Posted on June 20, 2011.

My eyes have been opened! This year, I feel like God has opened my eyes to clearly see the amazing Story He has for me. Last night we continued with our video series from John Eldredge‘s ‘Epic‘. Through this series, as well as blogs and books by Donald Miller and Jon Acuff, and a dozen core Scriptures on enduring trial and embracing conflict, I feel more clarity as a Believer in Christ than I ever have.

Throughout this journey, my trust in God’s sovereignty has become easier to grasp. It’s not that I haven’t experienced conflict and trial. The difference is that this concept of God’s great Story has driven me to pray in ways that I don’t normally experience.

Now, don’t get me wrong.

Within this awakening, I feel like I’m struggling more than ever. Twice that I can think of in the past couple of months, I have been brought to tears while praying with my wife. We’ve been begging God for clarity, discernment and wisdom. This is not our typical prayer life.

However, this kind of dependency on God’s plan for our lives has been good for us. For me in particular, I’m being led to embrace each day as a unique scene of God’s Epic. Then this morning, I read a passage from the Gospel of Mark that reminded me once again that this Christian thing is a long, tough road to walk down. Neverthless, the Story is so worth the walk!

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”” (Mark 8:34-38)

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• What passage reminds you of God’s Story for your life?