Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you. Joshua 3:5
I am a huge fan of Mark Batterson‘s writing. He does a fantastic job of sticking to Scripture while also being a great storyteller. I just realized that I have read almost all of his books: The Circle Maker, Praying Circles Around Your Children, Primal, Wild Goose Chase, and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I’m not sure why I never read Soul Print, but I am putting it on my reading list now. All In is his most recent release and one that many of us can identify with right away. The big idea is that “You are one decision away from a totally different life.” We know that can be a positive difference or a negative difference. What choice will you make? What choice will I make? And…will I continue to make the right choice everyday?
All In is an image that we can all identify with. It’s a popular leadership term these days, but Batterson challenges the reader to look at all in as a way of life. He points to stories of people within his church or famous Christian leaders to illustrate these principles. He also points to the greatest story of all time…the Bible…for points from the lives of Daniel, Elisha, Abraham, and others who made the choice to go all in to experience God at the highest possible level.
I highlighted several things while reading and have posted them below…pick up a copy of this book and share it with someone in your life that dares to do great things for God!
- You are one decision away from a totally different life.
- When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things?
- Faithfulness is not holding the forts. It’s storming the gates of hell.
- Who’s following who? Are you following Jesus? Or have you inverted the gospel by inviting Jesus to follow you?
- Consecration is going all in and all out for the All in All.
- Take up your cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 NLT
- Anything less than the complete surrender of our lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ is robbing God of the glory He demands and deserves. It’s also cheating ourselves out of the eternal reward God has reserved for us.
- You need to put Isaac on the altar like Abraham.
You need to throw down your staff like Moses.
You need to burn your plowing equipment like Elisha.
You need to climb the cliff like Jonathan.
You need to get out of the boat like Peter.
There comes a moment when you throw caution to the wind.
There comes a moment when you need to go all in.
There comes a moment when you need to burn the ships.
This is that moment.
This is your moment.
It’s all or nothing.
It’s now or never. - God cannot reveal His faithfulness until we exercise our faith. But because Abraham went all in, God was able to reveal Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, God our Provider.
- Lord, don’t let my gifts take me further than my character can sustain me.
- Do you find your identity in who you are or whose you are?
- Religion is spelled do. The gospel is spelled done.
- One of our fundamental spiritual problems is this: we want God to do something new while we keep doing the same old thing.
- Breaking the alabaster jar is giving what is most precious to you to Him. It’s offering Him your past, present, and future. It’s finding your identity and security in Christ alone. It’s your spiritual dowry. And it belongs to the Bridegroom.
- “Make all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.”-John Wesley
- “Eternity will not be long enough to learn all He is, or to praise Him for all He has done.” A.W. Tozer
- Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Don’t let fear dictate your decisions. Taking a flying leap of faith. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Go all in with God. God all out for God.
- I admire plotters—people who can see into the future and cast a vision. I admire plodders—people who put one foot in front of the other, one day at a time!
- Courage doesn’t wait until situational factors turn in one’s favor. It doesn’t wait until a plan is perfectly formed. It doesn’t wait until the tide of popular opinion is turned. Courage only waits for one thing: a green light from God. And when God gives the go, it’s full steam ahead, no questions asked.
- In God’s kingdom, calling trumps credentials every time! God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. And the litmus test isn’t experience or expertise. It’s availability and teachability.
- It’s not about what you do. It’s about why you do what you do. Ultimately, it’s about who you do it for.
- The word integrity comes from the root word integer. It refers to a whole number verses a fraction. In other words, integrity is all in. It doesn’t look for an easy way out. Integrity is an all-or-nothing proposition.
- “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd
- “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’” Abraham Kuyper
- What’s etched on the walls of your mind?
- Does your heart break for the things that break the heart of God?
- Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you. Joshua 3:5