” (Ephesians 1:10)
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” (Matthew 15:18)
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
This was ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️