I feel that the Lord has been challenging me lately to grow. To put my faith and His power to the test. To trust Him with things that I normally would try to bully thru or ignore completely. Its all well and good to say that we believe and we love God, but what if we never live like that? What if we go thru this life content with shallow admiration of His power but a sense (however tiny or false) of self sufficiency that ultimately cheats us (and those around us) out of what His power can really do in this world? Im here. This is where I am. I hope I dont lose it or abuse it or defy Him.
I have been asked twice now to do what He asks. I dont know the whole plan, but I trust that He will reveal it to me as needed and provide me with all the resources to accomplish the task, if I take that first step and just do it. Like Peter stepping out on the water to meet Christ. That first step is obedience.
What if our heroes from the bible never took that first step? What if they didnt believe what He asked of them or ignored it because they were afraid? It usually reaped heavy repercussions for them and everyone involved, all because they didnt try. Is that all He really asks? I dont know yet. But I know its the first step.
A few looks at people who took that first step:
Moses - coming before the pharoah took nerve he didnt have on his own. Would he have done it with out being asked? Definitely not!
David - A youth coming against a giant? Maybe in his dreams, but never without God telling him to do it and the simple belief that if he believed, anything was possible.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - A very colorful example of what is possible when we believe and obey what God asks of us.
Amazing things are possible when we are obedient!
A quote from my lesson plan this week:" These three (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) had confidence in their powerful God. They knew that their obedience presented God with the opportunity to work mighty things on their behalf, no matter how frightening the situation! When a frightening situation confronts us, there is only one thing to do: Obey the Lord. Then we can be confident He will work mighty things for us as well, even while we confront any trial life may present."
I have to take that last sentence seriously. Any trial life may present can be frightening, even if it is something as simple as God asking us to start looking at someone how He sees them. To stop believing what we see and what Satan tells us about them, and to allow God to mend our hearts and be open to the the mighty works His power can achieve when we obey. My first step here is to believe what He tells me. To allow Him to change my eyes and heart and mind. I think I can be obedient here.
Thank God that we can take this advice literally : "When a frightening situation confronts us, there is only one thing to do: Obey the Lord".
Pray for me as I practice doing what God asks in all situations. I have a direct line to the Master thru prayer, and He's given me an instruction manual!
