ALL IN: What Living ALL IN for Jesus Means and Why the Time is Now to be ALL IN.  

If there is one thing, I have learned over the last five years, it is that life is short. James, a disciple of Jesus, said, “You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” (James 4:14, HCSB) 

What a thought! How often have we have planned, and quipped and chided about the future? How often have we believed that all our tomorrows are within our hands to control? In fact, maybe some of us have believed that it is up to us, or it’s all on us, to make things happen.  

Then we encounter life.  

Life throws us a curve ball. Or maybe a pitching machine full of curve balls that knock us off balance and we lose our grip, our focus and our footing.  

Life isn’t a game. It isn’t a batting cage session. We only have one life to live on this earth. And these curveballs provide the opportunity to approach life with an adjusted perspective or swing.  

No matter what, we can’t escape the brevity of years predetermined for us. Whether we live ninety years or thirty-five years, life here on this earth zips by like a fast ball with a lot of heat on it. We appear for a while and then vanish. This is a startling picture of life as a vanishing vapor. I pray it spurs an urgency within your spirit.  

For most people, a tragedy must occur in their lives before they come to this realization and begin to live with an adjusted swing. Whether you have or haven’t been through hard times that have presented the curveball to shift your perspective, today, right now in this moment you can begin to live ALL IN. 

James admonishes us to get our mindset right with a clear focus. His directness helps us to loosen our grip. He encourages us to have firm footing. James teaches us to adjust our swing when the curveballs come. His message alerts us to the necessity of living ALL IN.  

Living ALL IN means that we have clear focus – we focus on the ONE thing that matters in life. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV)  

Living ALL IN means that we loosen our grip – we open our hands to God provisions. “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21, CSB) 

Living ALL IN means that we find firm footing – we stand upon the word of God and trust His leading. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10, NLT) 

Living ALL IN means that we adjust our swing – we respond with joy to the good and trials. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4, NIV) 

Why is now the time to live life ALL IN? Your life is a vapor. If you still have breath in your lungs, that means God’s not done writing your story. And there is more that He wants to do in you and through you. But you must let Him. You must make the choice. And not making the choice to live life ALL IN, well ironically, that is a choice.  

Over the last several months, God’s been stirring in my heart. March of 2020, God stirred in my heart to share Hope with people. I almost laughed out loud when I felt His gentle nudge. Why? Because I did not believe I had hope within me to pour out to you. But then God gently nudged me again and reminded me, “it’s not about you! It’s about my Spirit working in you.” Cup of Hope, a short Facebook live stream teaching, was birthed out of that nudging.  

As 2024 approached much in my life was shifting. I began to experience a similar and familiar nudge.  A stirring to share God’s word, to teach, to write and speak began bubbling up like a wellspring.  But this time God stirred in my heart to teach His word in a way that will revive calloused hearts, renew troubled minds and refresh weary spirits. 

The only possible way to be revived in heart, renewed in mind and refreshed in spirit is to learn how to live an ALL-IN life for Christ.  Because with Christ we receive freedom, and the power of the Holy Spirit. And it is the Holy Spirit at work in us that helps us to gain a clear focus, a loose grip, firm footing and adjust our swing. 

But here’s the thing… 

“I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion. How I wish you were either one or the other!” (Revelation 3:15, TPT)  

Most church goers today are smack-dab in the middle. Not burning with a passionate flame for Jesus. And not apathetic toward Him. Just complacent and comfortable in the middle. But it is this lackadaisical ho-hum status that will get us spit out of the mouth of our Father.  

The lukewarmness of our faith is not ushering in the Kingdom, it’s not shining a light in the darkness, it’s not living a testimony of hope and redemption. It’s like sitting in stagnant waters. Perhaps it’s time to get our prune-y hands out of those stagnant waters and start making some ripples with our lives.  

Perhaps God’s been stirring in your heart too. Maybe He’s been knocking on the door of your heart, hoping that you would come, and open the door to Him, that you would respond to His call.  

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)  

Is this you? Are you the one raising your hand, feeling excita-terrified and saying, “YES LORD! SEND ME!” “Pick me, Lord! I am ready!” If you are ready, I invite you to join me, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:30am for something NEW that will move you from ho-hum hum-drum to ALL IN! 

ALL IN with Stephanie is a new podcast where we will learn together how to live out ALL IN for Christ! 

 Click here to see the introduction video for ALL IN with Stephanie!