What My Dad Wanted

Posted on May 22, 2012 by ELN

“Stop beholding your business…pleasure…neighbors…earthly cares and duties. Whatever thing may be absorbing your attention, stop beholding that thing, and instead, behold the Man!” – Aimee Semple McPherson

There is just something about larger than life statements by larger than life people! Perhaps it is the knowledge that larger than life people also face larger than life problems. These inspirational people seem to somehow rise above the daily drama of life, and say things that challenge us to stop and reflect.

We all have issues, and those issues can completely consume our lives if we let them. To behold something is to really look at it. Therein lies the problem of beholding our circumstances. Some issues appear so big they just consume our entire field of vision. We look forward, and there it is. We look behind us, and there it is. We look to our sides, and there it is.

“…stop beholding that thing, and instead, behold the Man!”

Look up, and it is another story. Instead of “beholding that thing”, we find ourselves completely enraptured by Jesus. He is, in all truth, so much larger than anything else in our lives. Nothing that we face, feel, or seemingly have to “figure out” can really compete for our attention if we just lift our eyes.

This year, Brooke McNutt, a first year intern here at Awaken truly modeled walking out this truth. As Brooke sought the Lord about her involvement in the Awaken internship, it was very tempting to focus on the natural. Her father was battling cancer, and the internship would mean living two states away from her parents who were living in Texas at that time. Brooke’s parents felt it was so important that she be part of Awaken that they moved back to Arizona from Texas so that Brooke could walk in God’s call on her life and they could be nearby.

Just as they got settled into their new home and everything seemed settled in Brooke’s heart, her father took a turn for the worse. The internship start date was fast approaching, and Brooke had a choice. Should she go forward with what she knew God called her to do, or change her plans to reflect her changing circumstances? Brooke’s father released her again to pursue God’s call and insisted that she do the internship as planned.

On the morning of her first day as an Awaken intern, Brooke’s father passed away and went to be with his Lord. Even that day, Brooke would not behold her circumstances. Looking to God and walking in His guidance and strength, she walked into the sanctuary of Grace North Foursquare church, and took her place in God’s plan for her life.

When asked why she chose to start that day, Brooke had this to say, “I knew that it was what my dad wanted. God knew what would happen in this situation before it happened, and He still told me to do the internship.” Brooke’s example of beholding Jesus before natural circumstances has inspired her co-interns, her leaders, and those to whom she’s been called to minister.

In refusing to allow her vision to be held captive by her circumstances, Brooke has embraced and exemplified the words of David in Psalm 121: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills–From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore” Psalm 121 (NKJV).

For more information about Awaken, the ELN school of ministry in Phoenix, Arizona, click here.

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