Sue A. Allen
Christian Author
Why Are You Not Living Up To Your Potential?
This world needs you.
More than ever, this generation needs men and women to step up to that which they have been called.
“…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…” (2 Timothy 1:9)
Currently, I find myself steeped deep into the book of 2 Timothy. It is Paul’s “handing of the baton”, so to speak, to the young disciple Timothy. You can see the words of endearment leap off the page as the ruddy, tough, and mighty apostle Paul makes reference to the young lad as “my beloved child.” Certainly, there is a sweet disposition of endearment coming from the experienced mentor.
I feel like in this first chapter we see a softer side of Paul. A fatherly figure who sincerely yearns to see his son “step up” to become that which he was made for. You can hear the tone as you turn the page. The restless nights. The faithful prayers.
I believe in you. I know you can.
Paul recants the precious memories in his mind…a sincere faith that he sees was instilled in Timothy as a young man. And then we see a nudge…a push…a challenge if you will,
“Fan into flame the gift of God…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but or power and love and self-control” (v. 7).
It’s here where the words of this text come leaping off the page. God is speaking to me and YOU…let’s fan the flame of the voice of God in our own lives. Let’s incline our ears to hear what He is speaking to us today. Let’s become people who unashamedly pursue after God with a heart of zeal.
Now is the time.
Of course, this world needs us to step up into our call. Our creative passion. Our inner drive. Our obedient hearts. Our compassionate souls. God of the universe created you with great purpose and intention.
And yet, inwardly we shriek back and settle for second best. It is sometimes easier to cower in fear and listen to the lie. You’re not good enough. Your past is too messy. You’re too young…or possibly too old. You’re not experienced. There’s someone more talented or qualified than you. You most certainly will fail.
However, what if we stop listening to the lie and instead intently listen to the voice of God, who has orchestrated a greater plan. Certainly, God is able to do anything! And if He can do anything, He can use you to do anything too!
“Authenticity. It is all about peeling back all the layers to discover what you were created for. It’s about letting yourself be truly loved and fully known.” –Joanna Gaines
Discovering what you made for is part of the precious journey with God. It may not be readily apparent. It may take years to unfold. But tune in and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He has made you for something more.
What have you been made for? What is holding you back from becoming?
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Advent Day 25: Merry Christmas!
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Advent Day 24: Who can fulfill your every longing?
I have enjoyed digging into God’s Word with you during the month of December! My prayer is that you discover Jesus is the reason for this season. Not only today…but every day. He gives us purpose and meaning in life. Because of his birth, we have great joy! And I desire nothing more than for you to experience Him, anew and afresh today.
Despite our circumstances, we can have Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace. Because Jesus is eternal, His nature lasts infinitely. In other words, we can experience love, joy, hope, and peace for eternity. His gifts are different than anything this world has to offer. The gifts that the world gives are temporary and fleeting; whereas God’s gifts will never pass away.
LOVE
His love gives without expecting anything in return. It is unconditional, selfless, sacrificial, and beneficial. No one can love us perfectly like Jesus can. His love is looking out for our best interest. He loved us first, so that in return, we can love too. His love causes us to give, without limits or demands.
JOY
We can rejoice and be glad because of our salvation. It can never be taken from us. In this world, we will have many struggles, but in the midst of them, we can experience true joy. This joy is not from this world. It comes from having a personal, intimate, one-of-a-kind love for Jesus. It is something that only He can give.
HOPE
Jesus is our hope and He will not disappoint. The promises in the Bible will come true. We have seen many of the promises already fulfilled, and we can be certain that the remainder will come true. This world is fleeting, but God is eternal. He gives us purpose and meaning to life.
PEACE
With temporal eyes, we look at the things around us to find comfort and find out that the peace of this world does not satisfy. We wind up feeling anxious, afraid, and inwardly longing for more. But with Jesus, we look to things above. He fills our every longing. We can find peace through Jesus in the midst of our struggles. He is here today!
My prayer is that you experience Jesus today to discover He is what you are looking for! He is the greatest gift of all time (Jn. 3:16).
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Advent Day 23: Who is Jesus?
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
This birth announcement arrives over 700 years in advance, announcing the good news of Jesus Christ. It tells us who He is…
Wonderful Counselor
These words describe the character of Jesus. The word “wonderful” means “incomprehensible.” In other words, He will cause us to be “in constant wonder and awe.” We see this throughout His life…born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18), supernatural ability to heal, impactful teachings, a sinless life (Rom. 8:3-4), and the power to be raised from the dead (Mark 16). He counseled us to live counter-intuitively to the wisdom of this world…rejoice in suffering and persecution (Rom. 5:3-5), receive a blessing for being poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3), serve rather than be served (Matt. 20:28), and much, much more.
As our counselor, He knows us better than we know ourselves (John 2:25). His ways are always perfect (Ps. 18:30). He attains all knowledge and wisdom, including the nature and character of mankind (Psalm 139:1-2). He understands what we are going through and is available to listen at all times (Psalm 121:2-4). Jesus always has our best interests at heart (Psalm 36:7).
Mighty God
God’s power is unlimited (Job 36:2-4); He can do whatever He wants whenever He wants (Ps. 115:3). He knows no bounds (Job 11:8-18). He is the creator of all things (Neh. 9:6), the King of heaven (Ps. 95:3), the God of all mankind (1 Cor. 11:3). He is the only God (Is. 45:5-12). He is eternal (Gen. 21:33) and everlasting (Hab. 1:12), the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 21:6). He has been and always will be. He is able to do greater things than we can ask or fathom (Eph. 3:20). No one can keep track of all His miracles (Job 9:10). He answers to no one because no one is as Mighty as He (Ps. 50:9-10).
Everlasting Father
The Messiah is the father of time, and His fatherhood will never end (Rev. 1:8). The baby Jesus would be crowned King, the protector and provider of the children of God. He is not limited by age or death. As a father, his love is unconditional (Eph. 2:4-5). As children of God, our identity is secure in Him (John 10:30,38). Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:35-39). He is the perfect father.
Prince of Peace
Jesus is our Peace. We live in a crazy, chaotic, broken world with messy people every day. This is the world we know now. It is our normal until we encounter Jesus. He gives us peace in the midst of the chaos; revealing we are deeply loved (Eph. 1:16-18), redeeming us from sin (Rom. 5:8, 10), and releasing us to live freely in Him (Phil. 4:6-7).
What name of Jesus speaks most to you today and why?
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Advent Day 22: Why Were the Shepherds the First to Know?
There are many days that I feel extremely ordinary, or better said, unnoticed. I do my best when it comes to keeping my house neat and tidy, folding laundry, and toting my kiddos around. On an average night, my meals consist of mac & cheese, tacos, or spaghetti (which doesn’t measure up to the Magnolia Table or Food & Wine). In my family, I’m renown for my epic Pinterest fails. I live in a quiet neighborhood in an upbeat town. Let’s just say–I’m your every day, next door kinda girl.
For that reason…I absolutely adore that the birth of Jesus was first announced to shepherds. Ya know…the guys who live outside with the smelly, dumb sheep day-in-and-day-out. They weren’t exactly extraordinary. Instead, they were everything “un” in my mind — “uneventful”, “uninfluential”, and “unimpressive”.
God uses ordinary people
God could have come first to the religious leaders. The Pharisees and the Sadducees. They were well known for their rule-keeping and impeccable lifestyles. Legalists. Goody-two-shoes. Nearly perfect. Oh, and of course, socialites. But they didn’t fit the description for the kind of person God was wanting to tell.
Of course, the royalty could have been at the top of the list. The leadership of the day. The kings and the queens and the royal guard. But nope, God had a different way.
Read Luke 2:1-21. I love that God chose the shepherds first! He chose the lowly and humble, overlooking power and pride. He knew the shepherds would stand in utter awe and amazement, and be fully cognizant of the honor bestowed on them.
In our day, it would be like receiving a personal invitation to meet Queen Elizabeth. However, this illustration falls dreadfully short. Jesus is the greatest person that ever lived on this earth–the King of Kings of all mankind. Diety who became man.
The Shepherds Make God’s Name Known
But God knew the shepherds would be overcome with excitement and go and tell what they saw. They didn’t waste any time.
Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. Luke 2:16-17
They made His name known. Their enthusiasm could not be contained…for they had a personal encounter with God in the flesh. Imagine it! And that’s why they went forth proclaiming the Good News. Great Joy. A Savior…who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
I pray you will have a personal encounter with Jesus this Christmas season! And if you do, who will be the first person you tell?
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ADVENT DAY 21: WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR
As the day is drawing to an end, my littlest guy (who is six) sits eyeing a Christmas card made by his reading buddy. It perfectly depicts the nativity scene with Jesus lying in a manger. This scene is to draw our hearts to worship, but unfortunately, my son started comparing this beautiful piece of artwork to his own. “I can’t draw like that. My drawings are not very good.” When we take our eyes off of Jesus and start focusing on ourselves, we see our imperfections.
The Danger of Comparison
Read Matthew 2:1-12. It is easy to get caught up in the trap of comparison. When we do, we never measure up. Our flaws. Our weaknesses. They look like they are being held under a spotlight. However, when we keep our gaze fixated on Jesus, we stand in awe of HIm and suddenly, we pale in comparison.
When they saw the star, the magi (wise men or magicians or astrologers) from the East look for the meaning of it. They are Gentiles, not from Israel. At the very onset of Jesus’ arrival, we see that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. He came for people of every tongue, tribe, and nation. And the star was used to lead the wise men to worship Jesus.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:3
The Correction in our Focus
Interestingly, God uses a star to guide the wise men to Bethlehem. What a great reminder to “look up” to find our path. Not to Oprah or Dr. Phil. Not to horoscopes or the nightly news. Not the crashing stock market or President Trump. We are to look up, to Jesus, as our guiding light.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5.
When we live this way, we believe what Jesus says about us and who He says we are. We don’t listen to the voice inside our head that feeds us with lies. Nor do we heed the chatterbox who beats us down. Instead, we live as a child of God, a King’s kid, a masterpiece. We believe. And we live that way.
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me. In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity. —Lauren Daigle
God’s design was to draw the magi to worship Jesus. This is His design for us as well (Isaiah 43:21). We are created to worship Jesus. We were made to worship. “God created the universe so that it would display the worth of his glory. And he created us so that we would see this glory and reflect it by knowing and loving it — with all our heart and soul and mind and strength (John Piper).”
Look for Jesus today. Rise above your circumstances. Look for the good happening around you.
Where have you misplaced your identity?
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ADVENT DAY 20: Why Did Mary Magnify the Lord?
Christmas day is quickly approaching, and I can feel the anticipation mounting. There is nervous energy everywhere you go. Parties galore and Hallmark movies, coupled with fudge and hot cocoa. The hype is building as we wait for the best day of the year!
Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew this feeling well. The tingling, excited, barely-can-wait-till-the-day kinda feeling. Read Luke 1:46-55.
“My soul magnifies the Lord” – I am overwhelmed by my wondrous Savior. He amplifies my soul and gives meaning to my life. Everything within me praises His name.
“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” – Because of my right standing before God, I have great joy! Regardless of the chaos in my world, my spirit rejoices in my salvation which cannot be taken from me.
“He who is mighty has done great things for me” – May I recount all the marvelous things God has done for me. May my heart be filled with gratitude. He is mighty and He does great things.
“He is holy” – God is without sin…perfect and blameless. He is greater than me and my struggles. His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts higher than my thoughts. He is perfect in every way. He astounds the wise and the haughty by exalting the humble and the poor.
“His mercy is for those who fear Him” – God has showered us with mercy, the forgiveness of sins when we deserved to die. He generously pours out His mercy to those who revere His name. God is not partial to the rich and famous, who seek worldly treasure as a substitute to God. He throws the world’s economy upside down: loves the least of these, bestows mercy on the lowly, and grants grace to those who seek Him with all their heart.
This prayer is often referred to as “The Magnificent” because we see Mary pouring out lavish praise to God, her Lord and Savior. Her heart overflows with praise. And I want to live that way too…my cup pouring over lavishly, splashing on everyone around me.
How Do We Get There?
- Read the Word of God to discover who He is and what He can do.
- Recount all the blessings you have in your life (because honestly, God doesn’t owe you anything…and I betcha have a lot more than you think you do. If nothing else, you still have breath in your lungs today, which means God still has purpose for you).
- Reflect joy to those around. Think about others before thinking of yourself. They need Jesus….and they have the opportunity to see Him working in you.
What robs your joy? What are some ways we can put other’s needs before our own?
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Advent Day 19: When You Feel Insignificant
Spending time with God is worth our time. Many days are full of hustle and bustle…and I want you to know that is okay. God knows your heart and your desire to be close to Him. And on those days you are struggling to be near to Him, remind yourself that you are already approved by Him. There is nothing you have to do to receive His blessing because Jesus secured your salvation on the cross. You can rest in His finished work.
He knows your every thought.
He sees your every struggle.
He captures your every failure.
And then He says, “You’re enough.”
The Widow and Her Son
Read 1 Kings 17:8-16. A widow lived with her son and was struggling to make ends meet. Things were dire, as the famine made food scarce. When she was ready to give up and throw in the towel, Elijah said to her, “Do not fear” (v. 13). Such a great reminder for us when our lives start to spiral out of control. Above all, Elijah pointed her back to truth.
We can stand firm on the Word of God. When God ordains the end, He will provide the means to get there. Because God loves drama, He is inviting us to sit down and enjoy the show. Every time there is a disadvantage, God shows up to win. Therefore, remind yourself of the stories of old like the Israelites held captive by the Pharoah. Esther’s people about to die. Daniel in the lion’s den. King David on the run for his life. Why even the precious baby Jesus was sent here for the cross.
But the stories don’t stop there. We turn the page. We keep reading. The victory has been won! This is why Elijah confidently proclaimed, “Do not fear.” Not at this moment…or the days to come.
Our unbelief is confronted. Will we believe?
It’s not about what we do, or how many friends we have, or where we live, or the color of our skin. Nor is it about our marital status, or age, or our bank account balance. Keeping up with the neighbors or finding the perfect gifts for Christmas does not dictate your worth. Because it is not about us, we can stop the striving. It is all about Jesus and what He did.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom. 14:17
Who has been a good example to you of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Thank them and tag them in the comments.
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Advent Day 18: How to Overcome Your Fears
David. A shepherd boy. A seemingly unexpected candidate. However, the Israelite war was taking it’s toll, as no one was willing to face the giant. The enemy army of the Philistines taunted day in and out, thinking they had the battle won. With a giant named Goliath on their side, they thought they were unconquerable. Read 1 Samuel 17.
David shows up on the scene to bring food to his older brothers. Shocked to discover their fear and dread. The giant in their life was all they could see. Like us, they looked at the tangible.
God uses giants to refocus our eyesight. To cause us to reorient our position. Today, I ask you…is God enough for your current dilemma? Or is the giant in your life seen indestructible?
Giants come in all shapes and sizes. A task at work. A financial burden. Maybe for you, it is a health problem, or a wandering loved one. A feeling of not measuring up…or being good enough. Oh, the giants we face…each and every one of us. Read Ephesians 6:10-16.
The strength that David found was not from himself…it was a courage that was planted by God. He picked up some stones from the riverbed and gave one a mighty whirl. It landed smack dab on Goliath’s forehead, killing him immediately upon impact. David claimed the victory that day, but don’t lose sight of the hero of the story. It was God Himself who empowered David.
Notice, David wasn’t confident in himself. Instead, he expressed his confidence in someone greater. He read the Word of God. Stood firm on its promises. And put his faith into action.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
We build our faith by spending time in the Word of God and allowing our souls to be saturated. Remember, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Let Him walk before you.
What current obstacle are you facing? Are you trying to battle it on your own, or will you face your giant armed with God’s armor? What does that look like?
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Advent Day 17: Why Should We Trust God?
I’ve been talking to you. I hear you. I hear your struggle to believe. You doubt there is a God. How could He possibly be real?
You hurt.
The divorce. The death. The abuse. The struggle. It is real. It feels. It breathes. Not a day goes by without the constant reminder of your pain. And so you sit…stuck. “If God is real, why would He?”
You brew.
And your bitterness grows.
But I ask you...Have you made God too small? Have you made Him pint-size compared to your hurt and pain, rather than allowing Him to conquer your deepest anguish?
You wrestle with wanting a god that you can control. A god who will do things your way. A “yes-god” who fits in the palm of your hand.
Nevertheless, pain is a part of the mystery of God. The reasons for pain belong to God. “The LORD our God has secrets known to no one…” (Deut. 29:29).
We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Fortunately, God does not allow us to suffer alone. Rather, He comes to meet us where we are (2 Cor. 1:3-4). There is nothing we face in this world that He himself has not experienced (see Isaiah 53:3-4). Even in the pain, God has a greater purpose.
Read the story of Ruth today, which reveals that God is at work in the worst of times. It’s a story about a foreign girl from the land of Moab who faithfully follows her widowed mother-in-law Naomi after tragically losing her own husband. Ruth commits that “Your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16) and is willing to risk the possibility of staying widowed and childless for a lifetime. She trusts and hopes in the sovereign goodness of God despite the dim outlook of her circumstances.
- We see the heart of widowed Naomi turn from bitterness to beauty in her old age.
- We watch God providently orchestrate the seemingly ordinary details of Ruth’s life: a widow with a servant’s heart, a worker in the field, a married woman once again…and at long last, a mother.
- We behold a kinsman redeemer who shows up at the perfect time.
- And stand in awe of the lineage of Jesus being formed…
All to show us that our stories connect us to someone far greater than ourselves. As a believer, your story is weaved into the story of God. Your ordinary may seem meaningless today, but in tomorrow’s light, it will be meaningful for all eternity.
What do you worry about most? What keeps you up at night? What needs to change to turn your worry into trust?
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