"What Ifs" for 2009 by Robert Ricciardelli

Every Year I share my evolving "What If" list. There are many what ifs in many situations in life. What ifs can be good, especially reflecting about the way things are and “what if” we changed them, or aligned ourselves toward them to the glory of God. We only know in part, so it is always good to check what we think we know often.

Please remember that these are only what ifs, purposed to shake up paradigms, while firming up Kingdom foundations. Many "What Ifs” are happening all around us, but what if they were not just the exception? What if they became realities? My prayers are to continually stimulate possibility thoughts towards ways that bring forth His Kingdom through our lives.

Here are my What Ifs as we move into 2009:

What if we prayed for our leaders rather than complain about who we have or didn’t have in office?

What if we realize that God is on the throne and will have His way regardless of who is in office and that we are called to pray His will and purposes for the nation?

What if we gave to Caesar (government) what is Caesar’s, and gave to God what is His, which is our very lives?

Jesus was consumed with His Father’s Kingdom being brought to the earth, what if we focused on that rather than our political processes and gave that burden to Him?

What if we were using what we do have, and quit wasting time worrying about what we don’t have?

What if we did not fear any longer, no fear of life or death, because we are in His hands?

What if we heard the words “Stop it, just stop it” and began to truly stop the negative thought patterns? Stop it, just Stop it, thinking that way, in Jesus name!

What if we could really understand and activate true repentance in every area of our lives, instead of just feeling sorry for our patterns of sin?

What if we could forgive every wrong ever committed against us in the past and swiftly in the days ahead?

What if we allowed His presence to eradicate bitterness from the depths of our souls?

What if we realized and applied His freedom from every deliberate and unintentional wounds of our childhood?

What if we were never a victim again, because the revelation of Christ and His grace sufficed daily for us?

What if we could forgive ourselves and move on past the shame simply because Jesus has forgiven us?

What if we accepted and believed with all of our heart, soul, and mind that Jesus loves us, accepts us, and is for us every moment of every day? And just the way we are!

What if we accepted the fact that HE ACCEPTS US AS WE ARE to the point that it overwhelms the fact that we do not accept ourselves?

What if we could live the way of the cross, persecution, and dying to self, because it is the narrow way He asked us to follow?

What if we died to self more so that Christ lived through us more, and every single need met as our joy was made complete in Him?

What if we could just rest in who we are in Christ, rather than running around doing activities He never called us to do? Being rather than doing!

What if we really believed God loved us and it had nothing to do with our past, or our future performances? Resting in Him!

What if pastors and leadership teams around the world would train and release every member of their church into the ministry that the Lord has called them to, and especially beyond the four walls of organized church?

What if we actually picked up our mats and walked in obedience when we were delivered, rather than come back for prayer and healing for the same things week after week?

What if leaders would seek to always serve beyond ever having to be being served?

What if leaders would seek to train and lead others in the vision God has for them as individual ministers and trust the Holy Spirit to move on them to support the community or corporate vision.

What if leaders did not respond to fear of rejection and failure but trust the Lord for any perceived numbers they expect to see. Or, not look at numbers at all!

What if city wide transformation begins to take place because each individual realized their purpose and calling and was released to fulfill it beyond the four walls?

What if every church pastor sought relationship with the other pastors of the community to fulfill a city wide vision beyond their own ministries? That they realized their vision for the city could not be realized without partnering with others.

What if we realized the Lord owned everything we have and asked us to steward everything, and that we would ask Him how much to give and to where, always willing to give 100% if He were to ask that of us?

What if all the children of God understood and operated in the full authority that Jesus Christ sacrificed for us to have?

What if Kingdomized people began to bring the Kingdom authority to all the gates of the city. That Kingdom people would lead the way in government, business, healthcare, media, law, and educational jurisdictions of our cities?

What if every believer never settled for how they view themselves while seeking the Father to know the full potential of what He sees in them?

What if we would accept others and the blessing they are, rather than be offended by them in their differences?

What if we chose to see the good in people, pray for the rest, and love them regardless if they changed as we think they should?

What if more souls for the kingdom and the releasing of every saint into ministry far outweighed any focus on mammon or control?

What if we all were willing to serve in every phase of our lives rather than being served?

What would happen if every believer realized the lifetime process we are in and could walk without judgment, beside those not as far along in the process?

What if what we thought was reality was revealed as not, so as to get us to living a life that is filled with reality and purpose for the kingdom?

What if we choose to not be offended when offenses came, or at least choose to let go of all offenses immediately?

What if we chose to forgive in every situation and not only because the Father said He would not forgive us unless we did, but because it was in our hearts to love in that way?

What if we really were blinded to culture, creed and credentials as the family of God?

And what if we were excited about the uniqueness of each difference, and the value of each expression of God's people?

What if spiritual Fathers would be motivated with a heart of giving to their spiritual sons that far outweighed any thoughts of what they would receive in return?

What if we had abundantly more Shepherds, (pastors), willing to run after the few of the flock that have been hurt, isolated and in need of life giving expressions of our Saviors love?

What would happen if God's people really prayed and communicated intimately with the Father on a daily basis?

What if we had every Christian home open and available for the faith community every week? And how about daily?

What if every believer was more concerned about being Father's change agents for people, families and communities, rather than holding on, and waiting for Jesus to mystically remove them from the very earth He desires them to change.

What if the perceived rapture were a long ways off, or to not to come at all, would we still be about our Father's business in establishing His kingdom upon the earth?

What if we really did not fear dying for Him and in fact chose to die to self daily in order to truly live in and through Him?

What if we lived and moved and had our being in the Holy Spirit 24 hours a day and 7 days a week?

What if every word or deed was received with the Father's heart and mind and every response that came forth from us in word and deed was likewise from the heart of the Father?

What if we would rather have a towel (servant), than a title in leadership?

What if we realized that we must seek to trash every idol in our life to really be free to serve in the army of our Lord?

What if we realized that the greatest idol that you and I have is "self", then began to become selfless in our pursuit of Christ and His Kingdom?

What if every believer realized that their obedience to all that they do each day was ministry unto Him and His kingdom?

What if every housewife and mother understood that she was in full time ministry in her role?

What if the people of God saw the ministry the Lord is doing through His daughters, while becoming free from limited mindsets regarding the Father’s potential and ministry in women.

What if we saw that the Kingdom of God as beyond race, gender, or age, but diversity of expression in His glorious Kingdom.

What if every businessman or blue collar worker realized that in Christ, they were full time ministers in their calling?

What if every business owner understood that people are their greatest resource and began to pastor their businesses?

What if every business owner looked at their employees, vendors, and customers, as part of their household or sphere of godly influence?

What if every Christian business owner looked as their lives and businesses as an impact for the community?

What if there was no difference in the perceived spirituality of a organized church pastor and one who pastors their home, business, and community.

What if we actually believe God speaks in relevance for today beyond the written word in alignment of the written word?

What if we actually could actually hear a relevant word for today that was in line with the heart and written word of God?

What if there was greater prophetic accountability?

What if there were more prophetic people apologizing when they spoke amiss, as often as they publicly acknowledged when they got one right?

What if we worshipped the foundation of all order, (Christ), beyond the order or perceived order of things?

What if the living Word, (Christ Himself) replaced any dead theoretical, theological, Christological religion?

What if we had fellowship or connections with others during the week instead of relying on one Sunday Service, which was never designed to meet our ”one anothering” needs.
What if the earth really was filled with the glory of the Lord and He is just waiting for us to get involved?

What if true wealth is measured in what you give away?

What if the family became the primary context of the Church?

What if we loved as He loved?

What if we spoke as He spoke?

What if we did what He did?

What if we really believed we could lay hands on the sick and watch them recover?

What if my opinions were okay, because they were my opinions and people would love me even if my opinions were different from theirs?

What if we all could appreciate the different cultures and expressions in God’s Kingdom, regardless if we understood them, or fancied them.

What if people understood the commanded to love, and would love by choice rather than out of having to feel "the love"?

What if even a few of these "what ifs" became realities in people's lives, enabling them go out and make a bigger kingdom difference?

What if …………………………………. You fill in the blank, as with God, All things are possible. The What if’s stated can be realities because of the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.… May the "now" questions become future solutions to the glory of our God.

Allow Him to Refine, Define, and Align in 2009