Just settle down—don’t get crazy…
You’re putting too much into this…
You can’t possibly expect God to do that…
The more we know God’s heart, the more we will not be able to bow down to the pressures of men or our enemy. The push from all around may be for conformity and status quo, but it’s not His desire for us. Humanity does seem to reward those who rock the boat, but sometimes it’s many years later or even after they’re gone.
You need to be unreasonable. This is one of those things God has given me for 2012. We need to be unreasonable because it is God’s perfect word that will stand and be proved true. We’re not talking about vain imaginations, but clear promises that He has given you. You aren’t being reasonable to compromise and accept less than His best.
The temptation to “take what you can get” can be a strong one, but grace can resist it—even in the midst of extreme difficulties.
Imagine your friend calls and tells you they want to bring a bushel of fresh peaches and you just so happen to love peaches. You can’t stop thinking about how good those peaches are going to be. You get out all your recipes for anything to do with peaches and your mouth is watering.
Several hours later you hear a knock on the door. “That must be my peaches!” you think as you excitedly hurry to the door.
You open the door to find someone you don’t recognize. He tells you your friend sent him and that he was out of peaches. Instead, he presents you with a fresh bucket of steaming manure.
“What?!” you say, “I was supposed to get fresh peaches! Why would you bring me manure?”
The stranger balks, “What do you mean? This is fresh too. Don’t be unreasonable. Take it and be happy.”
Obviously this is an extreme analogy, but when you’re comparing the fulfillment of God’s word to anything less, you may as well be exchanging delicious peaches for nasty manure.
The Devil tempted Jesus with three different scenarios in Matthew 4. For the most part, they seemed fairly reasonable and at the very least would have been an easier road. Satan even used scripture to try to persuade Jesus. He wouldn’t fall for it though. It couldn’t compare though to walking out fulfillment in God’s perfection. He understood what was at stake.
It wasn’t His own life He was concerned with. It was fulfilling the purposes of God and redeeming a people, restoring relationship with an orphan planet.
His example assures us that when we refuse to back down on God’s word, it’s not unreasonable. It’s not just about us and what we think is “good enough.”
Interesting to note too that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. The Devil may do the tempting, but God has the grace for you to make the right decision and stand firm.
To be clear, we aren’t married and unreasonable with methods—that’s turning stubborn into stupid. But hanging onto every word that proceeds from His mouth will satisfy like nothing else.
What do you think? Are you ready to be unreasonable? What about? I’ll be unreasonable and pray with you.
This post is included as part of the One Word blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock where this time the topic is Fresh. Head on over to read all the posts there.
24 Comments
“We have not because we ask not” so says the Word. Maybe it is time to be unreasonable in our requests, not selfishly but trustingly. Good word jason.
bill (cycleguy) recently posted..Stand
This is truth! It’s not selfish motivation, but for the advancement of His Kingdom and the glory of His name. Thanks Bill.
Peaches? I don’t recal if I have ever seen you eat a peach. I saw the picture of peaches on Facebook and thought to myself “it couldn’t be.”.
Good post, baby!
Hey, I eat peach cobbler and other peach dishes. Just because I don’t eat them by themselves.
And thanks baby. Glad you got suckered into reading my post. Ha!
Am I unreasonable? I have been praying for God to help me lose enough weight to be healthy. If you KNEW how much I weigh (and you won’t because it is a secret. National Security will be threatened if anyone finds out…), you’d know that I’m being unreasonable!
Seriously, my doctor thinks I need either meds. or surgery, or both. I say no to either. I’ve tried the meds., and they make me jumpy, while the surgery is irreversible. I’m just going to be unreasonable and pray that God helps me do this. Hey, he already moved a gym to a shopping center walking distance from my house, and had a friend send me to a website where I can log my food! 
Helen recently posted..Semantically Fresh
Helen, I’m praying with you. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think according to the power at work within us. Blessings on all your efforts. Grace to you in this process. Sounds like God is helping you out in some awesome ways already!
Yes it’s time the Body of Christ becomes unreasonable ! There’s no time to be reasonable with what’s going on in the world. This reminds me of the The Three Hebrew Boys & Daniel. They had all the reason to bow because there lives were being threaten but they were unreasonable and made the king madder to where the kings own men died when they went to turn the temp up in the furnace. They knew there faith because of Daniel and after all was set in done they advanced in the kingdom. As for Daniel he was a slave brought to Babylon and in the natural realm he could of been unreasonable because of his position, but he didn’t he was faithful and advanced till the king’s own men wanted to hurt him.Again another decree was sent out and no one could pray but that didn’t stop Daniel he prayed and was thrown in the den. He had reason to be afraid but the Angels of God were with him and the next day those men that wanted to hurt him were thrown into the den. There’s no reason to be afraid during these times but we the church need to be unreasonable stubborn in our faith. There are 7 billion people in the world that have not heard the good news of Jesus, and if we become reasonable to the natural realm then we the church have failed
andrew singh recently posted..Christmas-Winterland Photo Extravaganza
I’m with you, Andrew! My cry is, “no compromise!” There is too much to do and it’ll take the fire and passion of the Christ and His Holy Spirit to see it accomplished. I truly believe this will be one of the most productive years of our lives as we yield to Him. Thanks for sharing--great word!
I hear you. We have to say “no” to good stuff in order to be ready for God’s best. Waiting looks unreasonable for many. But God’s plan is worth of waiting. May God just give us patience while waiting for His timing!
That is such a hard thing to understand sometimes. Good really is the enemy of best though. So right on, Mari-Anna. Thanks so much.
This walk of faith is anything but reasonable. The dreams in my heart, the things I feel God wants me to do are sheer crazy. I’ve actually heard that from people. But it’s ok -- I’m fine with being unreasonable if it brings His glory into people’s lives.
Jason Vana recently posted..Deeper: Don’t Settle
I have so many things that I’ve been told were impossible. Some I’ve already seen, others are happening now, and it gives me such an anticipation for the future. God is making sure this all comes out to His glory. Believing with you, Jason. Be strong and courageous!
in spanish, we say…Vete Grande Julio! lol…
it means Go Big Joe!!!!
or something like that…
We should always expect the unreasonable from God.
Impossible is his speciality!
arny recently posted..Lessons From The Godfather #1: A New Plan
Absolutely! Thanks Arny.
I love the wording, it works for me, I like to be unreasonable! I’m living now beyond reason. God is continuing to see us through difficult times and I appreciate any prayer from you my brother. I’m praying for your life that looks unreasonable to a lost stranger as well. Excellent words.
floyd recently posted..THE BUSINESS OF MIRACLES
I’m praying for you Floyd. May the peace that passes understanding guard you heart and mind in Christ Jesus. May the breakthrough He has planned for you come suddenly and destroy every work of the evil one. I pray the blessings and favor of the Mighty One surround you and your family in Jesus’ name.
Thanks Floyd.
Is it unreasonable to not take NO for an answer?
I think when people tell us it can’t happen. we need to be unreasonable and expect miracles, change, jobs, health, loosing weight, or what ever is needed.
Time to get a FRESH view of our BIG God!
Hazel Moon recently posted..Fresh Wind
Yes! The view of Him that causes worship to erupt is the moment of our breakthrough. Thank you Hazel!
I ain’t gonna lie. Even though I’m looking at it from a positve point of view, there’s some things going on inside that I am crying out to God to deliver me from…such as not having the money to join the Hairclub for Nen (ok, ok, I jest with the hairclub). But in all seriousness I actually wouldnt want to live without any “unreasonable” areas in my life. I think that God’s plan for me, whatever it may actually be, is alright. After all, if we had all our “reasonable requests” fulfiilled there would never be the anticipation of “something greater” in our lives.
Ed recently posted..Are You Listening?
My apologies for the misspells…. this keyboard is dying on me….
Ed recently posted..Are You Listening?
No worries.
Hey, God says He’s restoring EVERYTHING so why not hair?
And I love your thoughts here, Ed. Thank you.
Personally, I think we’re in a very tough culture to stand strongly and consistently based on the Truth of the Word and the requirements that are laid out. At my age, when I am “anti” something, people can just roll their eyes at the “old lady.” However, my concern in the younger groups… 40-ish and under … who are going to be facing so much [manure] as time goes on. UNLESS those lovely peaches arrive in their best possible fruitfulness, brought through His hands. Can’t imagine anything better.
Joanne Norton recently posted..TRAGIC WEEK… AND BLESSED
Excellent. Thank you, Joanne.