Have you ever had one of those amazing ideas come to you about something you want to do for the Lord? Your heart beats at a rapid pace for a few minutes – you are so excited—and you think to yourself, “I'm going to do this!” I’m not a super creative person, so on the rare occasion when I come up with an idea for something to incorporate in my life at home, at work, or in the areas I am honored to serve in here at Mid-Way, I seriously just get so excited!
But then the reasons that I think “I can't” start flooding my mind – more quickly than the amazing idea did! It’s crazy how our own thoughts can be used as weapons of discouragement aimed right at our hearts. In the end. most times that amazing thought becomes a fleeting thought.
Many times I even think to myself, “Yeah, it was a silly idea anyway!” As quickly as the stir of creativity and openness to say “yes!” to God’s prompting started, it fades away. All too often, I live in the shadows of many ”might have beens”.
So many of these instances it’s because I am afraid. Afraid of having an idea turned down, discouraged, or rejected. It’s easier to be safe and fly under the radar than go big and possibly flop.
But what if? What if we lived our lives believing that the Lord is the Giver of creativity and all good things – which happens to include ideas to grow and further His kingdom? Would it champion us on to say “yes!” to what the Lord has given us to do?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
James 1:17
In Luke, we see where Jesus called four hardworking fishermen to be His disciples. Jesus knew that this would require these men to stretch themselves in obedience to Him. These weren’t necessarily scholarly men, but in the end, they were walking in obedience to their Messiah. They were obedient in launching out in both their physical jobs and in the new found spiritual journey the Lord had for them:
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon,
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 4:5
Say “Yes!” to what God places on your heart to do.
You may be thinking, my little old “yes!” or even my “I don’t think so” doesn’t have any effect on others. I don't have that kind of influence. But we cannot even begin to understand the plans God has for us through our obedience to His prompting in our lives. We may not get to know or see the spread of our obedient influence to know it's there. I was honored to be the daughter-in-law to one of the most incredible men I’ve ever known. Mr. Dyson, or Big D, as we all lovingly referred to him as, was a man of quiet obedience. At his funeral, my husband said that his Dad’s life was one of “long obedience in the same direction.” Big D’s life was extremely influential in my own life. It has reminded me that my own obedience in saying yes to what the Lord asks of me is more than just about me – it’s part of a Greater Story that was written long before me and is much bigger than my own. What is God asking you to say “yes!” to in this new year?
Prayer Points: Please pray over these requests:
Lord, thank You for holding my life in Your hands.
Help me to life in full obedience to You in what You call me to.
Father, help me to see, by saying “yes!” to You, I am walking in obedience that influences those around me.
Dear Lord,
We come before You in the Name of Jesus and thank You for the examples of great men and women You have placed in our lives. Thank You for holding my life in Your hands.Please help me to live my life in full obedience to you and what You call me to! Help me to daily be reminded of what full obedience and surrender to Your plans for my life can do to encourage others and further Your will and plan! Today and everyday I say "YES!" to You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Because of His Grace,
Amanda Dyson