Saying "yes" to God might look different than you think

We are so excited to celebrate the marriage of our oldest daughter Hannah early next year! As we have been working on all things wedding planning, I am reminded of something – there is no wedding without a “yes.” The question “will you marry me?” must be asked, and it must be followed by a “yes” for the relationship to move forward.

Early in the Christmas Story, a young woman was invited to be a part of God’s plan.

Luke 1:28-31

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! But when she saw him, she was troubled at his

saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.

Mary was presented God’s plan by the angel. God had selected her to be the mother of Jesus which meant carrying Him in her womb for 9 months, giving birth, bringing Him into this world. She would hold him, care for him, love Him, kiss His little face, nurture Him and watch Him grow. She was charged with keeping Him safe and all the other things that a mother must do.

Now in our culture, we often think, “If I’m favored, I get out of work.” If someone calls us their favorite, we hope that we will get away with doing less, not more. They will give the hard things to people that they don’t like. Yet for some reason, the angel told Mary “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” What if we started realizing that a high calling from God, a difficult task, an invitation to step into God’s plan is a sign of favor and blessing?

Our “yes” to God is answering “yes” to a blessing He is trying to bestow! In God’s

kingdom, things are often a paradox. We can be in a difficult season and still be blessed at the same time. Blessing is always connected to obedience in the Bible. The hard day in and day out work of motherhood is a blessing. Like Mary, we are truly blessed and highly favored when God invites us to be a part of His plan – no matter how great or small that plan is. It starts with a “yes.” For Mary, her “yes” was to be Jesus’ mother. Our “yes” will look different than hers. Maybe you need to say “yes to God” by saying …

- Yes to forgiving someone.

- Yes to letting go of anger and bitterness.

- Yes to moving forward in your life after a season of grief.

- Yes to letting go.

- Yes to something difficult that God is prompting you to do.

- Yes to starting something new by stepping out in faith.

- Yes to stopping something that you’ve been doing.

- Yes to God’s plan for your life, not your own plan.

God does not ask anything of us that He will not equip us to do. He does not require our perfection in following through; He only asks for our obedience in saying “yes” and then taking the next step forward.

Every “yes” to God, no matter how great or small, is a step in the direction of your destiny in Christ. Do you want to fulfill God’s plan for your life? Obey Him today. Say yes to Him

today. Then wake up and do that tomorrow. Then the next day. Then the next day. You don’t need a ten-year plan or a five-year plan. You just need a willing heart to hear the voice of God and obey the voice of God in your life.

You probably won’t have an angel appear to you, so you might say, “How do I know when God is speaking to me? How can I walk confidently forward into His plan for my life?”

In her book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God, Lysa Terkeurst shares five

questions to ask to determine if she’s hearing from God:

1. Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture?

2. Is it consistent with God’s character?

3. Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet

times?

4. Is it beyond me?

5. Would it please God?

Asking these questions helps us determine the difference between our thoughts and God’s leading in our lives.

Prayer Points:

~ Father, as I listen to Your voice, lead me to say “yes” to You and take that first step of obedience.

~ Lord, help me trust that obedience to You will result in my blessing, even if it means giving up something that I am holding on to right now.

~ God, give me a heart of discernment as I step forward into Your will.

Father God,

I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, and I give You my “yes.” I desire to walkin obedience to You all the days of my life. You are my Good Shepherd, and I trust You to lead and guide me every step of the way, every day, every moment, for all my days. I know that saying “yes” won’t always be easy, but I am trusting You to equip and empower me to live out your plan for my life as I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. God, You are good, and when I walk in obedience to You, I am blessed and highly favored. I praise You for allowing me to be Your hands and feet to a world that is hurting. Help me to live in light of eternity.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

Michelle Staubs

michelle@mid-way.com

Mid-Way Baptist Church

Flourish Women’s Ministry

www.mid-way.com/women