In His Sweet Spot

We are in the best place when we are in the perfect will and righteousness of our Father; when we know our self as his child on his assignment in our God given sphere of influence. This is a place of rest and fruitfulness.

Much of our time we are outside God’s sweet spot where we experience the downward spirals of aloneness, agitation, fear, doubt, confusion, fatigue, emptiness … and the cost of addictions and patterns that seem to offer self comfort but actually hold us captive.Why remain  there?

We might hesitate to step in because we lack belief or faith or courage. The sweet spot is the altar of repentance and sacrifice where Jesus died in our place and where we come alive through him. (Galatians 2:21-3:7) It is where everything that is hurting us is consumed by fire. (Romans 12) The simplest way is to give God everything and to only take up again the things, assignments etc that he gives back to you. It’s scary on the way in  but freedom on the way out!

Some of us have a sense of calling but don’t know where to land it and so we wander in confusion in and out of our sweet spot, deceived, blind, deaf and missing the point. We will find our way in seasons of waiting and continuous co-discernment and accountability.

Sometimes we push past the sweet spot – striving  to try to implement in our own way and strength what we discern God is saying.  That’s a fruitless burn out track – a waste of time and resources but often justified because its ‘in a good cause.’ This is a deceptive counterfeit – religion not relationship with God and it leads to poverty of spirit. I know because I have been there and I don’t want to go there again!

When we are out of our sweet spot we can cause confusion to those around us; trampling on them and their roles and spheres of influence; distracting  other people and draining their focus, time and resources. Now my eyes are open, I am so sorry for having done this. We can feel so sure we are right that we set up our own altar where we sacrifice others – judging, humiliating and pressuring  them; reacting in offense or defence;  resorting to  manipulation, coercion and control over others to achieve our goals. Lord have mercy on us for doing this and protect us all from those who do! 

We are in the sweet spot when we are in right relationship with God and others. The atmosphere around us become full of hope, faith, love, joy, peace, humility, gentleness, patience, kindness and self control – heaven on earth power. People are drawn to Christ in us and receive his grace, his blessings through us. God’s gift of discernment enable us to pray for each other; encourage, build up and support each other.

We enter the sweet spot by:

• repenting of the mess we have made when doing things our way.
• seriously trusting that God is our loving Father who offers the whole earth restored relationship and wholeness as a gift through Jesus.
• constantly resubmitting our lives to God’ life giving way. ‘Your will, Father, not mine.’
• listening to what God is saying to you.
• obeying what God is saying to you personally and what he has said to all of us – specifically we love God with our whole self, and each other as ourselves and bless our world with the good news of who Jesus is  – healing the sick; making disciples and seeing Jesus’ kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Do you choose – right now- to come and live in God’s sweet spot?

Seek your Father’s revelation of  who you are as his child. (Romans 8, 1 John 3:1-2)
You may define specific aspects of your sweet spot over time by asking:

• HOW am I known in heaven?
• WHY am I on the earth?
• WHAT is my life message?
• WHO are my people group?

Psalm 23 is a vivid picture of what it’s like to dwell in the sweet spot – rested, refreshed, anointed and overflowing with God’s goodness and love.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,  
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk  through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, 
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.