Even as my Pastor was encouraging us to move forward in obedience today, I thought about some areas where I had been dragging my feet. I knew what I needed to do but I kept putting it off as if things would change and God would change His mind. Really at the base of my reluctance to obey was fear. I was afraid of what I might lose or what certain people would think if I followed through.
It’s not like I don’t recognize the season that I am in. This is the season where God peels away the things that cannot come with me to the next season. If I don’t give up these things it will delay my entrance into the next thing He has for me. Every other time I trusted God and did what He said, the results were miraculous. So why is it still so difficult to trust at times?
From what I have observed, we as humans usually start from a foundation of lack. This is a behavior that many of us must unlearn. When things change we wonder if there will be enough resources or if we will be good enough to adapt. When God requires a sacrifice, we worry there won’t be enough left over us. Somehow we trust our own logic rather than the Kingdom principles that have been in effect from before the beginning of time.
What I have also observed is that there is no plan I could work that will produce better results than the plan that God has for me. In other words, when I do things His way, I find myself living the life that I truly want. When my obedience to His way is delayed, I find myself frustrated, aggravated, discouraged and ashamed.
I make this decision often, but I made it again today: I will move forward to the next level. The comfort zone is not good enough for me. I am living my life to make a difference – for me, my family and anyone else who wants it. This kind of life requires total trust in the Lord and submission to His Will. Are you in?
Deuteronomy 9:22-24 (New International Version)
22 You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Massah and at Kibroth Hattaavah.
23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, “Go up and take possession of the land I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him. 24 You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 (New King James Version)
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
God has a plan for your life and that plan never changes. What changes is you! You can ignore the plan, run from the plan, trip yourself up, get lost somewhere in the wilderness, blame God and everyone around you, but He still has the blueprint in His Hand. The longer you run, the longer you delay entering the blessedness of His Will.
The Lord has given you the ability to choose. Are you happy with what you have chosen? Do you see His peace, joy and love unfolding in Your life? Or are you experiencing the same things day in and day out? Do you find yourself continually caught up in drama and conflict with other people? Do you wish for the spotlight and the praise of others?
When your actions are based on a desire to please man rather than God, you are not in line with God’s will. You cannot receive God’s best for your life if you are trying to impress people! Is this hard to understand? Who gave you your life? Who has the power to transform your life?
God is the only One who can transform your life. However, this will not happen unless you really want it. If you want to change, you have to be willing to put people-pleasing in the past. As long as you are trying to impress someone, you are only performing. You have no real relationships because you are not real. Most of the people you are trying to please do not love you, possibly because they have never met the real you.
The God who loves you has a plan for your life that you may not even be able to imagine right now. He has the best things in store specifically for you. He is waiting for you to accept His Will. It does not matter how much time you think you have wasted or how much you may have messed up. God didn’t rip up the agenda. He knows how to redeem the time and get you up to speed. Just surrender to Him today.
Lord I thank you and I pray for my brother and sister reading this right now who genuinely want Your best for their life. I pray that You would remove the distractions and the voices that discourage them from being all that they can be. Help them to see themselves through Your eyes, Lord. Allow them to feel the warmth of Your love and know that You will be with them every step of the way. I pray that they would surrender to You and allow You to transform their lives. Remove the weights Lord, remove the shackles that hold them back . Free them to be complete in You today Father. In Jesus’ Name! Amen.
Hebrews 12:1-3 New Living Translation
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
