Move, Go, Do

So here I am; another day where I don’t physically feel like writing, but I feel something urging me to start. Not a pressing urgency but an ever so slight nudge that makes me decide in spite of my feelings. Decide, and then wait for my feelings to catch up. It’s uncomfortable yielding to the spirit when my flesh has always gotten its way. However, if I don’t start to obey God in the small promptings how will I obey or even hear when he calls me to step out on faith.

Unlike the other day, there is nothing pouring out of me…

I do have many thoughts swarming around in my head. Thoughts about being bold for Christ and sharing his word with other believers, the awesome message that was preached today- that explained we must look at our suffering through the lens of the gospel-, and going deeper in my faith and exploring the truth that is laid before me.

 I have been praying to God about most of these thoughts.  Praying that he would take me deeper, for me to step out and be bold for Him. To share the gospel with those who are far away from Him, and to present His raw truth to the world, especially to young women. Something that I read today in a blog helped me to see everything that God lays on my heart to do will not simply be set in my hands.

I want so much to share Christ’s love with young women, and let them know that within the love will be a satisfaction so filling they will not want to chase after the world, their flesh, or guys. Like I mentioned before, God will not simply place the “Promised Land” in my hands, I will have to journey towards it just as the Israelites did.

God proposed a question to me today. He asked, “When the opportunity comes will I be prepared?” Prepared to share scriptures, open myself and expose my scars to reveal that God heals, and have an open heart and ear to those begging to release their pain. Although I am progressing towards that mark, and will never fully ‘arrive’ until I am one with my Savior, I have much work to do. I seemed to think that if I had a burning desire (a desire that aligned with God’s desire) that He would simply give it to me with no work involved. Crazy I know.  I don’t want God to give me what I desire and not be prepared. It would be like sitting down in front of a plate of food and not having the tools to get it from the plate to my mouth.

In order for the desire to produce fruit I need to match that desire with willingness. A willingness to search and know the scriptures even when that desire is no longer there, and when I feel like sinking down into a disposition of complacency. A willingness that leads me to cry out on behalf of others to the Lord. A willingness that nudges me to spend time with God so I will know His truth for myself. Then take that willingness and do: Pray, Read, Study, and Share the Word. I must actively do each and every day God puts air in my body. Not simply for my sake, but for the young women of this world. The young women who need a word of encouragement, a sister who is not afraid to share the gospel with them, and a seed planted or watered. This is what I am here for, and if I wait for God move without any action on my behalf then I will never get there.

I know that God is answering my prayers, but in a way that I never imagined. He is saying, “Here you are Chanale; the path is set before you. You may know not know every turn, or how long each season will be, but that’s ok. All I want you to do is walk MY path. I have given you what you desired, it’s all here even if you don’t physically see; trust me. “ I have been praying and wondering why the Lord hasn’t answered my prayers, but He has. I just have to walk it out. It may not look exactly how I envisioned, but it will be just right for me. It may not be easy, but it won’t be anything that I cannot bear.

We must walk the path that God has set before us, and develop spiritually so we will produce good fruit. Let us move, go, and then do on behalf of the Lord. Let us fly closer today ladies! 

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, [a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3: 12-14, NLT)

When you cant see what’s ahead…

SideNote: Its funny that I titled this article, ‘When you cant see what’s ahead…’ because I didn’t really see what was ahead in terms of this article (isn’t that so fitting). I had it in my mind that I was going to write about a particular topic: trusting God when you can’t see the routes in between your start and your finish. But when I started to write it got hard…real fast, like there was literally a roadblock preventing me from going into that direction. So I gave up and continued my previous writing flow. God just wanted me to write… so I did, and this is what came out.

I don’t feel like writing, but something is whispering ever so quietly to open up my computer and type. So after trying to compromise by reading, and opening up my journal, I obeyed.

So here I am, and to tell you the truth I feel kind of yucky. I feel as my work day wasn’t as it should have been; it was one of those unproductive feeling days. Where I was running around touching this and touching that, but never completing one thing. I didn’t really get to check anything off of my to-do list…I don’t like having those days, days where things are left unfinished. Its like trying to smooth my fro into a ponytail and there are a million frizzy pieces sticking out everywhere: annoying. I like for things to be neat and organized, and I like to think I’m that way (at least in my head).  I like to be able to work through one project before moving to the next, and not have two or more on my plate while there are others on deck. However that’s not how things work, I would never finish what is assigned for me to finish if I worked the way I wanted. Projects would begin to back up and deadlines would push me against the back wall. Talk about stressful. So I have to move out of my comfort zone, out of what has become second nature. I have to step into a place where I will be challenged, tested, and stripped of my impurities. This is scary for me; it doesn’t feel good to be corrected, to hear the truth, or to be stretched. To put myself out there in a vulnerable state, where I will make mistakes, where I wont always hear good job, and possibly could be rejected. I like to play it safe, so that I wont have to deal with those unwanted feelings.

This is the same way I am with my faith to a certain degree. I like to play it safe, because it doesn’t feel good to be rejected, to be put in the spotlight where people can clearly see my imperfections, and where people wont always say “good job” for following Christ. I’ve been asking the Lord to help me step out of this, and to be bold for him.  And through this writing I can understand that I must just do it (I keep thinking that there will be one opportune time where it will be like ta-daaaa). I will not be able to accomplish the work that God has put within me if I don’t step out of my comfort zone, out of what has become second-nature. I can’t do what I have always done if I want to grow closer, go deeper, and truly live for him. Just as I have to stop doing things so that I can close the gap, I must start doing things as well. I have to step into a place where I will be challenged, tested, and stripped of my impurities. Yes its scary, it’s downright terrifying, but if God has called me to it He will help me through it.  I need it though, I need to step out; I’ve reached capacity in my comfort zone and its time to step out on faith.

If I wanted to be promoted I would have to capitalize on opportunities where I could lead, I would have to step up and take the steps to become a leader. This won’t happen if I continue to simply follow and expect people to lead me around everywhere. Yes there will be risks if I step out, but the reward will be far greater. I have to do the same with my faith in order to grow; God wants me to be mature. The author of Hebrews mentions that in order to have spiritual growth we must eat solid food. We must go from milk to solids, babies to the mature.  Hebrews 5:14 explains that, “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” I have to train; I have to allow God to build my inner strength and to keep moving when my flesh feels its time to stop. Which means I have to dig deeper and move past my emotions, and obey the promptings of the Lord even when I feel like I will be laughed at.

Hebrews 6:3 “And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.”

Thoughts on singleness

Recently (late last night/early this morning) my mind has been revolving around being single. Amongst a myriad of thoughts and numerous words composed to God I have come to some conclusions: I don't want my life to revolve around being single. I don't want to live life and be known as a single, but as a daughter of Christ who longs and craves more of her father. 

Im not saying that I don't want to be married, or that I don't need to understand why I am single, BUT I don't want this word to define me or to control me. I want to live on fire for God, and not be trapped in the "single box" like its some disease or illness. I look at this world and see a ferocious cyclone that seeks to consume me and throw me into the repetitious cycle: enter this world, go to school, date, go to college, date, get a job, date, get married, have children, retire, die. Where singleness is a time where you should be out researching the next guy to date and out of your entire life should only be a small aspect. I desire something different; I want to attack this world at a different angle, where I am pursuing Christ and can be comfortable with just Him. I want my foundation and core to consist of nothing but Christ. I admit that as I write these word that I begin to think will this mean that I will never be married??? I do desire to enter into a relationship and then marry a man that pushes me closer to Christ and where I do the same for him; however, I don't want them to come before Christ. I also want God's will to be done in my life, so I am trusting that He will lead me in the right direction. 

There are blogs that dig deeper into what I am expressing and are a good read. Take the time to read them and explore how you view being single. (The list is not in any type of order).

1. "The Idol of 'I Do."-Lauren DeMoss

2. Stop waiting. Start Living - Lauren DeMoss.

3. The reason my heart is divided- Fabs Harford

Spread your wings sisters and fly a little closer to God today, give Him your entire life and let Him use it. Give Him your dreams and deepest desires and watch Him work.