Palms Up! { Day 220 }

This week, I started a new Bible study with Proverbs 31 on a book called “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” by Lysa TerKeurst….and I’m excited for this study.  Really Excited!! 

 I haven’t always said Yes to God…in fact I have ignored Him and said no to Him a lot in my life.  Makes me sad to think of how many times I have been blind to all He has for me or to all the times He has tried to lead me in a different direction.  Fear and lack of confidence have always held me back from saying YES to Him.  Sometimes I think that I know which path is better for me to take and sometimes I feel like I could do it better.  Ouch!  Or sometimes I just feel like its too scary and I don’t like change too much.  Lysa TerKeurst talks in her book, “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” about “Surprise Parties” and how it must break God’s heart when He has planned something for us and we are too tired to notice, too blind to see or we just don’t even care.  How many parties have I missed because of fear? 

My Pastor said this weekend, “Don’t limit God by your small thinking.”  WOW…I do that.

One of my favorite songs right now is Oceans by Hillsong United.  The lyrics are amazing to me.  See below just a little snippet:

“You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown, where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep, my faith will stand”

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior”

In Matthew 14: 29--- Jesus tells Peter to come.  He’s telling Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water.  Peter steps out and begins to walk on water.  The winds pick up, the waves get stronger…he looks down and takes his eyes off of Jesus.  He starts to sink and cries out to Jesus to save him.  Jesus reaches out and catches him and says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

  

You Michelle…you of little faith.  Why did you doubt me? Why did you doubt that My way wasn’t THE way?

 “If you try to stand and face the wave, it will smash you to bits, but if you trust the water and let it carry you, there’s nothing sweeter.”  ~Shauna Niequist

  

Have you been in an ocean before?  Have you fought against the waves and been pushed around?  I have.  I don’t like to be IN the ocean.  I like to sit on the beach and look at the ocean.  But, I get in the ocean because I have a daughter that LOVES the ocean.  Once I relax and trust the water, the waves carry me.  I believe it is the same with Jesus.  Trust in Jesus…and He will carry you.  Fight against what He asks of you…and life gets hard.  Things don’t work out…you feel lost and discouraged.  Remember He lets you decide what to do…I just feel like when I go against Him…this life gets hard. But try saying, “Ok God…today, I say Yes to all that you have in store for me. Whatever it is...I say Yes to YOU.”  

Is it easy?  No.  Will your life all of a sudden become sweeter?  Probably not.  Because there will be some growth and growing can be painful.  But, by not doubting in Jesus and instead trusting in Him… you can step out in to oceans deep and your faith begins to grow.   

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.  And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”  ~Shauna Niequist

My palms are up and ready to receive all that He has in store for me!  What about you?

The God of the Universe wants to use me and you!  That’s kinda scary.  Do it afraid!  Do it with God-Confidence.

There are six words that sum up the Old and New Testaments…all the pages and verses in the Bible, according to Lysa TerKeurst in Chapter 1.  “Whatever God says do, do it!”

Last thing for today…A quote from Lysa TerKeurst: “The resolve of the human spirit is truly an amazing thing.  We will fight to the death for something we want to protect, truly believe in, or desire.  So why would we be lackadaisical about the most eternally significant relationship there is?”  Something to really think about!

http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2013/08/08/yestogod-week-1-day-4yes-to-god-blog-hop/