THE SWEET SPOT | from page 12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I’m committed to moving forward with God in this better way. I don’t want to take one step apart from Him. I don’t want to move ahead; nor do I want to lag behind. I don’t want to control my life or fight against the plan of God. I want to lean into Him and go where He goes. As Galatians 5:25 says, I want to live by the Spirit and keep in step with Him—that’s where the sweet spot is. To do this, I must be fully present, deliberately and consciously choosing to be with Him at all times. I must desire and submit to His leadership. As I’ve made these things my priority, I’ve seen God do what only He can do. I used to think that taking time away from doing would cause me to lag behind in fulfilling the dreams God has placed on my heart. But as I’ve taken time to seek God’s face and to worship in His presence, God has been working behind the scenes. When I let go of the controls and trusted Him, He orchestrated connections, brought about resources and relationships, and provided opportunities galore for things like this magazine. Whatever I have needed in my personal life and ministry, He has provided. And He’s given me His strength to do what often seems impossible. How do you know whether you’re living in the sweet spot or in your own strength? Here’s an example. I’ve shared my faith on stages across the world since I was 15. I’m quite comfortable speaking to people, but I often sing at these events as well, and for years, every time I sang, I experienced great nervousness and fear. Stomach pain, weakened knees, dry mouth—all were normal. Finally, I asked God to show me why singing was so hard for me, when I could walk into a maximum-security prison and speak to inmates or stand on a church or corporate stage to speak before thousands without fear. The Holy Spirit had a simple answer to my question: “You speak in My strength. You sing in yours.” He was right. When I spoke, I relied completely on the Lord. I didn’t want anyone to hear my words. Instead, I wanted them to hear the very heart of God. Therefore, I invited God to take over, to speak through me, to anoint me with His power, and to encourage people with His lifegiving truths. And He did. But when I sang, I had never thought to ask God to sing through me, to empower and anoint my voice to bring hope and healing to others. On the contrary, I only thought about pleasing those who listened. I chose songs I thought people would like to hear and that fit my voice. Simply put, I sang for people, not God. Once I learned to sing in God’s strength, my music transformed. No longer is music just a performance—now it’s a powerful tool the Holy Spirit can use to penetrate hearts with His love and truth. And you know what else? My fear has disappeared. And now, like my ski experience in Austria, I get to enjoy the ride! I’ve found the sweet spot I was looking for. There is so much joy to be found in the sweet spot of surrender to Christ. God’s strength, peace, and power are so amazing. Are you experiencing them? Or are you exhausted, confused, afraid, and wondering how to get off the wild, overwhelming ride of life? Choose the better way. Let go of the controls. Tap into the never-ending power of the only Power Source that will never fail you. Trust Him to lead. He knows where He’s taking you, and He knows how to get there. His grace will be sufficient for your journey. Father, I want Your better way. Take the controls, lead the way, infuse me with Your strength, and anoint me with Your power. Use every part of my life—my past and present, my dreams, gifts, and desires—for Your glory. Lead me to the sweet spot in You. Amen. �� Finding Your Sweet Spot by Kristi Overton Johnson Trusting and following God’s leading allows us to live in the sweet spot; but doing so also requires us to realign our lives and renew our minds. We must let go of anything that throws us off balance—people, habits, activities, and thought patterns. We must be mindful and live purposefully. Consider the following: What past experiences, good or bad, have given you a vantage point that others don’t have? What do you enjoy doing? What do you do well? Where are you living or working in this season of life? God wants to use all these things! When you combine your love for God and His people with your passions, past, and talents, you will find your sweet spot— that place of power, peace, excitement, and adventure. And when you’re in the sweet spot, nothing can knock you off balance. �� photography by Spencer Shultz kojministries.org Issue 3 2017 21
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