Just Jump!

On a recent vacation, I was faced with two choices: jump or stay stuck. I eventually chose to jump but the internal dialogue that I had within myself shed light on my ability to trust. As always our loving Father NEVER misses an opportunity to teach us His life lessons. There I was just having completed a major feat for me in zip lining! The joy of gliding in the air right next to the trees was simply exhilarating. As I wrapped up my adventure, the next step was to then drop down to the lower level from the platform that I just landed on. I was still safely tethered and all that I needed to do was to be lowered down. One would think this to be the “easy” part, but not for me. There was no way I was dropping ALL the way down there, no way. One look down below and I had made up my mind. I even asked the poor guy could I just walk down? Surely, there were a set of steps somewhere. He said no and went on to explain that I would be fine and there was someone who was waiting there ready to catch me. Still unmoved and not quite convinced, I asked him if I could sit down and then slide off? And that’s exactly what I did, with eyes closed, I scooted off that platform and dropped down. And there he was, that someone who was waiting for me, able and fully capable to attend to me. Isn’t this what faith and trust can sometimes look like in our faithwalk? There are times when God is leading you somewhere and you cannot quite see the path. You don’t even understand His plan. He may have called you at a time in  your life where quite honestly, you are comfortable right where you are. Remember the story of Abraham? Read along:

The Lord said to Abram,

   “Leave your land,
    your relatives,
        and your father’s home.
Go to the land that I will show you.
² I will make you a great nation,
I will bless you.
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you, I will curse.
        Through you every family on earth will be blessed.” 

⁴ So Abram left, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. Genesis 12: 1-4

A place that was not known to Abraham. The reality of leaving all that was familiar. Many promises from a faithful God and a heart of obedience prompted Abraham to follow and obey. You see, the jump was filled with too many uncertainties even after a successful run at zip lining. Would I hurt myself upon landing? Was the rope really secure? Yes, all valid things to ponder when dealing with man made things. But the pondering should stop when we are following God. He can never lie, hurt you, deceive you or mislead you. Where He leads you is sure to be full of promises. What He is calling you to do has a divine purpose to it and it is a part of His Masterful plan. “God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.” 2 Timothy 1:7

No condemnation is upon you if you find yourself being stuck because of fear. Simpy spend some time in prayer and share with God all that you are feeling, He already knows. Allow Him to soothe your heart. Let Him in so that you can begin the process of letting go and trusting Him wholeheartedly. Perhaps you are reading this because God has declared that now is the time for you to “jump” into His plans. He is waiting there for you. He is able. He is full of love and He is ready for you to move in accordance with what He is already doing. Let go and jump.

Knowing Whose You Are

 

 

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9

 

Chosen – one who is the object of choice or of divine favor:  an elect person or selected to do or receive something special. Did you know that you my sister have been chosen? You have been the apple of Someone’s eye long before you were conceived. You were predestined to be a part of something special before you could even walk. You have been handpicked to be a princess in a kingdom that never ends. Sounds like a fairytale. Right?

I can assure you that this is no fairytale. This is my life. This is also the best revelation that I have ever received in my entire life. The merciful, strong and mighty, loving, and awesome God has chosen me to be His daughter. He has chosen you to be His forever. The day that you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, was the fulfillment of God’s plan for you to come into the kingdom. On that day, all of heaven rejoiced when you answered the call to no longer sit in the darkness but to run into His light. He chose you because He loved you. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9) There was nothing you said, did or thought to influence that choice.

He decided that He wanted you to do something upon this earth that only you could do. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) Salvation was His plan for our lives and in that plan there are things that He has uniquely gifted us to do in service unto Him. Remember, we were created for a purpose and that is to bring glory and honor to His name. “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20, 21 God says there must be a separation from what is unclean and a coming into all things that are connected to His Name. We have taken on familial ties with a Holy God; the Word even admonishes us to be holy like Him. It’s not that we are never going to make mistakes because the Word clearly says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 But sometimes He calls us to sever all ties with anything or anyone that will corrupt our lives. You see, the cheap utensils are not what we are. We are the special utensils. The utensils that are proudly displayed for all to see. The utensils that are brought out for the special times. God’s assignments are these “special times”, we must be ready for the work that He has for us to do, because we are chosen.

 “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16 Again, we are reminded of the supremacy of God. He chose us and for a purpose and that is to bear fruit in this world for Him. To sow into the lives of others His love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. To be His hands and His feet. To feel what He feels and do something about it. Remember, your work upon this earth is not defined by titles. If you are a teacher, within those school walls, ask Him who needs to see Jesus. If you are a banker, within the financial institution, ask Him who needs to see Jesus’ love on display. Wherever we are, the world needs to see Jesus in us. We are His ambassadors upon this earth. If you are unsure of what His will is, simply ask in His name and He will answer. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

^“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:3, 4    Oh, this scripture carries so much weight. Jesus, in all His power and holding ALL authority in heaven and upon the earth washed the disciples’ feet. I mean the getting down on the ground, on your knees, getting your clothes wet and maybe even dirty, this was the ministry of Jesus. This, my sister is why were chosen. We were chosen to have a humble heart and a compassionate love like Jesus! We were chosen when we were in our darkest and dirtiest state. What about those who are still there? Will you go the distance? Or will you stay confined in the church house where it is safe with those who already know the truth? “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” Galatians 6:2, 3

 

My sister, please know that even while you are living your life for the One who has given you life eternal, He is so in love with you and cares about the innermost desires of your heart. There is no question that He has an awesome plan for your life. Will you trust Him with it? In all the serving, there are things that you perhaps have petitioned Him for, dreams that you have even penned in a journal and visions that you have shared with your closest friends. God says, “Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.  For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper” Psalm 37:1-7

In all that you do for the Lord, as you are serving Him with gladness, never forget Whose you are. Never forget the One that saved you, He hasn’t.