Godacious
Godacious, typed in bold print, jumped off the page from All Pro Dad and iMom’s Family First letter, and put a smile on my face. Their Godacious vision states: Stepping into the unknown with audacity and faith, knowing that God has equipped us to reach people in ways we never thought possible.
It’s a genius summary, not just of their mission, but in that it can be applied to every Christian. We serve a bold, all-powerful, and amazing God, and He not only pushes us to step out with audacious faith but also equips us in ways we never thought possible.
Chicago Bulls 1990s rookie basketball player Stacey King had a humorous way of taking credit for the night Michael Jordan scored a record number of points. King said, “I’ll always remember this as the night Michael Jordan and I, combined, scored seventy points.” Stacey King scored 1 point compared to Michael Jordan’s 69 in one game.
So often this is us with God. We score one point and think we’re the hotshot, while God handles the other 69. I can imagine us standing there on the free-throw line, ball in hand, and God giving us a wink and saying, “You’ve got this, kid.” How often do parents hold their kids up so that they can swing on the monkey bars, or parents run and steady them on their bikes, and then the child turns to them and says, “I did it.”
Sure, they did. But the parents don’t take credit because they’re so proud of their child for having the courage to hold on and make an attempt. God wants us to have audacity, or better yet, Godacity. He wants us to ride the bike, step up to the free throw line, pick up the single shot and face our giants, or tell a ruler that we’re not going to bow down to a false God even if we’re to be thrown in a fiery furnace or into a lion’s pit.
We can quickly forget the times when God has performed miracles for us in the past and become focused on looking for the next one. How many times have things fallen into place for us at just the right moment? How often do we look back on our lives and recognize how far we’ve come or how much we’ve changed, and give Jesus the credit? How many times has God made a way, and we didn’t even know it was Him?
Daniel said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for He has all wisdom and power.” (Daniel 2:20.) Thank God for the blessings He’s done in our lives and for the Blessings He’s going to do. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
We can stand with Godacious faith because our struggles are overcome by His power, not ours. God chose us, and He loves us. He is our firm foundation, and His joy is our strength. We will face challenges, but problems are an opportunity for God to demonstrate His amazing Godacity.