"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11 NIV
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 NIV
The Road Less Traveled
There are two paths in life, servant and King. The starting point is to realize that your heart is already scripted for one of them. We cannot easily make a mental decision to change paths without changing our hearts at the same time. 90% of what we do, regardless of intellectual or religious intentions, comes right out of the script already written on our heart or subconscious. In our culture, we are very inept at changing our hearts. No one has shown us how. The result: servants focus on their own needs and plow through life in any job they can find to meet those bare necessities; living paycheck-to-paycheck until they retire, and then from pension check to pension check until they die. Servants wait for others (especially God) to tell them what to do, live in mediocrity, and miss "abundant life." Pursuing a dream and defining their own heart's desire simply isn't in the script. Their world is rules, traditions, the expectations of others, and spiritual-sounding principles. They choose the broad way... still going to heaven, just not enjoying this life.
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." John 15:15-17 NIV
Kings Operate out of an Entirely Different Script
They are seeking the Kingdom first in a way that "adds all these things." They are willing to define, plan and pursue the desires God has written on their hearts. They do have personal dreams that map into a larger Kingdom plan that God is orchestrating. Kings build a bridge between their dreams, vocation, ministry, skills, finances and Kingdom purpose. That's the way the Kingdom works! Kings hear God through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and wise counsel...so do servants. The difference is that Kings also hear what God has written on their hearts, and they are willing to ask for those dreams; servants won't dream or plan or ask or act. The distinction is initiative.
Heart's Desires
The gospel that leads to the path of life is simply learning to allow your heart to pursue the desires God placed there. To be honest, most believers have never heard this version of the good news. Our discipleship process has produced obedient servants who are not in touch with their own hearts, and are unable to get in touch with anyone else's either. Relationships are shallow, and our lives and aspirations are surrounded by poverty and little fruit. The battle front for abundant life isn't really fought on the field of external behavior; the war is really waged in the heart of every man and woman. The crux of abundant life is, "can we define the Kingdom purpose in our hearts in a way that motivates us for a lifetime?"
We watch over our hearts to nurture those dreams and desires in practical ways that cause hearts to manifest fruit from a cup that overflows with love for people, ministry, and wealth.
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23 NASU
Getting Started
Having worked with people on the concept of Releasing Kings for years, I've come to one important realization. It all starts when we put pen to paper and write down our dreams, and make a plan to bring them into reality. The substance of faith and initiative doesn't really begin until we move dreams and desires from our heads and hearts onto a piece of paper. We've developed a coaching module to facilitate that process, and it's easy; it works extremely well. What is extremely difficult is getting a servant to change the script, transition to King, and start writing and planning and choosing a life with a cup that runs over.
"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Deut 30:19-20 NIV
Your dream is worth some one-on-one time with someone who can encourage you and help you to make it real. Your destiny is worth it! Putting your dream first is putting the Kingdom first. There really is a place where your heart and God's heart overlap. That's where "life" begins.
John Garfield
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