Over the past week we have recorded our story – past to present, owned our story, and been challenged to boldly tell our story. My final challenge to you and to myself now is to bravely surrender the pen and allow God to be the author of the rest of your story. Trae Kendrick, in a women’s retreat I attended a few weeks ago, said this, “Living His story will be the bravest thing you will ever do.” I totally agree!
Look back on your timeline past to present. Can you see seasons in your life where God had the pen, seasons where you decided to be in control and write your own story, and seasons that where the struggle of authorship was a roller coaster out of control? I know I can. If you can take the time, write some notes on your timeline about what you see.
We are a society that teaches “control is power and submission is weakness”. But I am here to tell you that my greatest times of inner joy, (not happiness that is dependent on circumstances, but joy that is sustained regardless of my circumstances), come when I am so in tune with God that His story becomes my story. I am being submissive and obedient to His will because I trust in His plan for me. Is it scary sometimes…absolutely! Does it require bravery and courage…without a doubt! When you decide to surrender the pen there are no more excuses. No longer can we be too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too poor, too busy, too shy, not talented enough, living in the wrong place, married to the wrong person, working in the wrong career, going to the wrong church, and the list goes on and on. All we are to be is willing to do whatever God leads us to do. We have to be willing to be patient and not run ahead and we have to be ready to act when called.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”
Above all, we must be willing to love. Loving is sometimes hard and sometimes painful. We must be willing to feel someone else’s pain but we also get the blessing of feeling someone else’s joy. We must be willing to look at the world through the eyes of God, see the needs, and act as the hands and feet of Christ.
Matthew 22:37-39 “And He said to him,’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment, The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
My heart is open and I have spoken it to you in these words. May God use them as He wills.
My friends, bravely surrender the pen so that His story will be your story.
