Off the Sidelines * Not My Will

Day 1: Intentional Living

Scripture: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

Rundown Jesus didn't just wander aimlessly through the wilderness until He accidentally stumbled upon John at the Jordan River. He went there intentionally, with a specific purpose. Too often, we move through life on autopilot, letting the current of our schedules drag us wherever it wants. Or, worse, we add a bunch of extra commitments to our lives that we don't even like, thinking it will make us "better" Christians. But God isn't asking you to make yourself miserable. He is asking you to be intentional. He wants you to take the life you are already living—your job, your hobbies, the food you eat, the people you see—and do it all for His glory.

The Challenge Take a look at your calendar and your routines. Are you just wandering aimlessly, or are you intentionally looking for ways to bring God glory in the spaces you already occupy?

Action Step Pick one completely ordinary thing you are going to do today—eating a meal, driving to work, or tackling a chore. Consciously and actively thank God during that activity and ask Him to use that normal moment for His glory.

Day 2: Qualified by the Call

Scripture: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21

Rundown When Jesus asked to be baptized, John’s immediate reaction was to push back. He knew who he was, and he knew who Jesus was, so his first instinct was, "I am entirely unqualified for this." We do the exact same thing when it comes to sharing the gospel. The enemy is quick to whisper in your ear, bringing up every mistake, every bad attitude, and every failure from your past. But our qualification doesn't come from our own perfection; it comes from Christ's righteousness. God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. If you believe Jesus is who He says He is, you have beautiful feet, and you are qualified to carry the good news.

The Challenge What lies from the enemy are keeping you quiet? Are you letting your past or your perceived shortcomings stop you from stepping into what God has asked you to do?

Action Step Write down 1 Peter 2:9 somewhere visible today: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." Read it out loud every time you feel the lie of being "unqualified" creeping in.

Day 3: Beyond the Bare Minimum

Scripture: “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.” — Matthew 3:15

Rundown Did Jesus actually need to be baptized? No. He is the sinless Lamb of God. But He did it anyway to "fulfill all righteousness." He didn't just look for the bare minimum requirement to get by; He went above and beyond to lay a flawless foundation. It is incredibly easy to treat our faith like a contract, doing just enough to stay out of trouble. We show up on Sunday, say a quick prayer before dinner, and clock out exactly when the shift ends. But when we stand before Jesus, we don't want to hand Him a half-hearted effort and ask, "Was this enough?" We want to leave it all on the field and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

The Challenge Audit your spiritual effort over the last 168 hours. Are you doing the bare minimum to check the "Christian" box, or are you actively pushing back against the darkness?

Action Step Find one specific area in your life today where you normally do the bare minimum, and intentionally go above and beyond expectations. Serve someone when you don't have to, or spend an extra 15 minutes in prayer instead of scrolling on your phone.

Day 4: Open Eyes, No Fear

Scripture: “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” — 2 Kings 6:17

Rundown When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened. It was a tangible reminder that there is an entire, unseen spiritual realm operating right on top of our physical world. Like Elisha’s servant, we so easily panic because we only look at the physical problems surrounding us. We get timid. We get scared. We act like we serve a weak God. But the truth is, chariots of fire surround us. The God we serve is so big that the heavens can't even contain Him. Whatever problem is whooping you right now, remember that the Creator of the universe has ultimate authority over it.

The Challenge What earthly circumstance is currently blinding you to God's spiritual power? Where are you acting out of timidity instead of confidence in the Lord Almighty?

Action Step When you feel overwhelmed by a physical problem or stressor today, physically stop what you are doing. Pray out loud, asking God to open your spiritual eyes and give you the confidence of knowing He is in control of the situation.

Day 5: The Choice of Surrender

Scripture: “And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” — Matthew 3:17

Rundown The Father's pleasure in the Son wasn't just because Jesus existed; it was because Jesus chose to surrender. He chose to step into creation, to suffer, and to lay down His life. He actively chose the Father's will over His own comfort. Everything in life is a choice. We can chase our own comfort, seek the easiest path, and build a life entirely around our own happiness—but if we do that, we become our own gods. True revival starts with a simple, daily surrender: "Not my will, but Yours be done."

The Challenge If you are honest with yourself, who is currently sitting on the throne of your life? Are you fighting God for the right to remain comfortable?

Action Step Take the ultimate challenge from this week's message: Tell one person about Jesus today. Share what He has done in your life, and then follow it up by asking how you can pray for them. Surrender your comfort for their eternity.