If I ever wanted to say yes to God, it was in that moment. But I was in a rough place, unsure of my feelings toward Him and doubtful He wanted me right then.
She came to me in the midst of my new grief suggesting a small group Bible study. It sounded nice but I wasn’t sure I could even be in public without breaking down yet. She assured me when she said small, she meant small; it included only three women. We committed to meeting weekly, late in the evening when the kids were asleep and we had the freedom to focus fully on His Word.
It was the unifying of souls, the edification of fellow believers, a digging deep in the Word of God. It was the promise of saying Yes to God no matter what He called us to do. We felt stale, stagnant, dusty in our Christian walk and we wanted to shake the dust off our feet, to be called by God to do great things for Him.
But in that season, He called us to BE. To be faithful in the small things, to be committed to Him above all things, to be willing to let go of the things which we clung so tightly, to be givers (both monetarily and of ourselves), to be serving in whatever capacity the church needed, which ended up being the nursery.
We were ready but God said wait
We were all fired up as we finished the study, ready to do great things for God but He called us to BE with Him before we could BE before others. As we proved our faithfulness, He called each one of us out of our comfort zones. One of us began a discipleship, in which she is consistently and intimately meeting with other women one-on-one, developing relationships with them and teaching them in their young faith. Another of us dove deep into investing into the lives of others which had previously seemed so exhausting and daunting but was now showing eternal rewards.
And me? God’s called me to write and speak so I’m taking that journey one step at a time. Just a few years ago, I was called on by a guest speaker to stand on the stage at a church dinner theater to hula hoop in front of a large audience. I stood trembling in my shoes, hand clammy, my stomach contents threatening to come up, and bravely attempted to make a fool of myself in front of others.
Since then other opportunities have opened to speak and teach and write and proclaim His name. It’s so far out of my comfort zone, I can hardly stand it, but I’m resting in His promises that He’ll never leave me or forsake me.
Maybe God is calling you to do great things for Him. You’ve felt the same staleness and uselessness and you’re ready to shake your own dust off and stand up for Jesus.
Here are 5 things to consider when you say Yes to God:
He’s calling you to faithfulness.
Whether it’s your time, talents, or money, He is calling you to be faithful with all of them. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10
He’s calling you to be committed.
Before you can BE before others, you have to BE with the Lord. Make it a priority to carve out quiet time with just you and Him. Ask Him to cleanse your heart and restore your joy. Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
He’s calling you to let go.
When we hold tightly to the things of this world, we can’t catch His blessings. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. Philippians 3:8-9
He’s calling you to give.
Give your tithes and offerings. Give your talents. Give your time and invest in the lives of others (start with your family). You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully!” 2 Corinthians 9:7
He’s calling you to serve.
Serve your husband. Serve your children. Serve your church and find a ministry that needs you. And the King will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! Matthew 25:40
Consider this
It’s easy to think the Christian life is over when we accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus, but it’s only just beginning. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul writes, “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
We aren’t called to hide the light but live IN the light as a representative of Christ on earth. But it’s serious business serving the Lord when He calls us to be faithful, committed, let go, to serve, and to give.
Surrendering my life to the Lord was the best decision of my life and despite the days when I want to quit, He gives me strength and patience and perseverance. A life with Christ is a fulfilling one.
Consider your God-given talents, your hobbies, your likes and dislikes. How can you use what the Lord has blessed you with to serve Him? In what way is He calling you right now? Have you hesitated out of fear or some other reason?
Maybe it’s time to rethink your gifts. Perhaps a spiritual gifts test might help you determine where the church could best use your talents and time. Now is the time. Today is the day.
Are you ready to say Yes to God?
