The Father Journey

Who is my Father?

That’s the question I came here, Lifestyle Christianity University, to learn the answer too; even if I may not have realized it three months ago when I moved to Texas.

I got back from the World Race in early December, said hi to my family and friends, and promptly moved from several hours south of Canada to several hours north Mexico three weeks later, all because I believed God had confirmed that I was supposed to start school in January. That faith has led me on quite the ride.

I’ve been a Christian my whole life, but only truly walking like one since the beginning of 2017. I’d hit my breaking point the previous fall semester and that led me to rededicating my life to the Lord. Some have an instant, dark to light experience, but that wasn’t and hasn’t ever been my journey. It’s been more, shall we say, methodical, as God tore down the masks and foundations I’d built over years of leading a double life, and then rebuilt those foundations from the dirt. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it and overall, these have been the best years of my life.

When I started this faith journey three years ago, I had all the head knowledge I’d ever need, having been raised in a Christian household (thank you Mom and Dad!), but I didn’t truly know with my heart God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. This isn’t saying I wasn’t saved. Instead, I’m saying I wasn’t living in the eternal life God means for us to live in the moment we place our faith in Him. So, beginning in 2017, God began to teach me about Himself.

He began with Jesus, showing me over the next year and a half who Jesus really is and how real He is to each and every one of us. He showed me what it means to truly be a disciple and follow Him, what it looks like to live with and in Him and what it looks like to live without. This was followed by teaching me who the Holy Spirit is beginning in late 2018 and lasting all throughout the past year when I got myself involved with something crazy, wild, and life-changing in the World Race.

God used the Race to teach me about His Spirit, His power, and how He works in each and every one of us. He showed me how the Spirit can unite groups, cultures, and families, through power, abundance, joy, peace, and life. Spending time with the Holy Spirit and seeking to grow in hearing Him became, and remains, one of the highlights of my life, and that’s actually how He brought LCU to my attention and confirmed He wanted me here to begin 2020.

As I moved to LCU last January, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than God was going to do something big. I knew how much I’d learned over the past three years and was excited to see what was next. Little did I know at the time that what God really wanted to do though, was introduce me fully to the third part of the Trinity: my Father.

Now, I obviously knew God the Father and who He is, but as I’ve realized, I didn’t fully grasp the person and fullness of Papa till these past months.

Through the incredible teaching here at LCU as well as reading (I highly recommend “The Abba Foundation” by Chiqui Wood) and spending a lot of time with God, I’ve come to know my Father and who He is and what He thinks more than I ever thought possible, and that has brought so much peace, joy, freedom, and healing to my life.

You see, each part of the Trinity serves a purpose. Jesus saved me and hears my prayers, the Holy Spirit teaches me and enables me to walk in boldness and power, and the Father loves me. This isn’t a strange or unfamiliar love though. My Papa’s love for me desires the best, gives the best, and doesn’t think about my past, present or future struggles and sin. You see, His love for me and you is so deep and good that nothing disqualifies me. Nothing in my life can alter my standing with Him. Regardless of whether I live a perfect life or if I’m the worst of sinners, because I am His child and I’ve put my faith in Jesus, I am righteous, holy, and my heart is pure and whole, regardless of what I feel or think. It’s just the way He is and there’s nothing I can do to alter that love.

These words I’m writing here can’t even begin to explain the freedom, authority, joy, life and peace I feel inside. The past months have truly taught me who God the Father, my Papa, is. No longer do I allow shame, fear or guilt in my life. I may feel those come on at times, but I know the truth now. My Father, God, is for me. He is with me. He will never leave me or give me anything bad. He doesn’t cause things like this present virus but instead redeems them. He only loves me with all His heart; He always has and always will.

So, who is my Father?

My Father is I AM, YHWH, God Almighty, Lover of my Soul, my Great Defender.

In this chaos around the globe, He has never changed and now, more than ever, desires us to trust in His redeeming power. This virus will end, revival and awakening will come out of it, and that’s why I can wake with incredible joy, peace and love each and every morning; because my Papa loves me and is working on my behalf.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (which is all of us).” Romans 8:28

Until next time, may the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God Bless!

Ben

Just a small-town Minnesota boy following Jesus in a big world. Make sure to subscribe and follow along with this crazy adventure! God Bless!

Becoming Jesus

What’s up guys!

Like the last post, sorry it’s been a minute; but I’ve been pretty busy lately.

The past month I’ve been learning and growing more than maybe any other time in my life. This school (Lifestyle Christianity University) is absolutely blowing my expectations out of the water. I’ve had the chance to learn not only from Todd White and the incredible staff here at LCU, but also from speakers such as Sean Smith, Eric Gilmour, David Wagner, and more! I’ve stretched myself in every aspect, from discipline, to evangelism, prayer, intimacy (with God), and in basically every other way. It’s hard to believe that I’ve already completed eight weeks here and only have five left, but I’m all the more expectant as to what God has for these last few.

Now, like I said, God is teaching and stretching me in every area of my life, but the spot He and I were really focused on the last month is learning to own myself.

I wouldn’t say I’ve ever been a “wishy-washy” person. I’ve always been the one to be almost hyper-critical of what people say and search out the truth on my own. That said, in the past I have noticed that I can be influenced easily when it comes to especially disciplines and Christian lifestyle. A recent example of this is comparing myself to Todd and/or our lead pastor, Chris.

These are maybe the two best evangelists I know. Both can be very intense when talking about evangelism, outreach, and discipleship; and personality-wise, I don’t have a ton in common with either of them. As Christians, we should be sharing our faith daily (or at least learning to) and the stories and boldness these men walk in is unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard.

So, I get to LCU in January and immediately am totally convicted of how I live and how little I’ve shared my faith in the past. However, being the perfectionist, goal-oriented person I am, I immediately hear these men speak and began to put a lot of excess pressure on myself. It got to the point where I couldn’t walk into Target without thinking of how I wasn’t sharing my faith and praying for at least five or ten people. This went on for a couple weeks before I began to realize that I was actually walking in condemnation, and that isn’t from God our Father.

Since then, I’ve really been focused on learning who the Father is and what He feels towards me. He isn’t disappointed and will never condemn me (He will convict us but that’s different). The Father’s heart on this issue isn’t how many people you pray for or share the gospel with. His heart is that you pursue and love Him and let that overflow lead you to telling others about His love; and within that, you don’t become like others. You instead become more like Him. You see, God isn’t asking me to be Todd or Chris, or anyone else for that matter. He’s asking me to be me and to change the world as only I can.

My roommate Tristin put it this way, quoting one of the pastors at LCU, “So many people want to be like Todd (White), but really, not even Todd wants to be like Todd. He wants to be like Jesus.”

So often we can get caught up in what others are doing and compare ourselves to them. But, in the meantime, God is back with our true selves saying, “come to Me! Look at how incredible I made you! I love you this way!”

That’s the topic that’s been on my heart lately, and I think it’s so prevalent today with social media and news always showing us others’ best sides, even if that other is someone as amazing and God-fearing as Todd or other Christian leaders.

There’s revival happening world-wide. But, for that to continue to happen, we need a generation of people who aren’t afraid to be themselves, who aren’t afraid to take off their masks, and who will run after Jesus whether that’s on the stage in a stadium or as a greeter at the local church. It can be easy to get caught up in all this, but at the end of the day there’s only one person we should be striving to become, and that’s Jesus.

But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him (Jesus): ⁶ Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. -1 John 2:5-6

God Bless!

-Ben

Also! I recently was accepted to lead a one to two-month mission trip this summer (location still to be determined) through Adventures in Missions (they run the World Race). I’ll be gone June and/or July leading college age students as we seek to spread Kingdom.

That said, I will be fundraising soon and would love support as I embark on this new journey.

I’ll also be going back to my old blog (www.benskaar.theworldrace.org) soon so make sure to subscribe and follow along, and even check out stories from last year on the field!

Just a small-town Minnesota boy following Jesus in a big world. Make sure to subscribe and follow along with this crazy adventure! God Bless!