Take the Lead

I was talking to God tonight about being tired. I am SO VERY TIRED. I am tired of fighting, tired of losing, tired of struggling, tired of purging, tired of overcoming, just...tired. I started to think about how this is a theme in my life. I often go to God with the complaint of being tired, and every time he comes right back at me with, "Let me fight for you." That sounds GREAT right? But WHAT does that mean? The fact that I keep coming back to God time and time again saying, "I'm tired" and he keeps responding (with a deep sigh and smirky grin at my silliness I imagine) "let me fight for you" that I am not letting him fight for me. Instead, I'm trying to take the battle for him and constantly getting in his way or stealing his armor and trying to use it myself

When I think about God "fighting for me" it seems like such an obscure thought. How does GOD fight for me? I'm not on a battlefield waving my giant sword in tears as I parade towards my nemesis clothed in black bearing steel armor. No, I'm living day to day with internal spiritual struggles. So if God is supposed to be fighting for me, spiritually, how do I let him do that?

I came to a clear realization tonight about what it means. It's not about me saying, "take this from me", although that can be a huge part of it, but it doesn't end there. It's not even about me acknowledging the truth that God desires for us to "not be anxious about anything" (Philippines 4:4). I let God fight for me when I choose to submit to Him. One of my favorite scriptures is in Exodus, Moses faced the Israelites and spoke to them in their fear and struggle, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." That's great! But they still had to SUBMIT to God and his plan for them. To walk AGAINST fear and escape Egypt. Had they chosen fear, the Israelites would have never experienced freedom and lived the rest of their lives in slavery. Much like how when I chose fear, I'm choosing to be in bondage to whatever battle I am trying to win on my own. Man, the Bible has great metaphors!

My prayers are moving from, "God I need you to do what you said and fight for me!" to "God, show me where I can submit to you so that I can step aside and let you take lead." I am thankful that all God asks of me, is that I receive more of Him. And sometimes receiving is the hardest thing that we can do, but when it is God, it is good.

More Like Moses

Moses was a GREAT leader. He led an entire group of people out of slavery, led them towards the promised land, wrote our 10 commandments. These are all amazing accomplishments done by a man that simply followed God.

I read the story of Moses again tonight, and a few new things struck me. When God was instructing Moses, God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." So, wait...God's sign that it was him was that it happened? Exactly. How many times have we felt led by God and weren't sure of His plans until they were accomplished? So often we ask for miraculous signs like Elijah, when all God gives us is the confirmation that it is DONE. And when it's done, we worship. What a great and glorious circle. Trust, Faith in action, Worship.

Have you ever stopped and really thought about all of the questions that Moses asked God? He was incredibly self-doubting and even went so far ask God to send someone else. Moses said things like "Who am I?", "What if they don't believe me?" "What if they ask who sent me, what do I tell them?" "What if they don't listen to me?" And God was patient. He answered every concern of Moses. And when Moses told God, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue," this was God's beautiful response: "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? is it not I, the Lord? Now go. I will help you speak and teach you what to say."

Even in Moses' unbelief and inability, God provided. God gave Moses what he was missing so that he could accomplish and succeed in where God was leading him. This is a concept that I am really soaking in. None of us are perfect and it's so often that God uses us IN our imperfection. But God always meets us. In this case, God HELPED MOSES AND TAUGHT HIM. And when Moses spoke boldly and eloquently in front of Pharaoh, all of the glory went to God because it was in Moses's weakness and God's strength that he was able to do so. Moses could always point back to God. I can only imagine that this gave Moses continuous encouragement to walk away and see how God intervened and spoke through him. Moses learned dependence on God and how to receive from Him. A lesson that I am continuously stumbling through.

I've been doubting the place that I feel like God has me because I feel completely incapable. It is good to be reminded that GOD IS GOOD and he meets us where we are. When we are babies he feeds us milk and when we are lacking, there he is sufficient. My prayer has transformed to seeking God to meet me in my needs and teach me in my weakness. I know that this still requires a lot of work and a lot of leaning into him, but I must believe that God's plans are to prosper me and to sustain me, and that He will never let the righteous fail.

God's Whispers

Below is a message by one of the great pastors of our generation, Bill Hybels. He pastors Willow Creek Community Church just outside Chicago, IL In this message, he talks about the power of God’s simple whisper. Wow, very challenging message. I hope it challenges you today as it challenged me.

Whispers - Bill Hybels from LifeChurchTV on Vimeo.