Are we there yet?
Mike is the Discipleship Lead at Gas Street Church
Matthew 6:10 (NIV)
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
We have two young boys, and we are well and truly into the ‘Are we there yet?’ stage of parenting. Even on short drives to the childminders, our youngest, Boaz, can’t resist asking the question multiple times. While it can be exhausting navigating their impatience, I do love their hunger and hope for the next adventure!
Similarly, as Christians, we find ourselves in a constant state of hopeful waiting. On Sundays at Gas Street, we’re wrapping up our Kingdom in the City preaching series: a series focused on our desire to see Heaven become a reality in our everyday lives.
We long to see healing on the streets, transformation in the workplace, salvation at the school gate and justice within our government. In fact, it’s not hard to list many ways we want to see God’s Kingdom come here in Birmingham. As I dream about the possibilities, I’m filled with excitement about what could be, as I trust in the sovereignty of God. There are days, however, when I resonate more with Boaz in the back seat, questioning, ‘Are we there yet?’. The impatience and the tension between the ‘now and the not yet’ cast a shadow on my spirit and dampened my hope.
This week, we’ll explore various ways we can contribute towards making God's will a reality in our city or location. Today, we’ll reflect on our personal sense of hope, longing, impatience or – perhaps – our indifference.
As you reflect on the world around you, what is your current response to the ‘what could be’? Do you feel a little disheartened, anticipating what will go wrong next? Does your hope in Jesus breaking through resemble a flickering flame at risk of being extinguished rather than a blazing fire? Or are you overflowing with expectation, eager to see God win back this generation?
Prayer – Father God, come and minister to my spirit. Where I feel disheartened or disillusioned, be my comforter and my hope. Where I feel hopeful you will move, pour out your anointing. Perhaps, above all, I pray: your kingdom come, your will be done.